Dudok Quartet Amsterdam

Curious
Charismatic
Captivating

The Dudok Quartet Amsterdam aims to show that music affects people; that music can lead us to profundity and connection especially when it provokes friction. The true meaning of music reveals itself in a shared experience in which you, as a listener, play a vital role.

Album

Terra Memoria

TERRA MEMORIA is out now on CD and on all digital streaming platforms!

On this sixth album for Rubicon Classics, we pair Shostakovich’s Third String Quartet (1946) with Kaija Saariaho’s Second String Quartet Terra Memoria (2007). As on Reflections (2022), a new play of mirrors emerges between two composers, complemented by our own arrangements of Shostakovich’s Preludes Op. 34.

First introduction

Beyond the score

Beyond the score

The main challenge as we prepare each program is to find answers to the questions ‘what is the true nature of this music, and what worlds can we unveil behind the score?’

This quest is our main incentive to delve further into the music. Without losing sight of our rich string quartet tradition, we always search for new formats and new perspectives.

Instruments and setup

Instruments and setup

Besides playing the music, we also play with our instrumentation. We use different types of bows for different styles of music. The setup of our beautiful vintage instruments is often adjusted according to the repertoire. We preferably play music composed until the late 19th century with unwound gut strings. For more recent repertoire we use either wound gut or steel strings.

Our tools enable us to push our artistic boundaries, helping the audience re-live the experience of hearing masterpieces for the first time. We don't believe to possess "the truth" on the matter, but we do believe music can have many different guises.

The set of instruments we use is a generous loan from the Dutch Musical Instrument Foundation (NMF). The bows have been acquired with the help of the Friends of the Dudok Quartet and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust.

Videos

Shostakovich – Waltz Prelude

From our album Terra Memoria – Saariaho & Shostakovich

Saariaho – Terra Memoria

From our album Terra Memoria – Saariaho & Shostakovich

Bruckner – String Quintet in F major

Recorded live in February of 2022 at Amsterdam’s Orgelpark, with guest violist Lilli Maijala. Audio recording by Bert van Dijk / Helix Audio

Roukens – What Remains (Live @ Concertgebouw)

Tchaikovsky – On Fire

Check out the third and final video clip for our album Tchaikovsky – String Quartets Vol. I: On Fire

Listen or pre-order here or more info here

Brahms – Complete String Quartets & String Quintet Op. 111

First recording of these works on unwound gut strings and early romantic bows, debut album for Rubicon Classics.

Adams – Absolute Jest

Schedule

13 November 2025
20:00

De Burgwal – ALBUM RELEASE
Kampen, NL

14 November 2025
20:15

CC Maasmechelen – ALBUM RELEASE
Leut, BE

17 November 2025
19:30

Portsmouth Guildhall
Portsmouth, UK

20 November 2025
19:00

Music in the Round
Sheffield, UK

22 November 2025
19:30

Bollington Arts Centre
Bollington, UK

24 November 2025
19:30

White Rock
Hastings, UK

20 December 2025
20:00

Posthoornkerk
Amsterdam, NL

28 December 2025
11:00

Concertgebouw
Amsterdam, NL

9 January 2026
19:30

USA Tour
Evanston, IL

16 January 2026
19:30

USA Tour
Ashland, OR

21 January 2026
19:30

USA Tour
Indianapolis, IN

22 January 2026
19:30

USA Tour
Holland, MI

26 January 2026
15:00

USA Tour
Boston, MA

30 January 2026
20:15

De Vereeniging
Nijmegen, NL

6 February 2026
19:30

Scotland Tour
Nairn, UK

8 February 2026
15:00

Scotland Tour
Perth, UK

9 February 2026
19:30

Scotland Tour
Aberdeen, UK

10 February 2026
19:30

Scotland Tour
Dundee, UK

13 February 2026
19:30

Scotland Tour
Milngavie, UK

14 February 2026
19:30

Scotland Tour
Linlithgow, UK

Your support, our future

Our aim is to become more than a string quartet satisfied with high quality performances of well-established music in familiar venues alone. As a Friend you can help us developing our dream: becoming a medium that ensures a core genre in musical history to play a vital role for the future. 

One-time donation More info

Newsletter

Our musical world stretches far beyond the reach of the concert hall. Upcoming concepts, new discoveries, or indulgence of pure beauty: our newsletter summarizes all of it for you in a convenient package.