Like the String Quartet Biennale held at the Cité de la Musique in Paris, the event taking place at the Muziekgebouw (String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam) can boast of bringing together the very best of today’s ensembles within a matter of days.
You often see the same ensembles there, such as the Belcea Quartet, the Casals Quartet, the Ebène Quartet, and the Pavel Haas Quartet. But the number of young ensembles featured in the Muziekgebouw’s program is more impressive than in Paris.
It is true that in recent years we have witnessed a steady stream of young ensembles emerging whose skill level is outstanding from the very start of their careers: they include Castalian, Leonkoro, Marmen, Maxwell, Hermès, Karski, Opus13, Chiaroscuro, Attacca, Barbican, Arod, Aris, Fibonacci, Poiesis, and Tchalik.
And this is undoubtedly just the vanguard of a small army of prodigious quartets…
The fifth edition of the Amsterdam Biennale brings together no fewer than 24 ensembles from different generations and features 14 premieres, primarily of works by composers living in the Netherlands.
In addition, visitors can attend “Coffee Talks,” masterclasses, concert previews, and lectures on themes explored during the biennial, such as the string quartets of Bohuslav Martinu (three performed by the Pavel Haas Quartet), Beethoven’s late quartets, and the “Super-Romantic” series featuring iconic works from this period (Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Schumann, and Dvořák).
A book and record fair (featuring CDs and vinyl) is being held in the Main Hall, which also houses a restaurant, all in a very relaxed atmosphere.
The day begins in the small hall at 9:30 a.m. and ends in the main hall with an evening concert that starts at 10:30 p.m.! That doesn't leave much time for visitors to explore the museum's galleries and halls…