Mondriaan/Molinari: Musical Inspirations
String Quartet & VisualsAn artistic dialogue between Canada and the Netherlands: renowned Canadian string quartet Quatuor Molinari joins forces with visual artist Udo Prinsen to present new Canadian and Dutch music inspired by the paintings of Mondriaan and Molinari.
[Wilbert Bulsink](Wilbert Bulsink composed his second string quartet in response to the work of Canadian painter Guido Molinari, while Canadian composer Denis Gougeon drew inspiration from Mondriaan. These two new quartets are complemented by two classics of the string quartet repertoire: Streepjes by Guus Janssen and Objets Perdus by John Rea. An enchanting and immersive experience in which Molinari’s and Mondriaan’s paintings dance to the music.
Since its founding in 1997, Quatuor Molinari has received international acclaim and has won no fewer than thirty Opus Prizes from the Conseil québécois de la musique. Critics have described the quartet as an “essential” and “phenomenal” ensemble, “Canada’s answer to the Kronos or Arditti Quartet.” Quatuor Molinari has established itself as one of Canada’s leading string quartets.
The quartet has been a frequent guest at concert series and festivals throughout Canada, Europe and Asia. Their recordings on the ATMA Classique label have received widespread international acclaim, including two Editors’ Choices from Gramophone magazine and glowing reviews in The Strad, Fanfare, Diapason and numerous other publications.
For their 2025 CD featuring the complete string quartets of Luciano Berio, they received the Diapason d’Or from the French magazine Diapason and the 2025 Abbiati Recording Prize from Italy’s National Association of Music Critics. De Volkskrant wrote: “…adventurous listeners can count themselves lucky. These are meticulous, vibrant performances, without excessive enthusiasm – allowing Berio’s string quartets to emerge in their purest form.” (Dennis Bajram, 27 March 2025)
Their recording of the complete string quartets of Kurtág received a Diapason d’Or in 2016 and the Echo Klassik Award for CDs featuring 20th- and 21st-century chamber music. The album was included in NRC’s list of the best classical albums of 2016. Reviewer Joep Stapel ranked the CD at number two: “Excellent playing and the spacious, warm sound quality make this an accessible introduction [to Kurtág’s music].” (NRC, 5 October 2016)
Olga Ranzenhofer, violin & artistic director
Antoine Bareil, violin
Lyne Allard, viola
Pierre-Alain Bouvrette, violoncello
Visuals: Udo Prinsen
Plus ticket
If you are able to make an additional contribution towards making this evening possible, please consider purchasing the slightly more expensive 'Plusticket'.
We have kept the prices of the regular tickets for this concert low, so that the performance is accessible to everyone.
There is no difference in seating between the Plus Ticket and the regular tickets. Upon arrival, you can choose your own seat.