Novus Quartet takes on another challenge with complete works of Brahms

Korea Herald

19-02-2025

The 19-year-old quartet presents its sixth international album, fourth one dedicated to single composer
Now in its 19th year, South Korea's leading string quartet, Novus Quartet, continues its ambitious musical journey with the release of a new album, "Brahms: The Complete String Quartets." The group's sixth international release under the French classical label Aparte, and their fourth dedicated to a single composer, debuted digitally on Friday, with a physical release set for Thursday.
Violinist Kim Jae-young, the group's leader, reflected on the significance of the recording, saying at a press conference on Tuesday, 'We record albums because we want to leave behind a documented legacy of our music. We don't know how many more albums we will be able to release, but we still have many recordings we wish to make.'
Formed in 2007, Novus Quartet consists of violinists Kim Jae-young, 40, and Kim Young-wook, 36, violist Kim Kyu-hyun, 36, and cellist Lee Won-hae, 34. Their ascent in the classical music world began in earnest when they won second place at the ARD International Music Competition in 2012, followed by a first-place finish at the Mozart International Competition in 2014. Since then, they have performed on some of Europe's most prestigious stages and served as resident artists at London's Wigmore Hall for the 2022-23 season. Their success has paved the way for other emerging South Korean string quartets, including the Abel Quartet and Arete Quartet.
"We know it's difficult for a string quartet to rise in South Korea, where chamber music has little foundation. Nevertheless, seeing younger string quartets following the same path as us makes me feel even more determined to work harder,' Kim Young-wook said.
The Brahms album marks another milestone in Novus Quartet's quest to record the complete works of individual composers. The group's recent discography includes the complete string quartets of Mendelssohn (2020), Shostakovich (2021) and Beethoven's 16 quartets (2023). Their latest release features Brahms' three string quartets, pieces renowned for their rigorous craftsmanship and expressive depth. Brahms was famously meticulous, discarding more than ten string quartets before settling on the three.
Reflecting on the group's continued focus on full composer collections, Kim Jae-young said the members became addicted to the process.
'It was a series of coincidences that led us to keep taking on complete works, but in the end, performing an entire collection has brought about a level of musical growth that cannot be described as merely a sense of accomplishment. It also feels like we have become almost addicted to the depth of immersing ourselves in a composer's life,' Kim said.
To mark the album's release, Novus Quartet will embark on a concert tour across South Korea, beginning in Gangneung on Feb. 25, followed by performances in Bucheon on March 1, Seoul's Lotte Concert Hall on March 8 and Gwangju on March 27.
Their Seoul appearance is part of the World String Quartet Series organized by their management, MOC Production. Other esteemed quartets in the series include Quatuor Ebene on April 3, the Belcea Quartet on April 4 and the Hagen Quartet on Nov. 9.
'Like a great book that reveals new insights with every reading, string quartet music is an art form that deepens over time,' Kim Jae-young said. 'I hope audiences will take the opportunity to compare and appreciate the diverse interpretations from different generations of quartets performing this year.'