There’s something magical about string quartet. For over 250 years, the most beautiful and thrilling music has been written for this specific combination of two violins, viola and cello.
Every two years the String Quartet Biennale brings together string quartets, composers and artists from around the globe. Their rich and diverse backgrounds help mould this dynamic and innovative festival consisting of eight days in the Muziekgebouw Amsterdam packed with over sixty concerts, talks, masterclasses and a lively fringe programme featuring 30 string quartets, soloists, composers and speakers.
Save the date!
String Quartet
Biennale 2024
27.1 - 3.2.2024
The String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam is the most large scale string quartet festival in the world.
The String Quartet Biennale came to fruition in 2018. Prior to our founding, there was no such large scale, international festival that existed for the string quartet. With more than sixty concerts and a diverse fringe programme, the biennale has successfully been fulfilling its mission of celebrating, reinventing and showcasing the string quartet in all its rich glory.
Stay up to date!
The String Quartet Biennale is a string quartet-universe without limits: It's an inviting space to discover every hidden corner that the string quartet has to offer and a place where one can encounter the widest scope of international string quartets. The Biennale is a warm home for all string quartets worldwide, where we can finally meet our fellow ensembles, listen to each other, learn from each other and inspire one another.
Rosa Arnold,
Ragazze Quartet
The String Quartet Biennale is a forum for dreams to become reality, and for the wildest and usually unrealisable ideas to take shape and wing. For us, as quartets, it is a unique meeting place for quartets amongst themselves - something which rarely happens in the wild.
Xandi Van Dijk,
Signum Quartett
Eight days of floating in the past, present and future of the string quartet exudes a hypnotic power.
Joost Galema,
NRC, 2 February 2020
The greatest thing in life is when Utopia becomes reality. For me, that is exactly what happens at the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam. For a full week, the Muziekgebouw and the area around it is like a village, completely occupied by the string quartet.
Marc Danel,
Quatuor Danel
The richness of the String Quartet Biennale is maddening.