The Grammy-nominated Danish String Quartet, renowned for their profound interpretations of classical and contemporary music, will make a stop at Irvine Barclay Theatre on April 11 to perform the final installment of their “Doppelgänger” series. We asked the members about their upcoming show.
What’s the inspiration behind “Doppelgänger”?
It is closely related to our ‘Prism’ project, where we juxtaposed late Beethoven quartets with Bach and contemporary pieces. The starting point of ‘Doppelgänger’ is the late chamber music works by Schubert. This time around, we decided to match the old master pieces with commissioned pieces by living composers. – Asbjørn Nørgaard, viola
What keeps classical music relevant and exciting?
To me, the classical masterpieces are a bit like the great paintings that we go to see over and over again – but better because music actually changes (albeit slightly) in the hands of different musicians. The best way to show off these masterpieces is to play them exactly the way that makes you happy. – Frederik Øland, violin
What can we expect at your upcoming show?
The audience can expect a journey through emotions and history in a repertoire that we love. Each of the evening’s three composers has uniquely shaped the string quartet genre, and it’s a pleasure to present this music along with our own little arrangement of Schubert’s ‘Gretchen am Spinnrade.’ – Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, violin
