Biography
The literature of the Doelen Quartet is selected from and concentrates itself on the contemporary string quartet music and closely follows the developments within this genre.Alongside contemporary works the repertoire of the Doelen Quartet also consists of compositions of the early 20th century. In order to be able to present all this music in a historical perspective, the Doelen Quartet will also, where fitting, relive the classics of former periods in music.
Collaboration with composers such as Dutilleux, Boesmans, Rihm, Birtwistle, Wagemans, de Vries, Top and others is an important source of inspiration for the Doelen Quartet. That, conversely, the Doelen Quartet is itself also an inspiration may be evident from the many requests of composers to write for the quartet.
The Doelen Quartet evolved from the DoelenEnsemble, founded by violinist Frank de Groot and composer Peter-Jan Wagemans with the purpose of acquainting new audiences with the classical music of the 20thand 21st century. Concert-hall de Doelen constitutes the musical centre where the DoelenEnsemble and DoelenQuartet both present their series. The concerts given in the Red Sofa series have come to enjoy great popularity amongst concert-goers, in part as a result of the introductory lectures given by artistic director Peter-Jan Wagemans.
Alongside the programs in the Red Sofa series the Doelen Quartet follows its own course, one supportive of the general direction of the ensemble: to reach and interest a relatively diverse public with and for the (new) developments in music by placing known and unknown compositions of today within a historical context.
The Doelen Quartet performs regularly during important Dutch festivals. Among them are the Gergiev Festival, the International Gaudeamus Music Festival, the Festival for Dutch String Quartets in Eindhoven, the Prime Festival in Groningen and the Hortus Festival. Outside the Netherlands the Doelen Quartet has given concerts during festivals in Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Germany and Costa Rica.
The Doelen Quartet has produced several cd’s with works of composers such as Wolfgang Rihm, Peter-Jan Wagemans, a cd with works of 6 composers of the Rotterdam School and a three live cd-box ‘Play it Again!’. In collaboration with Wendingen a cd was produced with an acclaimed performance of the three string quartets of the Dutch composer Luctor Ponse (1914-1998). The Doelen Quartet has also contributed to the production of two audiobooks.
The Doelen Quartet is part of the Stichting Nederlandse Strijkkwartetten which initializes string quartet series on distinctive locations within the Netherlands.
The concerts of the Doelen Quartet are broadcast nationally.