“a profoundly impressive performance”
“Chamber music does not get better”
The Oslo String Quartet (OSQ) was founded in 1991 and is one of Scandinavia’s most acclaimed and sought after chamber ensembles. In 1994 they made their international mark after making the finals of London International String Competition, and by 1999 their complete recordings of string quartets by Grieg and Carl Nielsen attracted attention, the latter being selected as Editor’s Choice in the prestigious Gramophone magazine.
As well as being regular guests at all the major chamber music festivals and series in Norway and Scandinavia, OSQ tours Europe and America, including the Schleswig Holstein festival, Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York.
30 years of artistic work is shown in the discography of OSQ which contains both classic and modern masterpieces, emphasizing the Scandinavian repertoire and particularly music by undeservedly forgotten Norwegian composers such as Fartein Valen, Klaus Egge, Johan Kvandal, David Monrad Johansen and Knut Nystedt. OSQ regularly collaborates with composers, which has resulted in several awards, some of which include “Performer of the Year” in 1998 by the Norwegian Society of Composers and the Music Critic’s Prize in 1999/2000. Music from many different genres exquisitely arranged for string quartet by their own cellist Øystein Sonstad is an important part of their artistic scope and has resulted in exciting collaborations and recordings. This includes Tosca, Peer Gynt, Schubert’s Winterreise, Bach´s Christmas Oratorio as well as popular tunes by ABBA, Dave Brubeck and PSY, demonstrating the curiosity and versatility of the OSQ.
Connecting with a broad audience has always been important for the Oslo String Quartet. School concerts, mini-festivals and video productions with specially adapted programs and themes have been a vital part of their activity for three decades. Some productions include: Beethoven show for children, the festivals «The Beethoven Code», “G-force” and “Schubert Mysteries”. Lately the video series «The Corona Mystery», presenting a humorous glance at our pandemic situation, has had a lot of traction on social media.
OSQ plays on instruments generously on loan with by Dextra Musica Foundation.
Geir Inge Lotsberg, Giuseppe Guarneri, Filius Andr. 1703
Liv Hilde Klokk-Bryhn, Thomas Balestrieri 1759
Magnus Boye Hansen, Matteo Gofriller 1710
Øystein Sonstad, Giovanni Battista Rogeri 1695
