Longing Animato Quartet

• Anton Webern (1883 - 1945): Langsamer Satz:
• 1 Webern: Langsamer Satz 10:05
• Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945) : String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 7, Sz. 40:
• 2 Bartók: String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 7, Sz. 40: I. Lento 09:26
• 3 Bartók: String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 7, Sz. 40: II. Allegretto 08:46
• 4 Bartók: String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 7, Sz. 40: III. Introduzione (Allegro) – Allegro vivace 12:17
• Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976): String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25:
• 5 Britten: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25: I. Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo 09:14
• 6 Britten: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25: II. Allegretto con slancio 03:01
• 7 Britten: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25: III. Andante calmo 11:23
• 8 Britten: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25: IV. Molto vivace 03:52
• Total Runtime 01:08:04

Info for Longing

After falling in love with the quartets of Britten and Bartók, we developed a long-standing desire to record these masterpieces. For our debut album Longing we chose their first quartets, as well as Webern’s first string quartet work Langsamer Satz. All three remarkable works resonate with a profound and unmistakable sense of longing. We felt a sense of kinship with these composers as they, like us, were still discovering their distinct style and identity when creating these works.

In Langsamer Satz Webern beautifully showcases the height of longing for love in the romantic 19th century. Bartok continues this romantic idiom, and goes on to develop the new sounds of the early 20th century, a period from which we draw so much of our own passions. Finally, Britten continues to explore the sound and identity of the 20th century in his own distinctive colour palette. These works not only keep us on the edge of our seats, but also express a beautiful longing, one which we recognize in ourselves, and one we want to share with our listeners.

Animato Quartet:
Tim Brackman, Violin
Elisa Karen Tavenier, Viola
Pieter de Koe,Cello
Inga Våga Gaustad, violin

Animato Quartet
Seen as the most promising young string quartet in the Netherlands, the Animato Quartet is known for its passionate, spontaneous playing and powerful on-stage presence. Founded in 2013, their programs combine both classical pieces drawn from the string quartet repertoire and contemporary compositions.

“Four top players with a vibrant energy, they captivate you from the first note! …..This quartet is the great promise of the Dutch string quartets”. - Dutch Classical Talent Award

In January 2025 the Animato Quartet won the first prize at the international Irene Steels-Wilsing Foundation Competition and got an invitation to return to the Heidelberger Frühling festival 2026. In 2023 they collaborated with violist Nils Mönkemeyer in Kammermusikpreis Gut Hasselburg in Germany, where they received the 1st prize and the Audience prize.

In 2022 at the 9th International Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition in Weimar, the quartet received the Special Prize for an exceptionally talented ensemble. In September 2021, at Trondheim’s famed International Chamber Music Competition, the Animato Quartet won both third prize and a Special Jury Prize.

The Quartet was invited to participate in the prominent Verbier Festival Academy 2022 and was selected as one of only ten quartets to compete in the prestigious Banff International String Quartet Competition (Canada) in 2022.

In 2023 the Kersjes Prize, the most important state prize for classical chamber music talent, was given to these four musicians. From the jury report: “Four players, each maintaining and using their individual expression, have developed a multi-layered and intense playing as a quartet with a wide palette of colours”. “Vierspelers, die elk hun individuele expressie behouden en gebruiken, hebben een gelaagd en intens spel ontwikkeld als een kwartet met een breed kleurenpalet”.

Within the Netherlands Animato has performed at all major venues. Outside of the Netherlands they have given concerts in venues such as the Philharmonie in Paris, the Luxemburg Philharmonie and in the chamber music series of the Gewandhaus in Leipzig.

The quartet has also performed at numerous international festivals in the Netherlands such as the Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival, the Stift Music festival and the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam. Outside of the Netherlands they have performed at festivals in Portugal, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and France.

Until 2022, the Animato was ‘artist in residence’ of the Dutch String Quartet Academy (NSKA). Their development both as musicians and as a quartet has also greatly benefited from lessons and mentorship of some of the most recognised players in their disciplines, such as Eberhard Feltz, Marc Danel, Hatto Beyerle, Anner Bylsma, Jan-Willem de Vriend, Alfred Brendel, Gerhard Schultz and Vera Beths.

The quartet ended 2024 with a two week tour in Indonesia organised by the Erasmushuis in Jakarta, where they gave concerts and workshops in Jakarta, Ambon and Makassar.

The upcoming year will result in two CD-releases, a first release of Osvaldo Golijov’s Nonet “Ever Yours” and their debut album featuring works by Britten and Bartok.

Furthermore, some highlights include their return to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as well as their debut in Finland, Hungary and the Oslo Quartet Series. They are once again engaged at the String Quartet Biennale in Amsterdam in 2026 and will be performing alongside the Quatuor Danel at Diligentia in The Hague later in the season.

The Animato Quartet is grateful and privileged to play on exquisite instruments. Inga plays a violin by Tommasso Eberle from 1776 (Naples), on loan from Dextra Musica. Tim plays a violin by Johannes Theodorus Cuypers from 1797 (Netherlands), Elisa Karen plays a viola by Daniel Royé from 2017, and Pieter plays a Dutch cello by Pieter Rombouts from 1710.

Booklet for Longing