About
The Matangi Quartet has been a welcome guest on Dutch and international stages for almost 20 years. The four members Maria-Paula, Daniel, Karsten and Arno, do not allow themselves to be placed in a booth and venture into various musical styles; from classical to dance and from jazz to pop.
"We play so many different types and styles of music, all of which require their own interpretation and presentation. That is the challenge and inspiration for us. "(Karsten Kleijer, viola player of Matangi)
Matangi shared the stage with various classical top musicians including Miranda van Kralingen, Tania Kross, Ivo Janssen, Paolo Giacometti, Severin von Eckardstein and Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer. The quartet also received invitations to various festivals, including the Delft Chamber Music Festival, the Grachtenfestival, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, the Carthage Festival in Tunisia, the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, the International Conservatoire Festival in St Petersburg, North Sea Jazz and the Liberation Festival Utrecht.
"The strength of Matangi lies in the strength of the group. We are four independent artistic souls where the whole is more than the sum of its parts "(Daniel Torrico Menacho, violinist of Matangi)
In 2002 the quartet received the prestigious Kersjes of the Groenekan Prize, which is awarded annually to exceptional talent in Dutch chamber music and in 2008 the Matangis won the third prize at the International Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition in Weimar. Matangi released several CDs at Challenge Records International, all of which were received with great criticism.
"I would describe ourselves as impetuous and untamed. We do not color within the musical lines! "(Maria-Paula Major, violinist of Matangi)
Matangi regularly participates in adventurous crossover projects and performs with comedians Herman van Veen and Youp van 't Hek, bandoneon player Carel Kraayenhof, jazz trumpet player Eric Vloeimans, jazz pianist Michiel Braam, DJ Kypski, jazz vocalists Mathilde Santing and Renske Taminiau, singer songwriters Lori Lieberman and Tom McRae. With these groundbreaking trips outside of classical music, Matangi manages to get a new audience interested in the string quartet. And just as important: it gives extra inspiration to the new classical repertoire that has been built up over the last 250 years - from Haydn to Adès - to make a new impression.
Arno van der Vuurst, cellist of Matangi; "The public knows they can be surprised with us. We are not afraid to try out ideas; the possibilities with Matangi are endless! "