“The Danish are remarkable, as ever – capable of intense blend, extreme dynamic variation (in which they seem glued together), perfect intonation even on harmonics, and constant vitality and flow.”
—Gramophone

"I remain at a loss to explain how these four musicians create such pathos from a simple old folk tune. Their arrangement gives it an almost Beethovenian depth of feeling — sadness and joy turning inescapably into each another. "
–New York Times

The Grammy-nominated Danish String Quartet, one of today’s most highly acclaimed and in-demand classical quartets, continue to affirm their place among the world’s finest ensembles.  Renowned for their imaginative programming and distinctive repertoire choices, the Quartet has earned critical praise for original projects and commissioned works; refined arrangements of Scandinavian and Northern European folk music; and creative collaborations, all of which continue to thrill audiences in sold-out venues around the world. 

In June 2025, the Quartet were awarded the Léonie Sonning Music Prize – the first ensemble to receive what is one of the most prestigious awards in classical music (including a gift equivalent to approximately $150,000 USD). The quartet celebrated this career-defining accolade with a special concert and ceremony in Copenhagen, where the award was presented by the King of Denmark at their performance with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Danish National Girls’ Choir. They join a list of iconic past Sonning Award recipients, including Igor Stravinsky, Miles Davis, Leonard Bernstein and Yo-Yo Ma. The Quartet’s most recent album, Keel Road (ECM 2024), a collection of exquisitely arranged traditional Northern European and original tunes, was named “One of the Best Classical Albums of 2024” by the New York Times and nominated for a 2025 BBC Music Magazine Award.

In April 2026, the Danish String Quartet embark on an unprecedented, coast-to-coast U.S. tour with their longtime collaborator, the Danish National Girls’ Choir. DSQ violist Asbjørn Nørgaard describes the choir as having “an almost tangible power” and originality that makes them the perfect partner for the bold visions of the Quartet. The wide-ranging program includes a new work by David Lang, in wildness, to receive its U.S. premiere on April 10 at the University of California Santa Barbara and its New York premiere at Carnegie Hall on April 17. David Lang’s in wildness was co-commissioned by the Danish String Quartet, Danish National Girls’ Choir, Arts & Lectures at the University of California Santa Barbara, La Jolla Music Society, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Stanford Live, Carnegie Hall and Washington Performing Arts Society.

The Quartet plan two other North American tours this season, in November 2025 and February 2026, featuring a rich mix of classical works by Schnittke, Beethoven, Ravel and Stravinsky, among others, paired with their own original compositions and arrangements.

NOVEMBER 15-23, 2025
Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Dallas, Bryan, Austin, Oberlin, Ann Arbor & St. Paul

Sat, Nov 15 / Albuquerque, NM / Chamber Music Alburquerque / More Info
ALFRED SCHNITTKE: String Quartet No. 2
SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartet No. 3 in F, Op. 73
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in B-flat Major Op. 130 with Grosse Fuge, Op. 133

Sun, Nov 16 / Santa Fe, NM / Santa Fe Pro Musica / More Info
STRAVINSKY: Three Pieces for String Quartet
JONNY GREENWOOD: Suite from "There Will Be Blood"
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135
Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes

Mon, Nov 17 / Dallas, TX / Dallas Chamber Music Society / More Info
STRAVINSKY: Three Pieces for String Quartet
JONNY GREENWOOD: Suite from "There Will Be Blood"
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135
Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes

Wed, Nov 19 / Bryan, TX / Friends of Chamber Music / More Info
STRAVINSKY: Three Pieces for String Quartet
JONNY GREENWOOD: Suite from "There Will Be Blood"
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135
Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes

Thu, Nov 20 / Austin, TX / ATX Chamber and Jazz / More Info
STRAVINSKY: Three Pieces for String Quartet
JONNY GREENWOOD: Suite from "There Will Be Blood"
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135
Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes

Fri, Nov 21 / Oberlin, OH / Oberlin Conservatory / More Info
STRAVINSKY: Three Pieces for String Quartet
JONNY GREENWOOD: Suite from "There Will Be Blood"
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135
Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes

Sat, Nov 22 / Ann Arbor, MI / University Musical Society of the University of Michigan / More Info
STRAVINSKY: Three Pieces for String Quartet
JONNY GREENWOOD: Suite from "There Will Be Blood"
Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130, with Grosse Fuge, Op. 133

November 23, 2025 / St. Paul, MN / Schubert Club / More Info
ALFRED SCHNITTKE: String Quartet No. 2
SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartet No. 3 in F, Op. 73
Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes

FEBRUARY 21-28, 2026
East Coast Tour
Repertoire includes: Schnittke, Jonny Greenwood, Beethoven, Ravel, Mozart, Stravinsky, Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes arranged by DSQ

Sat, Feb 21 / Amherst, MA / Amherst College of Music / More Info

Sun, Feb 22 / Morrow, GA / Spivy Hall / More Info

Tue, Feb 24 / Sarasota, FL / Sarasota Concert Association / More Info

Wed, Feb 25 / Palm Beach, FL / Palm Beach Society of Four Arts / More Info

Thu, Feb 26 / Chapel Hill, NC / Carolina Performing Arts / More Info

Fri, Feb 27 / Boston, MA / Boston Celebrity Series / More Info

Sat, Feb 28 / Toronto, ON / Royal Conservatory of Music / More Info

APRIL 10-18, 2026
Danish National Girls’ Choir | New Work by David Lang

April 2026 DSQ Tour Program
CAROLINE SHAW: Allemande from Partita for 8 Voices
LOTTA WENNÄKOSKI: “Vorüber, ach, vorüber!” from Pige
SCHUBERT: Theme from String Quartet D. 810, “Death and the Maiden” 
ANNA THORVALDSDOTTIR: Þann heilaga kross
Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes, Arranged by DSQ
ASTRID SONNE: How Far
CAROLINE SHAW: And So
O’CAROLAN (arr. Danish String Quartet): Captain O’Kane
CARL NIELSEN/B.S. INGEMANN (ARR. SØRENSEN): Tit er jeg glad og et brudestykke
DAVID LANG: in wildness (U.S. Premiere)

Fri, Apr 10 / Santa Barbara, CA / UCSB Arts and Lectures / US Premiere by David Lang / More Info

Sat, Apr 11 / Irvine, CA / Philharmonic Society of Orange County / More Info

Sun, Apr 12 / La Jolla, CA / La Jolla Music Society / More Info

Tue, Apr 14 / San Francisco, CA / San Francisco Performances* / More Info
*QUARTET ONLY / Repertoire: STRAVINSKY, SCHNITTKE, Original Compositions and Traditional Tunes

Wed, Apr 15 / Stanford, CA / Stanford Live / More Info

Fri, Apr 17 / New York, NY / Carnegie Hall / NY Premiere by David Lang / More Info

Sat, Apr 18 /Washington DC / Washington Performing Arts / More Info