Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition 2023 - 2nd round: String Quartet
International competition for string quartet and wind quintet in tribute to the Danish composer.
Experience the competition on TV and radio
On 12, 13, 14 and 15 April from 3 pm to 6 pm, DR P2 broadcasts highlights from the first two rounds of the competition. On Sunday 16 April, DR P2 will broadcast from the final from 12.15 to 10 pm.
DR2 broadcasts a programme from the string quartet final on 23 April at 7 pm.
Hear Carl Nielsen's chamber music interpreted by the best young musicians from all over the world when three of the country's major cultural institutions – DR, Royal Danish Library and Royal Danish Academy of Music - once again hold the semifinals of the major international music competition in the two categories: String Quartet and Wind Quintet.
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) is considered one of the greatest Danish composers, and has left an impressive legacy of symphonies, chamber music, operas, instrumental concerts and more. Carl Nielsen is perceived as a national romantic composer and in his late works, he often combines a special folk tone with a modern expressive 'European' harmony.
Interpretations of Carl Nielsen's works and new works composed for the competition
Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition was established to create more focus on Carl Nielsen's chamber music so that it will also be interpreted by the best young musicians throughout the world for generations to come.
In addition to Carl Nielsen, the repertoire will consist of well-known works for string quartet and wind quintet, as well as completely new works specially composed for the competition by two young composers from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Athanasia Kotronia and Gustav Bjerre.
Jury of leading chamber musicians
The competition is judged by a jury consisting of leading chamber musicians from home and abroad: the violinists Segei Bresler and Gunvor Sihm, viola player Marie Chilemme, and cellists Marie Bitlloch and jury chairman Clive Greensmith. The brass jury consists of clarinetist and jury chairman Andreas Sundén, oboist Olivier Stankiewicz, flutist Ulla Miilmann and hornist Frøydis Ree Wekre.
The course of the competition
12 & 13 April: Round 1 in DR Koncerthuset, Studio 2
14 & 15 April: Round 2 in the Black Diamond, Queen's Hall
April 16: Finals in the Royal Danish Academy of Music's Concert Hall
About the works
If you are interested in learning more about the works and their history, we have digitised them. You have access to a modern edition of the works with a historical introduction and an overview of all the sources for the work. You can also see a list of performances during Carl Nielsen's lifetime, a list of letters in which the work is mentioned and finally an overview of further literature on the work. And for some of the works, you can also find Carl Nielsen's own manuscripts.
The competition is arranged in a collaboration between DR, Royal Danish Library and the Royal Danish Academy of Music.
The competition is supported by Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen's Foundation.
