TRACK 2 NOVO Quartet

• Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13:
• 1 Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13: I. Adagio – Allegro vivace 08:11
• 2 Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13: II. Adagio non lento 07:52
• 3 Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13: III. Intermezzo. Allegretto con moto – Allegro di molto 05:03
• 4 Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13: IV. Presto – Adagio non lento 09:55
• Missy Mazzoli (b. 1980): Harp and Altar:
• 5 Mazzoli: Harp and Altar 09:01
• Carl Nielsen (1865-1931): String Quartet No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 5:
• 6 Nielsen: String Quartet No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 5: I. Allegro non troppo ma energico 12:44
• 7 Nielsen: String Quartet No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 5: II. Un poco adagio 06:28
• 8 Nielsen: String Quartet No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 5: III. Allegretto scherzando 05:58
• 9 Nielsen: String Quartet No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 5: IV. Finale. Allegro appassionato 09:04
• Total Runtime 01:14:16

Info for TRACK 2

From Næstved to Middelfart, from Svalbard to Brooklyn: the NOVO Quartet charts its course across geographies and eras. For Track 2, the four Danish musicians, laureates of the 2023 Geneva Competition, bring together Mendelssohn's String Quartet No. 2, a Romantic masterpiece that holds a very personal place in the ensemble's story, Nielsen's String Quartet No. 2 in F minor, fierce and harmonically daring, and Missy Mazzoli's Harp and Altar, recorded here for the first time. An album born in the far North, between ice and light, that confirms the singular voice of a quartet already prize-winning and fully committed to its own narrative.

NOVO Quartet

NOVO Quartet
The journey began in 2018 with three childhood friends and a Polish violist — a look-alike to the second violinist. In the beginning, the young quartet couldn’t even agree on a name, so the organizer of their first concert named them “NOVO” — because they were new. Six years later, they still feel as at the beginning of their journey. Not due to the lack of experience, but they are always exploring, keeping doors open, and letting curiosity lead the way.

That curiosity has taken them far. With around 75 concerts a year, they have performed in world-class venues like Wigmore Hall and Victoria Hall. But they also seek contrasts — like playing at a boys’ school in Kenya, discovering how music brings joy even where classical concerts are rare. Their outreach tours have taken them to Kenya, Greenland, Svalbard, and Colombia. They have had the pleasure of performing alongside Quatuor Modigliani, Danish String Quartet, Per Tengstrand, and Alexander Lonquich, as well as genre-crossing projects with Dreamers’ Circus and Bremer/McCoy.

NOVO Quartet’s achievements include top prizes at the Geneva, Heidelberg, Carl Nielsen, and Trondheim competitions. Most recently, they were selected as BBC New Generation Artists for 2025–27 – a major milestone that will strengthen their growing presence in the UK. They are also part of The Young Artistic Elite 2024–26, a distinction awarded by the Danish Arts Foundation which they see as essential fuel for the quartet engine.

Beyond music, collaborations with brands like UNIQLO and Shaping New Tomorrow have helped them reach new audiences — because looking sharp on stage matters, but so does creative outreach.

But none of this matters without their bond. Over time, the quartet has become a small family, built on respect, care, and humor. This philosophy inspired them to create their own festival, ACROSS, where they exclusively invite already established ensembles. Here, it’s all about celebrating the spirit of chamber music together with ensembles from around the world – a vision they are passionate about realizing.

Booklet for TRACK 2