Photo: Tero Ahonen
Meta4
Antti Tikkanen, violin
Minna Pensola, violin
Atte Kilpeläinen, viola
Tomas Djupsjöbacka, cello
Meta4, formed in 2001, is one of the most internationally successful Finnish string quartets. In 2004 it won the first prize in the International Shostakovich Quartet Competition in Moscow and was also awarded a special prize for best Shostakovich interpretation. The quartet enjoyed continued success in 2007, when it won the first prize in the International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition in Vienna. Later that year the Finnish Minister of Culture awarded Meta4 with the annual Finland Prize in recognition of an international breakthrough. Meta4 was selected as a BBC New Generation Artist for 2008–2010 and in 2013 Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation awarded the quartet with a special prize in recognition of its work.
Meta4 performs regularly in key music capitals and concert halls around the world including Wiener Konzerthaus, Wigmore Hall and King’s Place in London, Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, Cité de la Musique in Paris and Stockholms Konserthus, and has also toured in Australia. Furthermore, Meta4 served as the Artistic Director of Oulunsalo Music Festival between 2008 and 2011 and was the quartet-in-residence at the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival from 2008-2017.
The quartet has studied in the European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA) under Hatto Beyerle and Johannes Meissl. They have released three recordings on Hänssler Classics: Haydn’s String Quartets op. 55 1–3 (2009), which was awarded the esteemed Echo Klassik Award in 2010; Shostakovich’s String Quartets 3, 4 & 7 (2012), which received the 2012 Record of the Year award from the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE as well as the Emma prize (the Finnish Grammy) in the category of the Classical Album of the Year, as well as Bartók’s String Quartets 1 & 5, released in 2014. The quartet has also released an album of Kaija Saariaho’s chamber music works (Ondine, 2013) and an LP of Sibelius’s String Quartet ‘Voces Intimae’ (Berliner Meister Schallplatten, 2013). An album with Brahms Clarinet Quintet and Gérard Pesson’s Nebenstück together with Reto Bieri, was released via ECM Records in 2019. The most recent albums of the quartet were breleased via Bis Records: their recording of octets by Mendelssohn and Enescu with the Gringolts Quartet was released in 2020 and fall 2021 saw the release of Oceano, Chamber Music by Sebastian Fagerlund.
The members of Meta4 play distinguished instruments, which include a Stradivarius, kindly on loan from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, a Carlo Bergonzi violin, kindly on loan from Signe and Ane Gyllenberg’s Foundation and a cello made by Lorenzo Storioni in Cremona in 1780.
Artist's/Ensemble's own websiteProgramme
13.7.
Intimate Voices, Incidental Music for two clowns and string quartet (2025, premier)
14.7.
Robert Schumann (1810—1856):
String Quartet No. 1 in A minor, Op. 41 No. 1 (1842)
14.7.
Joseph Haydn (1732—1809):
String Quartet No. 62 in C, Op. 76 No. 3 'Emperor' (1797)
14.7.
15.7.
16.7.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809—1847):
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13 (1827)
16.7.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770—1827):
String Quartet No. 16 in F, Op. 135 (1826)
17.7.
Jean Sibelius (1865—1957):
Fugue for Martin Wegelius for string quartet (1889)
18.7.
18.7.
Oscar Byström (1821—1909):
Intermezzo from String Quartet in C minor 'Swedish' (1856, rev. 1895)
18.7.
Hymn 571 – Den blomstertid nu kommer (Summer Hymn) (1697) (Hymn-along, in Finnish)
20.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
Requiem in D minor, K. 626 (1791, arr. for vocal quartet and string quartet by Atte Kilpeläinen and Meta4)
Minna Pensola
14.7.
The Heart of the Day – Minna Pensola and Antti Tikkanen talk about the summer's program and making of it (in Finnish).
15.7.
Hannu Salama (1936):
Poem Minä olen ajatellut paljon (I have thought much)
16.7.
Alan Ridout (1934—1996):
Ferdinand the Bull for speaker and violin (1971, text: Munro Leaf)
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem 23.30 Pikajuna Viipuriin
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Tuntematon tie
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Kirje
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Kevät
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Konstantinopeliin
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Valtatiet
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Täysikuu
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Ensimmäinen suudelma
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Nuoruus
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Teräskukat
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Sininen yö
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Ja lopuksi
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Päiväkirjan teksti
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Aurinkolaulu
20.7.
Alexander Glazunov (1865—1936):
String Quintet in A, Op. 39 (1892)
- Minna Pensola
- Tami Pohjola
- Gareth Lubbe
- Bjørg Lewis
- Mee Na Lojewski
21.7.
The Heart of the Day – artistic directors Minna Pensola and Antti Tikkanen talk about the second week's program (in Finnish).
21.7.
Franz Berwald (1796—1868):
Septet in B flat for clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello and double bass (1828)
22.7.
John Cage (1912—1992):
Living Room Music (1940, lyrics quoted from The World is Round by Gertrude Stein)
- Anna Caroline Olsen
- Minna Pensola
- Antti Tikkanen
- Ari Vilhjálmsson
23.7.
Seppo Kantonen (1963):
Nordic Utopia, Suite of Miniatures for violin and double bass (2025, premier)
23.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
Serenade in C, K. 648 for string trio 'Eine ganz kleine Nachtmusik' (1766–69 ca.)
23.7.
Jean Sibelius (1865—1957):
En glad musikant (a Happy Musician), JS 70 for violin (1924–25)
23.7.
Wiljami Anttikainen (alias Vladimir Mendelssohn) (1949—2021):
Lupine for Antti and Minna, composed on a napkin at a pizzeria in Cividale 2017
25.7.
Kaija Saariaho (1952—2023):
Terra Memoria for string orchestra (2009)
25.7.
Edvard Grieg (1843—1907):
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (1884)
25.7.
Bob Dylan (1941):
Knockin' On Heaven's Door (1973, instrumentation Minna Pensola)
26.7.
Nancy Dalberg (1881—1949):
Scherzo, Op. 6 for string orchestra (1914)
26.7.
Jaakko Kuusisto (1974—2022):
Välivuodenajat (Between Seasons), Op. 7 for string orchestra and harpsichord (1995–96)
26.7.
Kurt Atterberg (1887—1974):
Suite No. 3, Op. 19 No. 1 for violin, viola and string orchestra (1917)
26.7.
Arvo Pärt (1935):
Tabula rasa for two violins, prepared piano and string orchestra (1977)
Antti Tikkanen
14.7.
The Heart of the Day – Minna Pensola and Antti Tikkanen talk about the summer's program and making of it (in Finnish).
14.7.
Hymn 22 – Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ (Hymn-along, in Finnish)
18.7.
Louis Spohr (1784—1859):
Double String Quartet No. 1, Op. 65 (1823)
19.7.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678—1741):
Violin Concerto in E, Op. 8 No. 1 'Spring' (1723)
19.7.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678—1741):
Violin Concerto in G minor, Op. 8 No. 2 'Summer' (1723)
19.7.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678—1741):
Violin Concerto in F, Op. 8 No. 3 'Autumn' (1723)
19.7.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678—1741):
Violin Concerto in F minor, Op. 8 No. 4 'Winter' (1723)
20.7.
Einar Englund (1916—1999):
Sonata for violin and piano (1979)
21.7.
The Heart of the Day – artistic directors Minna Pensola and Antti Tikkanen talk about the second week's program (in Finnish).
22.7.
John Cage (1912—1992):
Living Room Music (1940, lyrics quoted from The World is Round by Gertrude Stein)
- Anna Caroline Olsen
- Minna Pensola
- Antti Tikkanen
- Ari Vilhjálmsson
23.7.
Carl Nielsen (1865—1931):
Faith and Hope are playing from Moderen (Mother), Op. 41 for flute and viola
23.7.
Carl Nielsen (1865—1931):
The Fog is lifting from Moderen (Mother), Op. 41 for flute, viola and cello
23.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
Serenade in C, K. 648 for string trio 'Eine ganz kleine Nachtmusik' (1766–69 ca.)
23.7.
Wiljami Anttikainen (alias Vladimir Mendelssohn) (1949—2021):
Lupine for Antti and Minna, composed on a napkin at a pizzeria in Cividale 2017
24.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
Larghetto - Allegro from String Quintet No. 5 in D, K. 593 (1790)
24.7.
Jean Sibelius (1865—1957):
Water Droplets for violin and cello (1875)
24.7.
Toivo Kuula (1883—1918):
Three South Ostrobothnia Dances, Op. 17a (1908, arr. for violin and cello by Minna Pensola)
25.7.
Kaija Saariaho (1952—2023):
Terra Memoria for string orchestra (2009)
25.7.
Edvard Grieg (1843—1907):
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (1884)
26.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
String Quintet No. 5 in D, K. 593 (1790)
26.7.
Nancy Dalberg (1881—1949):
Scherzo, Op. 6 for string orchestra (1914)
26.7.
Jaakko Kuusisto (1974—2022):
Välivuodenajat (Between Seasons), Op. 7 for string orchestra and harpsichord (1995–96)
26.7.
Kurt Atterberg (1887—1974):
Suite No. 3, Op. 19 No. 1 for violin, viola and string orchestra (1917)
26.7.
Arvo Pärt (1935):
Tabula rasa for two violins, prepared piano and string orchestra (1977)
Atte Kilpeläinen
14.7.
Enoch Sontonga (1873—1905):
Hymn 501 – Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (God Bless Africa) (Hymn-along, in Finnish) (1897)
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem 23.30 Pikajuna Viipuriin
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Tuntematon tie
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Kirje
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Kevät
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Konstantinopeliin
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Valtatiet
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Täysikuu
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Ensimmäinen suudelma
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Nuoruus
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Teräskukat
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Sininen yö
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Ja lopuksi
18.7.
Mika Waltari (1908—1979):
Poem Päiväkirjan teksti
18.7.
Anna-Mari Kähärä (1963):
Aurinkolaulu
Tomas Djupsjöbacka
14.7.
Alfred Schnittke (1934—1998):
Hymn II for cello and double bass (1974)
19.7.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770—1827):
Symphony No. 6, Op. 68 'Pastoral' (1808, arr. for string sextet by M. G. Fischer 1810)
Affinity-kvartetti
16.7.
Joseph Haydn (1732—1809):
String Quartet No. 49 in B minor, Op. 64 No. 2 (1790)
17.7.
Claude Debussy (1862—1918):
String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 10 (1893)
18.7.
Louis Spohr (1784—1859):
Double String Quartet No. 1, Op. 65 (1823)
19.7.
Arne Sørlie (1947):
The Song of the Sámi Family, the Official Sámi Anthem (instrumentation for string quartet by Minna Pensola)
20.7.
Samuel Barber (1910—1981):
Dover Beach, Op. 3 for baritone and string quartet (1931, lyrics: Matthew Arnold)
23.7.
Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853—1894):
String Quartet in A (c. 1870–80)
24.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
Larghetto - Allegro from String Quintet No. 5 in D, K. 593 (1790)
24.7.
Claude Debussy (1862—1918):
Assez vif et bien rythmé from String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 10 (1893)
24.7.
Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853—1894):
Allegro ma non troppo - Trio from String Quartet in A (c. 1870–80)
24.7.
Joseph Haydn (1732—1809):
Finale from String Quartet No. 49 in B minor, Op. 64 No. 2 (1790)
26.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
String Quintet No. 5 in D, K. 593 (1790)