The Animato Quartet performs with flair, courage, and a contagious drive for innovation. In this unique collaboration, the musicians meet Iranian artist Khorshid Dadbeh, a master of the tanbur — a Persian string instrument known for its warm, expressive sound. What follows is a musical journey that transcends the boundaries of style, culture, and time.

Khorshid Dadbeh is uniquely skilled at combining the power of tradition with improvisation and renewal. Her playing adds an extra dimension to the music: raw yet hushed, playful yet soulful. In dialogue with the Animato Quartet, a narrative unfolds that needs no words — only sound, rhythm, and breath.

Specifically for the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam 2026, Iranian-Dutch composer Aftab Darvishi composed the piece When the sky burns red. It was inspired by a sunset in Rotterdam, the city she recently moved to. The piece will have its world premiere in January 2026 in Amsterdam. On February 5, the magnificent acoustics of the old church will allow these sounds to resonate in their full glory.

On the program:

• Claudio Monteverdi – Sfogava con le stelle / Darà la notte il sol
• Henri Dutilleux – Ainsi la nuit
• Aftab Darvishi – When the sky burns red
• Osvaldo Golijov – Tenebrae

This exceptional program — ranging from the dramatic expression of Monteverdi and the layered textures of Dutilleux to the deeply personal tone of Aftab Darvishi and the spirited rhythms of Golijov — blends the sounds of the Western string quartet and the Persian tanbur into a rich palette of colors and textures.

This concert is not a classical performance in the traditional sense, but a musical encounter full of depth, surprise, and contrast. It is for those who are open to the unknown and enjoy being taken on a journey off the beaten path.