STRING QUARTETS Haydn - Solberg - Grieg Engegårdkvartetten String Quartet

• 1 String Quartet in D, Op. 76, No. 5 - Allegretto 04:39
• 2 String Quartet in D, Op. 76, No. 5 - Largo Ma Non Troppo; Cantabile E Mesto 06:36
• 3 String Quartet in D, Op. 76, No. 5 - Menuet - Allegro Ma Non Troppo 02:42
• 4 String Quartet in D, Op. 76, No. 5 - Finale - Presto 03:36
• 5 String Quartet in B Minor - Allegro 04:44
• 6 String Quartet in B Minor - Andante Espressivo 04:36
• 7 String Quartet in B Minor - Scherzo, Allegro 02:45
• 8 String Quartet in B Minor - Allegro Ma Non Troppo 03:53
• 9 String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 27 - Un Poco Andante - Allegro Molto Ed Agitato 11:45
• 10 String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 27 - Romanze: Andantino 06:14
• 11 String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 27 - Intermezzo: Allegro Molto Marcato 06:19
• 12 String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 27 - Finale: Lento - Presto Al Saltarello 08:51
• Total Runtime 01:06:40

Info for STRING QUARTETS Haydn - Solberg - Grieg

The three string quartets featured on this album strike a winning balance between the classical and the romantic as well as providing a fine showcase for the talents of the Engegård Quartet, an ensemble formed as recently as 2006.

The Engegård Quartet made their first appearance at the 2006 Lofoten International Music Festival. Inspired by the midnight sun, their musical landscape ranges from glowing core energy to the gentle lyrical sound of Norwegian nature. Edvard Grieg and Leif Solberg are natural choices for this Scandinavian quartet, complimented by the music of Joseph Haydn reflected in a Nordic atmosphere. The strong musical nerve is emphasized by an intense sound production by Lindberg Lyd.

Arvid Engegård, Violin
Atle Sponberg, Violin
Juliet Jopling, Viola
Adrian Brendel, Cello

Formed under the midnight sun in Lofoten in 2006, the Engegård Quartet rapidly became one of the most sought after ensembles in Norway, performing in Bergen Festival and Oslo Chamber Music Festival in their first season. With an internationally acclaimed debut CD under their belts in 2008, the Engegård Quartet tour Scandinavia regularly and perform throughout Europe.

The great quartets of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Bartók are the Engegård Quartet’s core repertoire. With its’ Nordic background, it is natural for the Engegård Quartet to include Edward Grieg and Arne Norheim in its’ programmes. The Engegård Quartet’s encore repertoire has extended on occasion to fill whole concerts, including virtuosic and folk music, and more than a hint of Argentinian Tango. Guests with the Engegård Quartet have included Leif Ove Andsnes, Frans Helmerson and Nobuko Imai. The Engegård Quartet has released three CDs, and is working on two more.

2011 marks the beginning of a new era for the Engegård Quartet with a new cellist. The members of the quartet are Arvid Engegård, Atle Sponberg, Juliet Jopling and Adrian Brendel .

Arvid Engegård decided at the age of ten, that the string quartet was the ideal medium for making music. Major milestones in his life include an influential period as concertmaster of Camerata Academica in Salzburg under the direction of Sándor Végh, before leading the Orlando Quartet for several years. Arvid is also in considerable demand as a conductor.

Atle Sponberg will be recognised by many from the finals of the European Broadcasting Union competition in 1982. Concertmaster of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Atle is a main figure in Norwegian musical life. Atle also studied tango in Buenos Aires.

While graduating in Economics from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Juliet Jopling returned to her dream of becoming a chamber musician. A prizewinner of the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, Juliet has appeared as soloist with orchestras including The Philharmonia, London.

Adrian Brendel has quickly established himself as one of the leading cellists of his generation. His recent two year partnership with his father Alfred Brendel, performing all of Beethoven’s music for cello and piano at venues throughout the world was a huge public and critical success. Adrian is co-founder of Music at Plush.

Arvid is the creator and the Artistic Director of Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival, a magnet for chamber music lovers seeking an intimate chamber music experience in spectacular scenery. A regular fixture in the Engegård Quartet’s summer, “the world’s most beautiful festival” is a meeting place for some of the worlds’ best loved chamber musicians.

Booklet for STRING QUARTETS Haydn - Solberg - Grieg