Inga Våga Gaustad, violin
Tim Brackman, violin
Elisa Karen Tavenier, viola
Pieter de Koe, cello
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.
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”.
Within the Netherlands Animato has performed at all major venues. Outside of the Netherlands they have given concerts in venues such as the Philarmonie 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.
In 2022, the Animato Quartet received the Dutch Classical Talent Audience Award after a special tour playing in thirteen of The Netherlands major halls. The jury was duly impressed with the foursome, stating: “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”.
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 they collaborated with violist Nils Mönkemeyer in festival Gut Hasselburg in Germany, where they received the 1st prize and the Audience prize.
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 recognized 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 the year of 2024 with a 12-day tour in Indonesia organized by the Erasmushuis in Jakarta, where they gave concerts as well as giving 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 Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as well as their debut in Finland, Hungary and at 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 the same season.
The Animato Quartet is both fortunate and grateful to play on beautiful instruments; Inga plays a violin made by Tommasso Eberle in Naples in 1776 on loan from Dextra Musica. Pieter’s cello (Joh. Th. Cuypers- The Hague, 1775-’80) is on loan from the Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation (NMF). Elisa Karen plays a viola by Daniel Royé, purchased with the support of Stichting Eigen Muziekinstrument (SEM).
