The Bellevue String Quartet, based in Malmö, Sweden, was founded by four friends and colleagues, members of among others Concerto Copenhagen, Barokksolistene and Camerata Øresund, who began meeting regularly to drink coffee and play chamber music together. In order to engage new and diverse audiences, the quartet aims to create a relaxed and intimate concert atmosphere, seeking out on non-traditional venues, such as bookstores and art galleries, with multi-faceted programs which weave together literature, visual art and music. We are always inspired by what first brought us together; the long-standing tradition of playing chamber music at home for fun!
As one of the only period instrument string quartets in Sweden, the quartet is a springboard for repertoire ranging from Purcell to the present day, often in collaboration with beloved colleagues such as Fredrik Bock (lute), Antoine Torunczyk (oboe) and Johnny Teyssier (clarinet). The quartet's activities are concentrated in the Øresund region, with recent performances at Klubb Krinolin and BookJam in Malmö, Galleri M in Eslöv and Early Monday in Copenhagen. An interest in the intersection between culture and social consciousness led to the quartet’s first benefit concert in April 2022 to support Ukrainian refugees.
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Malmöbaserade Bellevuekvartetten bildades av fyra vänner och kollegor som träffades regelbundet för fika och kammarmusikspel. De är medlemmar av bl.a. Concerto Copenhagen, Barokksolistene, Camerata Öresund och Höör Barock. För att locka en ny och varierad publik strävar kvartetten efter att atmosfären på deras konserter ska vara
avslappnad och intim och söker gärna efter icke-traditionella spelplatser såsom antikvariat och konsthallar samt skapar mångfacetterade program som väver samman litteratur, visuell konst och musik.
Som en av få kvartetter i Sverige som spelar på tidstrogna instrument har kvartetten en bred repertoarlista som sträcker sig från Purcell till nyskrivna verk, och de samarbetar ofta med kollegor, t.ex. Fredrik Bock (luta), Antoine Torunczyk (oboe) och Johnny Teyssier (klarinett). Kvartetten är främst verksamma i Öresundsområdet där de tidigare spelat på Klubb Krinolin och BookJam i Malmö, Galleri M, Eslöv och konsertserien Early Monday i Köpenhamn. Intresset för en förening av kultur och socialt medvetande ledde till kvartettens första välgörenhetskonsert i april 2022 till stöd för flyktingar från Ukraina.
Get to know us
Alison
After completing her modern violin studies at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, Alison moved to Sweden in 2012 to pursue her true love, Baroque violin, which she had been studying since age 15. She performs and tours with Concerto Copenhagen, Camerata Øresund and Barokksolistene among others, and especially loves to play chamber music with the wonderful musicians of these orchestras. Through a grant from the Canada Arts Council, Alison was able to spend two years studying the connections between Scandinavian folk music, early music and dance. She has combined all these musical interests in her project BookJam, a series of informal chamber music concerts at a Andy's Corner bookshop in Malmö.
Judith
Judith-Maria Blomsterberg is principal cellist of Concerto Copenhagen, Scandinavia's leading Baroque orchestra, and member of the Norwegian group Barokksolistene, famous for their innovative programs.
Furthermore, she is active as a chamber musician and tours in Sweden with Scania Consort and The Bellevue String Quartet.
She completed her studies in 2005, with a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Baroque Cello from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague/The Netherlands.
Besides music, tennis and sailing are her other passions.
Rastko
Rastko Roknic is active as a violist in many Baroque ensembles in the Öresund region. He studied viola in Belgrade and Oslo and Baroque viola in Odense. He has participated in CD and video recordings with Concerto Copenhagen, Camerata Øresund, Höör Barock, Barokksolistene, Ensemble 1700 Lund, Ensemble Zimmermann, Vokalharmonien, Theatre of Voices and Enghave Barok, among others. He loves the sounds of 17th century music, the scents of a Mediterranean garden, and walking barefoot on sun-warmed rocks.
Hannah
The Baroque violinist Hannah Tibell moved back to Malmö after 10 years of studying and working as a freelance player in London. In Sweden she has a prominent role as a chamber and orchestral player in the Öresund region. In addition to the Bellevue String Quartet she is a member of Concerto Copenhagen, Höör Barock and Scania Consort, and frequently plays with Göteborg Baroque. She has participated in many recordings, including ”Golovinmusiken” with Höör Barock, which received a Grammis for best classical release in 2020.