News: Naumburg Award Winning cellist Clancy Newman joins the New Zealand Quartet for tour performances of the Schubert Two Cello Quintet. Renowned clarinetist James Campbell offers three quintets with the New Zealanders. More...

"impressive...the New Zealanders played Bartok's wartime 2nd String Quartet, staking out a respectable stylistic middle ground that acknowledged the music's astringency but also it's unlikely lyricism."
New York Times

"Each New Zealander played with a gorgeous, warm string tone, crystal-clear intonation, precise attacks, and a wide dynamic range. They brought out all the good-natured humor in the piece.... a truly inspired performance..."
Classical Voice of North Carolina

"Detailed and confident readings from the impressive New Zealand String Quartet... their strong sense of internal balance allows them to bring out many telling details that often go unnoticed" Gramophone Magazine [pdf]

"String lovers might be forgiven these days if they think they've died and gone to Quartet Heaven after yesterday's concert by the New Zealand String Quartet…. The concert ended with a superb account of Schubert's finest quartet, the No. 15 in G major. There was scarcely a misstep in the entire performance and the slow movement was profoundly beautiful."
Ottawa Citizen

"The quartet had the virtuosity to handle the passionate outbursts in the first and fifth movements and the wit to exploit the playful dance parodies of the second and fourth."
Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"The luscious, velvet sound of this group was apparent from the opening phrases of its first selections..."
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

"Gossamer without being merely glossy, the string quartet’s intricate sonic patterns explored the depths of human emotions crisply, tenderly and, always with great subtlety."
News Journal, Daytona Beach

"The absolutely perfect ensemble, the outstanding technical skills and the passionate playing ... made the concert an extraordinary experience."
Rheinische Post, Germany

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CD News
The latest CD by the New Zealand String Quartet is Volume 2 of their three volume recording of the compete Mendelssohn String Quartets, released by Naxos in September 2009. The Quartet’s readings of Mendelssohn on this disc quickly won praise from Gramophone Magazine, which referred to their “confidence as ensemble players”, their “strong sense of internal balance” and their focus on “expressive detail”. Volume 3 of what Gramophone reviewer Duncan Druce predicts will be an “outstanding set” will be released in May 2010. Listen

Summer School
The New Zealand String Quartet Trust presents the Adam Summer School for Chamber Music
13-21 February 2010. The Adam Summer School for Chamber Music provides the opportunity for up to 30 of New Zealand’s best young string players and pianists to commit themselves to eight days of intense chamber music-making under the guidance of the New Zealand String Quartet and pianist Diedre Irons. More...

New Zealand Composers
Over the past two decades the New Zealand String Quartet has premiered over forty works for string quartet and has played close to 200 student compositions during workshop settings for young composers. The ensemble’s commitment to New Zealand composers and their music is an important part of its work, and New Zealand compositions are featured in concerts in New Zealand and on tour worldwide. Much of the fabulous string quartet works of John Psathas, Gillian Karawe Whitehead, Jack Body, Ross Harris and others has been recorded by the New Zealand Quartet. More...

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