Danish String Quartet

Frederik Øland & Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen violins
Asbjørn Nørgaard viola
Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin cello

It’s always a pleasure to welcome the Danish String Quartet to our stages. Over three previous appearances, they have captivated audiences with thoughtfully curated programs, peerless ensemble playing, and the unmistakable warmth and camaraderie that come from more than two decades of performing together. 

The self-described “three Danes and one Norwegian cellist” return with a program that shows their admirable range. Postmodern Soviet composer Alfred Schnittke’s String Quartet No. 2 paints a sorrowful picture of grief and mourning while offering moments of intensity and virtuosity. Jonny Greenwood’s five-movement suite from the film There Will be Blood brings an atmospheric edge to the program. His foreboding, intricately textured score features “leaping, fiendish” (Pitchfork) writing for cello, making it a striking addition to the quartet’s repertoire. Ravel’s only string quartet closes the program, offering a moment of lyrical and subdued beauty from this extraordinary ensemble.

This performance is an Aaron Richmond Recital, named in honor of Celebrity Series of Boston's founder, and endowed by his daughter Nancy Richmond Winsten and her late husband Dr. Joseph Winsten.