A national treasure of their native Norway, the Vertavo Quartet justly deserves the recognition it claims today. These four friends have performed together since their formataion in Oslo in 1984. In June 2005, the Quartet were honoured with the Grieg-Prize 2005; a prize bestowed on an artist of high international standing and of which former recipients include Leif Ove Andsnes, Truls Mørk and the Grieg Trio. In 2009/10 season they celebrate their 25th anniversary.

Their affinity for contemporary music has led them to give commanding performances of works by Ligeti, Adès, Widmann and works by contemporary Nordic composers such as Nørgård, Edlund and Asheim. Collaboration plays an integral role in the Vertavo Quartet’s concert life, enriched not least as Artistic Directors of the Elverum Summer Music Festival in Norway where, as elsewhere, they have formed partnerships with Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Paul Lewis, Leif Ove Andsnes, Håkan Hardenberger, Martin Fröst, Sabine Meyer and Isabelle van Keulen.

In 2008/09 the quartet continue to perform throughout Europe, taking in performances in major cities including Prague, Madrid, Munich, Bergamo, and Sienna. Popular favourites in the UK they make a welcome to return to London’s Wigmore Hall over a weekend series of concerts, and they will also perform at the Royal Northern College of Music’s Chamber Music Festival., Manchester. For a radio broadcast they return once again to the studios of BBC Scotland in Aberdeen.

Over recent seasons the Vertavo Quartet have made their debuts in such prestigious venues as Vienna’s Musikverein and New York’s Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. In the USA they have toured both the East and West Coasts and they have performed in Tokyo on a tour to Japan – both these continents they return to in their anniversary season, 2009/10.

The Quartet’s discography includes Nielsen, Schumann, Brahms, Grieg, Debussy, “Les Vendredis” (Russian vignettes of the turn of the 20th century), all for SIMAX Classics, as well as the Mozart and Brahms clarinet quintets with Martin Fröst for BIS Records. Their Debussy and Grieg quartets received the Diapason d'Or and was highly praised by Gramophone magazine: "Captivating performances which get right to the heart of these intensely emotional works - Not to be missed." Their recording of the complete Bartók Quartets, released in November 2001 was recognised by the BBC Music Magazine as its “Recording of the Month” in May 2002. Their most recent SIMAX release is of works by Niels Asheim all written for the Quartet, to be followed by their first recording of Beethoven’s late quartets.

SEASON 2008/2009

WE UPDATE OUR BIOGRAPHIES REGULARLY. PLEASE DO NOT USE PREVIOUSLY DATED MATERIAL.