New Helsinki Quartet

The new Helsinki Quartet was founded in 1982. Two years later, in 1984, the quartet won two both the Viitasaari Quartet Competition and the Concertino Praga Competition in Prague. The victories were a springboard for the career of the young line-up. In April 1994, the New Helsinki Quartet placed second in the London International String Quartet Competition. It was also awarded the Audience Award as well as the prize for the best performance of a commissioned work. In 1997, the New Helsinki Quartet was awarded the Young Finland Prize.

Successful visits e.g. At the Wigmore Hall in London, as well as at numerous international festivals, the quartet has established itself in the international music scene. The quartet has given concerts in prestigious concert halls such as the Konzerthaus in Berlin, the Tonhalle in Zurich and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Regular tours are aimed at e.g. Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany and England. In addition to Europe, the quartet has performed in Japan, the United States, Australia and Israel. In 1997, the New Helsinki Quartet began regular teaching and concert activities at the Tampere Conservatory. The quartet currently operates as a residency quartet at Tampere University of Applied Sciences.

In the summer of 1998, the new Helsinki Quartet performed Béla Bartók’s six string quartets for the first time on two consecutive days during the Helsinki Festival. In the 2001-2002 season, the quartet organized their own concert series presenting Viennese music at the Crypt of Helsinki Cathedral. In the 2004-2005 season, UHK established a concert series specializing in string quartet music for the Helsinki Knights’ Hall. In addition to UHK, the series features top Finnish bands and foreign masters such as the Juilliard Quartet. To celebrate its 30th anniversary in the period 2012-2013, the quartet performed all of Ludwig van Beethoven’s string quartets in Lahti, Tampere and Helsinki.

The new Helsinki Quartet has studied under the guidance of several respected teachers. Among them are Risto Fredriksson, Eli Goren and Péter Csaba. The quartet has also studied under the Amadeus, Takács, Chillingrian and Britten quartets.

The new Helsinki Quartet has made two recordings for the Finlandia Records label. Released in 1997, the debut album includes both string quartets by Leoš Janáček and parts from Antonín Dvořák’s series Cypresses. In 1998, recordings of the string quartets by Jean Sibelius and Edvard Grieg were released. The quartet has also recorded with clarinetist Kari Kriikki for the Ondine record label. The new Helsinki Quartet has also made numerous radio and television recordings in Europe and Japan.

Source: New Helsinki Quartet