Concert 29 december 2025 13:00
Het Maltezerhuis, Utrecht
The young Otilka Quartet offers a double hidden gem. The quartet itself consists of musicians who we will hear a lot from in the future. Furthermore, the Otilka Quartet plays repertoire that is not on the music stand every day. The young ambitious string players met each other in 2020 at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. They can now also be heard on international stages and the quartet is one of the flagship ensembles of the renowned Dutch String Quartet Academy. The quartet distinguishes itself not only with exceptional performances of well-known string quartet repertoire like Beethoven's String Quartet op. 18 no. 1 but also with unknown repertoire, especially from Dutch origin.
For example, the Otilka Quartet performs the First String Quartet by Hans Henkemans. A forgotten Dutch composer who made a name for himself before the Second World War. His equally stirring and serene string quartets only resurfaced in 2023, ninety years later. The Otilka Quartet is currently the only string quartet performing these works. A surprising piece from a forgotten period of Dutch music history that is just as impressive as the more famous works of Beethoven and Webern.
About the series Hidden Gems:
The Hidden Gems series focuses on undiscovered young talent who are given the opportunity to present a self-curated program at unexpected and special locations in the city center of Utrecht. These top musicians of the near future come from postgraduate music programs and are often prize winners of competitions.
Another time: 15.00
Concert 30 december 2025 11:00
TivoliVredenburg
The Walking Concerts are a beloved part of the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht. This time, the various walking groups are in for three exhilarating out of the box concerts featuring a percussion trio, a jazz string quartet, and a brilliant vocal duo. Soprano Ana-Carmen Balestra and mezzo-soprano Roza Herwig, under the name Opera Rebels, turn everything related to opera and classical vocal recitals upside down. The singers combine well-known opera arias with jazz, pop, folk music, and more, and also act to create a new captivating story.
The North Sea String Quartet is the Dutch jazz quartet of the moment. The quartet defies the laws of the traditional string quartet, mixes genres, and improvises on their own and well-known themes to explore uncharted territories. The Volkskrant already praised 'the sense of rhythm and timing' on the quartet's CD "Splunge", and Luister gave the album a very high rating, calling it 'a stunning kaleidoscope of sounds and movements' and 'movie scenes in sound'. During this walking concert, the exciting repertoire of "Splunge" will undoubtedly be heard in versions never heard before.
With 'bewitching interplay', the young Kāna Trio already won the Grachtenfestival Conservatory Competition in 2022. And this year, the Dutch-Portuguese percussion trio toured the country as part of the Dutch Classical Talent development trajectory. During the final closing, the trio won the coveted Dutch Classical Talent Award. 'Pure spectacle', was the clear jury comment here. Their infectious program also includes various remarkable works today, such as the playfully fascinating "Clacky Thocky Poppy" for three computer keyboards by Nuno Lobo.
Concert 3 januari 2026 20:00
Nunspeet
A selection from the works of Ennio Morricone, Astor Piazzolla, Philip Glass, and others heralds the musical year 2026. The beautiful, often wistful sounds of by now classic film music and other music are performed by the Matangi Quartet, together with the renowned bandoneon player Carel Kraayenhof. The quartet has been one of the most prominent ensembles on national and international stages for over 25 years, always searching for new music styles and unknown repertoire. After successful performances in New York with Astor Piazzolla, Carel Kraayenhof started one of the best tango orchestras in the world. A highlight was his bandoneon play at the wedding of Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Maxima Zorreguieta. 'Maestro' Morricone composed music for about 500 films, as well as pop songs, classical compositions, chamber music, and much more. Morricone was an important source of inspiration for the other composers in this varied and festive New Year's program.
Concert 9 januari 2026 20:15
Het Jagthuis
Claude Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86 Claude Debussy - Preludes Book II, V. Bruyères Johann Sebastian Bach - Chorale, BWV 437. Wir glauben all an einen Gott Ernest Chausson - Concert pour piano, violin et quatuor à cordes, op. 21, II. Sicilienne Camille Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre op. 40 Maurice Ravel - Miroirs, M. 43, IV. Alborada Del Gracioso Anton Bruckner - Os Justi, WAB 30 Jean Sibelius - Valse Triste, op. 44, nr 1 Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 639 Ich Ruf du dir, Herr Jesu Christ Francis Poulenc - Aubade, Concerto Choréographique, FP 51
Concert 15 januari 2026 12:30
Muziekgebouw
In the whirlwind of modern life, the Dokwerk Saxophone Quartet looks for silence. Their latest programme explores the tension between isolation and connectedness, between inner peace and the starkness of emptiness. The Dokwerk Saxophone Quartet is a young and energetic chamber music ensemble that was founded in 2019. Hailing from four different parts of the world, they found each other in the culturally vibrant city of Amsterdam.
Program:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Adagio en Fuga in c, K. 546 (arr. Remco Jak)
John Cage Story from 'Living Room Music'
Jörg Widmann 7 Capricci
Felix Mendelssohn Die Hebriden (arr. Ebonit SQ)
Ramin Amin Tafreshi A Shimmering Light
John Cage Melody from 'Living Room Music'
David Dramm HeadLand
Philip Glass Mishima V Closing (arr. Dokwerk SQ)
OTHER DATES:
18 JAN, 's-Hertogenbosch
22 JAN,
25 JAN,
29 JAN,
30 JAN,
4 FEB,
5 FEB,
8 FEB,
11 FEB,
12 FEB,
15 FEB,
18 FEB,
22 FEB,
Concert 22 januari 2026 20:00
Kasteel Dussen
In 2023, Noies Quartet brought together four women because of their passion: string quartet. Since then, as a group, they have developed their own character and expanded their repertoire, under the guidance of NSKA. They attended masterclasses with Marc Danel and Gilles Millet (Quatuor Danel) and Simone Gramaglia (Quartetto Di Cremona). A highlight of their performances was their appearance at the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam 2024, where they gave the opening concert for the Belcea Quartet.
Program:
J. Haydn, String Quartet op. 76 no. 4 "Sunrise"
D. Shostakovich, String Quartet no. 7, op. 108
— intermission
C. Shaw, Entr'acte
F. Hensel Mendelssohn, String Quartet in E-flat Major
Concert 23 januari 2026 20:00
Het Batavierhuis, Rotterdam
The North Sea String Quartet is the Dutch jazz string quartet of the moment. The improvising string players shed new light on the traditional string quartet with their distinctive improvisations, innovative playing styles, and quirky compositions, inspired by modern jazz, world music, contemporary classical music, and EDM.
The quartet has been active internationally for many years, including collaborations with artists such as Ambrose Akinmusire (USA), Trio da Kali (ML), Roland Satterwhite (USA), Lilian Vieira (BR), Javier Infante (ES), and Samora Pinderhughes (USA).
For their second album, Zonar, the quartet explored the possibilities of translating sound textures from electronic music to an acoustic string ensemble. An exciting joint exploration of prepared bow playing, modular composition, and improvisation resulted in sparkling compositions. This exclusive try-out at the Batavierhuis marks the beginning of their international album release tour.
Concert 23 januari 2026 20:15
De Kerk, Tienhoven
Inspired by the marigold flower, known for its resilience and vibrant energy, the Marigold Piano Quartet brings warmth and intensity to its performances. The ensemble was founded in 2022 in Amsterdam and consists of Dutch violinist Ruña 't Hart, British violist Connie Pharoah, Dutch cellist Kalle de Bie, and Dutch-Chinese pianist Mengjie Han. Despite being relatively new to the chamber music scene, the quartet has already made a strong impression with performances at the Concertgebouw and broadcasts on the Dutch classical radio station NPO Radio 4.
The quartet embodies a passionate and sincere approach to chamber music and explores repertoire from all periods. Their musical development has been greatly influenced by the guidance of Eberhart Feltz, whose mentorship has played a crucial role in shaping their artistic voice. Additionally, they refined their playing during masterclasses with internationally renowned musicians, including Luc-Marie Aguera of the Ysaÿe Quartet and Marc Danel of the Danel Quartet.
Concert 24 januari 2026 16:00
Nieuwe Kerk, Den Haag
Matangi Quartet presents a new edition of the Moving Music Festival on Saturday, January 24, 2026. After eight successful editions of the Unheard Music Festival and an anniversary year, the Slovak composer Vladimir Godár is now at the forefront: a unique, introspective musical voice that is rarely heard live in the Netherlands.
"We search for music that moves and sets things in motion," says Matangi. "Godár's work touches on the big questions of our time: identity, silence, and humanity."
Vladimir Godár - a composer for now
In a world full of noise and acceleration, Godár's music invites contemplation and reflection. His sound language is melancholic, spiritual, and rooted in Central European culture. Godár (1956), a composer and musicologist, gained international recognition with his vocal cycle Mater, and is often compared to Arvo Pärt and Henryk Górecki -- not in style, but in spiritual expressiveness.
Matangi brings his music to the Dutch stage "because Godár's work reminds us of the power of silence and beauty."
Program:
16:00 | INspired Concert
An intimate program where old and new worlds intersect.
17:30 | Interview: Vladimir Godár
20:15 | Marathon Vladimir Godár
The evening is entirely devoted to the oeuvre of Vladimir Godár.
Concert 26 januari 2026 14:15
Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam
The young Dutch Animato Kwartet is making international headlines thanks to the musicians’ inspired playing. This afternoon, together with Khorshid Dadbeh, the quartet performs a brand-new work for string quartet and the ancient string instrument tanbur by Iranian-Dutch composer Aftab Darvishi. The pure harmonies of Monteverdi, Dutilleux’s night music and Golijov’s baroque bass lines frame this newcomer.
The tanbur is a more than a thousand-year-old stringed instrument with deep, historical roots in Iran. The instrument has evolved over the centuries, with variations in design and playing techniques, but it has always remained a symbol of Iran’s rich musical heritage. Iranian soloist Khorshid Dadbeh is open to experimentation and loves to improvise. This makes her the perfect tanbur player for Darvishi’s new work.
Concert 28 januari 2026 14:15
Muziekgebouw
In the program Future Echoes, past, present and future come together in the form of light and sound. The creators place Schönberg's Second string quartet at the center, and Vinthya Perinpanathan juxtaposes a newly composed piece next to Schönberg's groundbreaking notes. The concept of the 'harmony of the spheres' provides a counterbalance to the relationships between tones and intervals that were seen as ideal, in both music and the cosmos.
Tradition and innovation go hand in hand with the curious creators of Future Echoes. The groundbreaking young soprano Elisabeth Hetherington, winner of the Dutch Music Prize 2024, collaborates in Future Echoes with the ADAM Quartet, composer Vinthya Perinpanathan, and a lighting designer. With her commissioned work, Perinpanathan pays homage to Schönberg's innovation while also reflecting on the evolution of musical expression through the centuries.
Concert 30 januari 2026 08:30
Bimhuis, Amsterdam
A first: the Norwegian Engegård Quartet and the North Sea String Quartet from the Netherlands together on one stage! The North Sea String Quartet's greatest love is improvisation, which will blend with the folk music brought by Engegård. This double string lineup is ideal for translating the complexity of improvisation, folk melodies and their rhythms into an intimate and refined context. Traditional Norwegian melodies and the organic play of the North Sea String Quartet will merge into a colorful whole.
The Engegård Quartet has its roots in the Lofoten, the stunning Norwegian archipelago where the silence is only interrupted by the wind always howling around the mountaintops. The contrast of this vast landscape with the bustling port city of Rotterdam, the home base of the North Sea String Quartet where various cultures converge and an international hotspot of modern architecture, can only leave its mark on the collaboration of both quartets.
Keizersgracht 241
1016 EA Amsterdam
info@nska.nl
