Matangi Quartet
photo by Marco BorggreveBIOGRAPHY
The
Matangi Quartet was founded in 1999 by four young musicians then studying at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and the Conservatory of Rotterdam. In 2003 Matangi completed the two-year, full-time course at the Netherlands String Quartet Academy under the direction of Stefan Metz (cellist, Orlando Quartet). At the Academy, the
Matangi Quartet had the opportunity to take lessons from inter- national renown musicians, including the members of the Amadeus Quartet. The quartet also received intensive mentoring from Henk Guittart (violist, Schönberg Quartet) for several years.
The
Matangi Quartet has since developed into a regular performer in the Dutch
Chamber Music scene and abroad. With their impassioned playing and smart presentation, Maria-Paula, Daniel, Karsten and Arno epitomise a new generation of
Classical musicians. They are often
characterised by words such as communicative, provocative and refreshingly versatile. The
Matangi Quartet has shared the stage with various top-class
Classical musicians such as the Schönberg Quartet, the Royal Quartet, Miranda van Kralingen, Tania Kross, Ivo Janssen, Paolo Giacometti, Severin von Eckardstein and Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer. The quartet has also been invited to perform in various festivals and concert series, including the Delft
Chamber Music Festival, the Amsterdam Grachtenfestival, the Aix-en-Provence Festival, the Orlando Festival, the Robeco Summer Concert Series in Amsterdam, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and The Hortus Festival. Since 2005 the quartet haspresented its own concert series in the ‘Beurs van Berlage’ in Amsterdam.
In 2002 Matangi was awarded the prestigious Kersjes van de Groenekan Award, an annual prize awarded to exceptional
Chamber Music talent in the Netherlands. In 2008 the quartet won third prize at the International Joseph Joachim
Chamber Music Competition in Weimar. The Matangi Quartet’s first CD Première (reissued by Challenge in 2006, CC72164) was followed by the CD single Bats from Hell in 2003 (which was awarded a ‘Luister 10’, the highest score given by the Dutch music magazine ’Luister’). The CD
Scandinavia featuring works by Grieg, Johansen and Röntgen (issued by Challenge in 2005, CC72137) received
great critical acclaim.
Matangi regularly participates in innovative crossover projects and has performed in collaboration with artists such as Herman van Veen, Youp van ’t Hek, Carel Kraayenhof,
Eric Vloeimans and DJ Kypski. These pioneering excursions beyond the borders of
Classical music have resulted in Matangi winning an enthusiastic new public for the string quartet. No less importantly, this has provided a source of inspiration for infusing performances of the rich
Classical repertoire built up over the past 250 years – from Haydn to Adès – with new élan.
For, essentially, the Matangi are focused on just one thing: letting audiences palpably experience the energy, passion and excitement that is inherent in all good music.
The
Matangi Quartet comprises:
Maria-Paula Majoor - violin
Daniel Torrico Menacho - violin
Karsten Kleijer - viola
Arno van der Vuurst - cello
All four musicians perform on instruments of Dutch workmanship. The cello and first violin have been provided on loan by the Dutch National Musical Instrument Foundation.
Who is Matangi?Matangi is the Indian goddess of speech, music and writing. The vina that she carries in her hand is an instrument that produces deep sounds with pleasing overtones. Matangi transports her listeners with her playing on the strings of passion, fervour, love and ecstasy.
PRESS REVIEWS
De versnapering die het water echt in de mond doet lopen, is echter het vlekkeloze samenspel van de Matangi's zelf. Samenspel zonder toegevoegde smaak- en kleurstoffen, dat reikt van de energieke raspklanken. Joep Christenhusz - Klassieke zaken - april 2010
The appetizer makes your mouth water, because of the perfect play of the Matangi themselves. Combined play with no added flavoring and coloring, which reaches energetic rasping sounds. Joep Christenhusz - Klassieke zaken - april 2010.
Onder het motto 'goede muziek is goede muziek, ongeacht de stijl en genre', vermengen ze op Candybox muziek van componisten in verschillende soorten en maten, zoals ook Engelse drop een allegaartje van smaken is. EV - Het Parool - April 2010
With the slogan "good music is good music regardless the style or genre, they blend the music of composers in various shapes and sizes on the Candybox, just like the fact that English drop is a mix of everything. OL - Het Parool - April 2010
De vier strijkers zelf spelen op de scherp van de snede en leveren een warm pleidooi voor al die muziekale snoepjes die zonder mankeren aangenaam naar binnen glijden.
The four strings theirself play with fully intention and bring a warm argument for all the musical candy which go in without any trouble.
Candybox is een verzameling muzikale lekkernijen uit het tienjarige bestaan van dit frisse Nederlandse strijkkwartet. De vier musici kozen elk hun favorieten en de zeven winnende componisten doen mee op dit feestje. WZ - Mania Klassiek - Mei 2010
Candybox is a collection of musical delights from the tenth anniversary of the fresh Dutch string quartet. The four musicians each chose their favorites, with seven winning composers participating in this celebration. WZ - Mania Klassiek- May 2010
Op de nieuwe cd, uitgebracht ter gelegenheid van het tienjarig bestaan, speelt het zeer verschillende hedendaagse snoepjes. Niet alleen de bijgeleverde snoepjes smaken uitstekend, ook de muzikale snoepjes smaken naar meer: pittige muziek pittig uitgevoerd met de juiste balans tussen rust en opwinding. In de romantische werken bewijst het viertal dat ook dit repertoire zeer goed aankan. Boudisque classique - Mei 2010
On the new CD, released because of the tenth anniversary, the Matangi quartet plays very different contemporary sweets. Not only the sweets are great, also the musical sweets are perfect: spicy music spicy performed with the right balance between relaxation and excitement. In the romantic works, the foursome proves that they can handle this repertoire very well. Boudisque classique - May 2010
Zij noemden hem ‘Candybox’, verpakten hem in een doosje en deden er Engelse drop in. Niet alleen om te verwijzen naar de titel, maar ook naar de inhoud van het album, want dat is even gevarieerd als het veelkleurige snoepgoed. Rinus van der Heijden - Jazzenzo - Mei 2010
They call it "Candybox", wrapped in a box with English drop in it. Not only to refer to the title, but also the content of the album, because that is as varied as the multi-colored candy. Rinus van der Heijden - Jazz Enzo - May 2010
Het jonge Matangi strijkkwartet is een van die succesvolle, ondernemende ensembles, voortkomen uit de Haagse Conservatoriumschool. De zesde Challenge cd van het ensemble is al even verrassend als het voorafgaande vijftal. Eigenlijk steeds hebben de Hagenezen net een streepje voor omdat ze minder stijfjes, vol zwier en overtuigingskracht ageren. Heel stimulerend allemaal. Musicalfeiten - Juni 2010
The young Matangi String Quartet is one of the successful, enterprising ensembles arising from the Haagse Conservatory School. This is the sixth Challenge CD of the ensemble and it is as surprising as the previous five. The people from Den Haag have a advantage, because they are not stiff, full of verve and persuasiveness. It is very stimulating. Musicalfeiten - June 2010
"De prachtige en immens verzorgde uitgave in combinatie met de schitterende uitvoeringen van het Matangi Quartet maakt deze ‘Candybox’ erg de moeite, ten minste als de luisteraar het allemaal niet te moeilijk wil." Hildegart Maertens - kwadratuur.be 2010
"The beautiful and immense edition in combination with the brilliant performances of the Matangi Quartet makes this 'Candybox' really worth while, at least if the listener wants it all not too difficult." Hildegart Maertens - kwadratuur.be 2010
''De Tulipa Matangi is vernoemd naar het jubilerende kwartet. Maria Paula Majoor:'Het is debiel zo mooi recht als die tulp blijft'.'' Paul Janssen Luister september/oktober 2010
''The Tulipa Matangi is named after the jubilee quartet. Maria Paula Majoor, "It's so beautiful straight moron as this tulip remains'' Paul Janssen Luister september/oktober 2010
''Das Matangi Quartet schenkt allen hundert Prozent Aufmerksamkeit, lässt die Bonbons rollen und drehen, seh zum Hörvergnügen des Musikfreunds, der sich mit dieser CD eine der skurrilsten Quartett-CDs im Katalog in seinen Besitz bringen kann!'' Pizzicato juni 2010
''Het Matangi Kwartet geeft alles honderd procent aandacht, ze laten de snoepjes draaien en rollen, bekijk deze CD met het luisterplezier van de muziekliefhebber en dan kan deze CD een van de bizarste kwartet CD's van zijn eigen bezit worden!'' Pizzicato juni 2010
''The Matangi Quartet gives all a hundred percent the attention, the candy turns and rolls, if you look at the album from the listening pleasure of the music lover point of you, this album can make it to one of the most bizarre quartet CDs in your possession!'' Pizzicato jun
"Het speelt miniaturen beter op cd, lange stukken beter in de zaal en hopelijk, zolang het bestaat, op beide podia enigszins bedaagde klassieke muziek met de prettige energie van sommige moderne muziek." Emanuel Overbeeke Luister mei 2010
"They play the miniatures best on CD, longer pieces better in the concert hall and hopefully, as long as it exists, on both platforms rather old classical music with the pleasant energy of some of the modern music." Emanuel Overbeeke Luister May 2010
'Schön durchgeatmet und ausgebalanciert sind die hinreißenden melodischen Bögen.' - Ernst Hoffmann
'Een album volgespeeld door een eenzaam instrument.' - Coen de Jonge.
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