Name: Danish String Quartet and Danish National Girls’ Choir
Start: 2026-04-15T19:30:00
Location: Stanford University

Dive into the world of string quartets as the renowned Vision String Quartet and Danish String Quartet join forces in a series of captivating performances. From classical to jazz and folk music, these events promise a celebration of musical diversity and cultural richness. Experience the magic as they explore works by classical masters and contemporary composers, bringing a fresh perspective to chamber music.

A Symphony of Strings: The Danish and Vision Quartets Unite

The Danish String Quartet, renowned for its impeccable musicianship and intimate ensemble chemistry, embarks on a global journey to captivate audiences with a rich tapestry of chamber music. From the prestigious stages of Spivey Hall in Georgia to the cultural epicenter of Stanford University, this ensemble, joined by the powerful voices of the Danish National Girls' Choir on select dates, explores a dynamic repertoire that seamlessly blends classical masterpieces, contemporary works, and Nordic folk traditions.

Danish String Quartet: A Global Journey Through Chamber Music

Embark on a melodious journey with the internationally acclaimed Danish String Quartet and the Danish National Girls' Choir as they venture across continents, weaving a tapestry of compelling performances. From Copenhagen to Prague, New York to California, and Washington DC, these talented ensembles redefine chamber music. Experience their synergy through ambitious tours featuring renowned compositions and innovative collaborations, including works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang. Be captivated by their ability to transcend genres and generations, bringing new dimensions to classical and contemporary music.

Harmony in Motion: A Transatlantic Journey with Danish Musical Ensembles

Stanford Live's 2026 season is a musical journey that promises to captivate audiences with a diverse array of performances. Featuring world-renowned artists like soprano Nadine Sierra and the Grammy-nominated Danish String Quartet, the program spans genres and cultural influences, from Afro-Caribbean rhythms to Baroque masterpieces. Each event offers a unique exploration of music, be it through the soulful renderings of John Santos or the evocative compositions of Shulamit Ran. This lineup is not just a series of performances, but an immersive experience celebrating the universal language of music.

A Musical Odyssey: Stanford Live's 2026 Line-up

Danish String Quartet

Stanford Live

Soprano Nadine Sierra has sung with the world’s greatest opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Paris Opera, Berlin State Opera, and San Francisco Opera, where she got her start as an Adler Fellow. This recital begins with classic Italian arias by Verdi and Puccini, while the second half highlights Ravel’s song cycle Shéhérazade—about the heroine of The Arabian Nights—alongside music of the Americas by Villa-Lobos, Gershwin, and Bernstein.

Nadine Sierra

Stanford University

Grammy-nominated countertenor Reginald Mobley puts Black spirituals in resonance with sacred music by J.S. Bach and other German Baroque composers. Through five curated sections, Mobley charts a musical journey from the trauma of war and enslavement to the finding of peace, freedom, and resilience.

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale Pearls of Sorrow

Among all the profound musical expressions of Latin America, it is the music of Cuba that has had the strongest influence on the music of the United States from the 19th century to the present day. Cuban rhythms, styles, dances, melodies, instruments, musicians, arrangers, and composers have made an indelible mark on ragtime, swing, bebop, R&B, rock, soul, funk, salsa, hip hop and beyond.

Afro-Caribbean Musical Roots

This recital by Bomsori brings together French and Polish violin classics, including brooding, bluesy sonatas by Ravel and Debussy and opera-inspired works by Massenet and Wieniawski. Bomsori, a Deutsche Grammophon artist, also dusts off Szymanowski’s Nocturne and Tarntella, a fanciful take on Arabic and Spanish music that was once a favorite of 20th-century virtuosos.

Bomsori Kim

With a voice that first captivated audiences as the opening of Fleet Foxes’ Grammy-nominated Shore, singer-songwriter Uwade has quietly become a luminous presence in contemporary music. After touring with indie and R&B favorites like The Strokes, Jamila Woods, and Sylvan Esso, she now steps confidently into the spotlight with her debut album, Florilegium. Drawing on her Nigerian heritage, classical studies, choral roots, and a wide range of musical influences—from Fela Kuti to Yebba—Uwade’s music is rich with emotional depth and intellectual curiosity. Florilegium is a shimmering, genre-spanning collection that explores love, loss, friendship, and self-discovery with clarity and grace. In this special performance, Uwade will perform selections from Florilegium, bringing the album’s warmth and introspection to life.

Uwade

In celebration of the centennial of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, pianist Emmet Cohen brings together an all-star trio to explore the fundamental questions that shaped their artistry: Why are we here? What are we reaching for? Where does the music take us?

Emmet Cohen: Miles and Coltrane at 100

The Grammy-nominated Danish String Quartet joins the Danish National Girls’ Choir in combining old traditions and new music. They premiere the Stanford Live co-commission by composer and Stanford alumnus David Lang, titled in wildness, a work about the relationship between humans and mother earth. The first half of the program features folksongs and new music by American and Nordic women composers.

Danish String Quartet and Danish National Girls’ Choir

This program of soulful, Afro-Caribbean–tinged jazz is designed by John Santos, "The Latin music Renaissance man" (San Francisco Chronicle) and seven-time Grammy nominee. Known for their virtuosity and collaborative spirits, Santos and his stellar sextet deconstruct standards with unusual musical turns and surprises.

John Santos Sextet & Friends

Praised for their “passion, precision, [and] warmth,” the Jerusalem Quartet’s breadth of repertoire and depth of expression have firmly established them in the string quartet tradition. Over 30 years, the ensemble has found its core in a warm, full, human sound and egalitarian balance of voices. This program includes Janáček's Kreutzer Sonata string quartet, inspired by a Tolstoy novella; a new work composed for the Jerusalem Quartet by Shulamit Ran; and Ravel's sole String Quartet with its memorable pizzicato second movement.

Jerusalem Quartet

After nearly four decades of acclaimed performances at Stanford and around the world, the St. Lawrence String Quartet introduces the St. Lawrence Legacy Series. This new initiative, in partnership with Stanford Live, showcases three of today’s most celebrated string quartets—ranging from legendary ensembles to rising stars and fresh competition winners. Each group will spend a week on campus in a wide-ranging residency focused on mentorship, collaboration, and community engagement, culminating in a world-class performance at Bing Concert Hall.

Brentano Quartet

Through elegant musicality and an insightful approach to both contemporary and established repertoire, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has earned a reputation as one of the world’s finest pianists. On this program he plays Debussy’s complete Préludes, each inspired by a poetic quote—from “Dances of Delphi,” to “The Sunken Cathedral,” to “Fireworks.” Thibaudet first recorded the Préludes in 1996, but he says “playing them in their entirety in a concert had been an unrealized dream of mine for many, many years.”

Jean-Yves Thibaudet

Tony and Grammy Award–winner Renée Elise Goldsberry gained stardom as part of the original Broadway cast of Hamilton. Now Renée and her complement of backup singers will have the audience on its feet, stomping and clapping to a high-energy, nondenominational spiritual journey reminiscent of a good old-fashioned revival.

Danish String Quartet and Danish National Girls’ Choir

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