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...has for years been a leading
Scandinavian chamber music group, performing to great acclaim
the world over.
Flutist Gro Sandvik enjoys
seniority, a permanent ensemble member since 1967. Audiences
and critics alike have come under the spell of the BWQ's interpretations,
with the ensemble's trademark virtuosity and breath-taking dynamic
range always at the service of the music. In 1982 the quintet
was awarded the French Senate's special prize for the best performance
of a French composition at the international chamber music competition
in Colmar, France. Since then, the ensemble has enjoyed increasing
popularity, as featured performers at international festivals
such as Bodensee Festival, Helsinki Summer Festival, International
Chamber Music Festival Stavanger, Bergen International Festival,
Flanders Festival and Musikherbst Westmünsterland. In 2004
the group performed Samuel Barber's well-known quintet, "Summer
Music" on the notable Chamber Music Society of Detroit concert
series, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the commissioning
of the work.
The BWQ has performed in many
well known concert halls, among them Teatro Mancini in Milan,
Beethovenhalle in Bonn, Baird Auditorium and National Gallery
of Art in Washington DC., as well as at Carnegie Hall in New
York. Extensive broadcast credits include programs for BBC- Radio
3, WDR in Germany, WFMT in Chicago, "Saint Paul Sunday"
and "Performance Today" for National Public Radio in
the U.S. The BWQ has recorded Carl Nielsen's complete works for
winds, all three woodwind quintets by David Maslanka, as well
as music of such notable composers as Samuel Barber, Paul Hindemith,
Jacques Ibert, André Jolivet, August Klughardt, and Anton
Reicha. Harald Sæverud, the Norwegian composer laureate,
enjoyed the group's playing so much that he dedicated two new
works to them, both of which are available on CD.
Members of the BWQ are all
very much in demand as soloists. They also serve as Professors
at the Grieg Academy of the University of Bergen. The quintet
has been named Visiting Guest Artists in residence at the University
of Minnesota. |
