Introducing Quatuor Van Kuijk, the French quartet described by Gramophone as ‘addictively good’. Formed in Paris in 2012, it swept the board at the Wigmore Hall and Trondheim International Competitions and has gone on to make its mark at concert halls and festivals across the world.
For its debut tour for Musica Viva Australia, Quatuor Van Kuijk encapsulates the art of the string quartet in three eloquent moves.
First, chance upon Dorothy Howell’s 1927 Nocturne for muted strings, a hidden treasure from a composer described as ‘the English Strauss’. Then bask in the sensual, fizzing textures of Ravel’s one-of-a-kind String Quartet. Finally, what else but Beethoven? The Quartet marks the 200th anniversary of his death with his last, late String Quartet, the exuberant and expansive Quartet No. 14 in C# minor, Op. 131.
‘Style, energy and a sense of risk. These four young Frenchmen made the music smile.’ – The Guardian
‘Quatuor Van Kuijk is a quartet to watch.’ – HK Interlude
‘There’s often a gorgeous duskiness to the players’ sound too, which is particularly magical in harmonics … addictively good.’ – Gramophone
From Musica Viva Australia’s Artistic Director, Paul Kildea:
Planets do align, if infrequently, so here we introduce one of my favourite ensembles in the world, the Quatuor Van Kuijk: four musicians mentored by the Quatuor Ysaÿe and now, in many ways, its rightful heir. This is playing of astonishing imagination and beauty.
Artists
Quatuor Van Kuijk
Nicolas Van Kuijk violin
Sylvain Favre-Bulle violin
Paul Zientara viola
Anthony Kondo cello
Program
Dorothy HOWELL Nocturne for muted strings
RAVEL String Quartet in F major
BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 14 in C# minor, Op. 131