A national treasure of their native Norway, the Vertavo Quartet is firmly established as one of the most exciting ensembles of today.   These four friends have performed together for over 20 years, having formed their quartet 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.

Their special 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 they have formed partnerships with Håkan Hagegard, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Stephen Kovacevich, Leif Ove Andsnes, Håkan Hardenberger, Christian Lindberg, and Isabelle van Keulen.

In 2006/07 they make their debuts in the prestigious venues of Vienna’s Musikverein and New York’s Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.  Amongst numerous concerts they perform in London’s Wigmore Hall, Paris, Geneva, Vevey, Bolzano, Alicante and Hamburg. In the USA they tour both the East and West Coasts, with appearances for the Corvallis Chamber Music Series, concerts and workshops at Chamber Music Concerts Ashland, Oregon, University of Seattle series, Da Camera Chamber Music Society of Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and Vancouver chamber series.

In Summer 2006 they collaborated with Sabine Meyer at the Schubertiade Festival, and will again perform extensively with her next season.

The Quartet celebrated their 20th anniversary year in 2004/05 which was highlighted with some special appearances on a Bartok/Haydn series at the Aldeburgh Festival, the Concertgebouw’s ‘Russian Series’ in Amsterdam, and at the Wigmore Hall.  A recording of 19th century Russian works,  ‘Les Vendredis’, (named after the club to which all the composers belonged) was released for their anniversary on SIMAX Classics, the record label that has recorded the Quartet from the outset.

The Quartet’s discography includes Nielsen, Schumann, Brahms, Grieg and Debussy, all for SIMAX Classics, as well as Mozart clarinet quintet 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 next disc is of oeuvres of Niels Asheim written for the Quartet.

Feb 2007

Season 2007/2008
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