VIDA

OUT NOW

The new album – 14th June 2024

Events

About

Halvcirkel are a Danish string ensemble formed in Copenhagen, 2015, At the group’s core are three musicians: violist Mika Persdotter, violinist Bettina Marie Ezaki, and cellist Nicole Hogstrand. Halvcirkel’s art is characterised by playing that positions “being human” over perfection. Integral to their music is the way that their instruments weave and “braid”. It’s like a conversation, a discussion, in flux. Their power is the product of this synergy. Their ability to agree to disagree. Their differing viewpoints reflecting the world around us, and realising beauty when alighting on common ground.

Their canon, to date, has included self-released interpretations of works by artists as diverse as Dmitij Sjostakovtij and Philip Glass, cross-discipline collaborations with names such as Henrik Lindstrand, Signe Lykke, and Hania Rani, plus a commission from Denmark’s National Gallery. Alongside composer Anders Lauge Meldgaard they reimagined the Ancient Greek poet Sappho’s Fragment 94.

In 2024, Halvcirkel signed with FatCat Records’ modern–classical imprint 130701 to release ‘Vida’, the first album purely of their own composition. ‘Vida’ finds the friends experimenting with techniques, such as col lengo and pizzicato, and painting pictures of Nordic landscapes, the nature of Iceland, Sweden, and their native Denmark. In the process, these creations call on and reference giants of modern classical and post-classical music: Brian Eno, Craig Leon, Carl Nielsen, Arvo Part, and Caroline Shaw. In addition, their aural aesthetic - where each instrument is equal - pays utmost respect to their mentor, the pioneering minimalist, Terry Riley.

”Halvcirkel interprets with a captivating glow that can only excite … It’s both disorienting and original, and as a whole just hammering elegant.” – Klaus Lyngaard in Weekendavisen (DK), October 2021 on Fragment 94, Halvcirkel

“…A new generation of classical artists question the cult of perfection that holds sway in the neck of the woods. Analogue records – softer, warmer, more human and more vulnerable are all part of the project. The Danish collective Halvcirkel is a physical manifestation of that concept.” – Andrew Mellor in The Gramophone, 2018 on Halvcirkel, Halvcirkel

”This performance is so stunning in it’s austerity, because they’re letting the resonance of the tones breathe – letting the tones be without doing a ton of shit. … You can hear how they’re listening in a very special way. There’s a give and take which feels like they’re improvising together. They are not executing a score, they’re giving the music” – Theresa Wong in The Wire Magazine, October 2021 on The Gift, Halvcirkel.

“What a happy surprise to hear the Danish string quartet, Halvcirkel, play The Gift. They have hit just the right mood and pacing and the last section ‘Mongolian Winds’ is exceptionally beautiful. These four imaginative women cast a spell in Echoes of Primordial Time.” – Terry Riley commenting on The Gift by Halvcirkel, 2019 on The Gift, Halvcirkel

“Sammen med strygekvartetten Halvcirkel, udvidet med kontrabas, giver Dekorum et sitrende liv til nogle af de mest interessante nedslag i Shaws oevre. De to ensembler rammer hver for sig og sammen akkurat den enkle klarhed, som gør at Shaws kompositioner virkelig kan skære sine længsler i hjertet.” – Jakob Gustav Winckler in Seismograf, 2022 on Yearning to breathe free, Halvcirkel and Dekorum Vocal Ensemble

“Verdensfrelserinderne” is a modern composition that I would frame in the classical-avant-garde space, in the area of minimalist chamber music. At the same time, the pastiche-hommage reconstruction of some pop-rockelements and the intervention on the classical composition make me place the project in the area of postmodern musical performance. The composition may be reminiscent of Steve Reich, may be reminiscent of Luciano Berio, of Schnittke’s strength, may be reminiscent of Uri Caine’s musical ideas , but it is undoubtedly an original, consistent work, one of the most powerful musical proposals in recent times.…The music performed by Halvcirkel embrace the lyrics performed by Nielsen, points out the drama of the performance, highlights the depth of the need/desire of community.“ – Lucian Maier in Agenda LiterNet, 2021 on Verdensfrelserindene by Madame Nielsen and Halvcirkel
2023:
26/11 – VÆKST Festival Musikhuset København (DK)
22/11 – Kulturværftet Helsingør (DK)
12/11 – Lupino Live Stockholm (SE)
11/11 – Katakomberna Gothenburgh (SE)
07/11 – Musikforeningen UTZON Bagsværd (DK)
05/11 – Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, w/ Henrik Lindstrand (DE)
03/11 – Xenon Copenhagen (DK)
18/09 – Transart Festival Showgirl Bolzano (IT)
15/09 – Transart Festival Fondazione Antonio Dalle Nogare Bolzano (IT)
15/09 – Transart Festival Fondazione Antonio Dalle Nogare Bolzano (IT) 09/09 – Dexter Odense, w/ Henrik Lindstrand. (DK)
08/09 – Køge kirke Køge, w/ Henrik Lindstrand. (DK)
07/09 – Frederiksborg Slotskirke, w/ Henrik Lindstrand. Hillerød (DK)
02/09 – Drømmescenen, Fanø Vesterland (DK)01/09 – Pavillionen, w/ Henrik Lindstrand. Grenaa (DK)
31/08 – Gnisten Ry, w/ Henrik Lindstrand (DK)
30/08 – Rådhushallen Ringkøbing, w/ Henrik Lindstrand (DK)
25/08 – Kulturmødet Mors Mors, w/ Henrik Lindstrand (DK)
24/08 – Huset i Hasserisgade Aalborg, w/ Henrik Lindstrand (DK)
11/07 – Aarhus Jazz Festival: Radar Aarhus, (DK)
06/07 – Copenhagen Jazz Festival: Koncertkirken (DK)
05/07 – Sorø Klosterkirke Sorø (DK)
21/06 – Musikhuset København, w/ Anders Lauge Meldgaard (VÆKST residency program) (DK)
06/05 – Achtbrücken Festival, w/ Zola Mennenöh, Cologne (DE)
03/05 – Impakt, Cologne (DE)
02/05 – Eric Ericsonhallen, w/ Henrik Lindstrand, Stockholm (SE)
27/04 – Brorsons kirke, w/ Henrik Lindstrand, Copenhagen (DK)
22/04 – Danish National Broadcast, Go’morgen Danmark, w/ Henrik Lindstrand, Copenhagen (DK)
19/02 – Vinterjazz: Koncertkirken, w/ Zola Mennenöh, Copenhagen (DK)
17/02 – Vinterjazz: Klein, Copenhagen (DK)
15/02 – Danish National Gallery (SMK), Copenhagen (DK)
12/01 – Fredericia Musikforening, Fredericia (DK)
2022:
02/12 – w/ Anders Lauge Meldgaard, Koncertkirken, Copenhagen (DK)12/09–
01/10 – Verdensfrelserinden, Theatre S/H, Copenhagen (DK)
07/07 – Copenhagen Jazz Festival: w/ Anders Lauge Meldgaard, The Royal Theatre, Copenhagen (DK)
25/05 – Christianshavn Beboerhus: w/ Anders Lauge Meldgaard, Copenhagen (DK)
08/02 – Odense Musikbibliotek: w/ Yngel, Odense (DK)
28–29/1 – Die Welterlöserin, Thalia Theater, Hamburg (DE)
2021:
25/11 – Talk/workshop, Scandic hotel, Copenhagen (DK)
03/11 – Sankt Hans Kirke: Sankt Anne Girls Choir + Halvcirkel, Odense (DK)
30/10 – Musikhuset København: Halvcirkel + Dekorum Vocal Ensemble, Copenhagen (DK)
26/10 – Søllerød Kirke: Halvcirkel + Dekorum Vocal Ensemble, Søllerød (DK)
10/10 – Mariendal Kirke: Halvcirkel + Dekorum Vocal Ensemble, Frederiksberg (DK)
23/09 – Brorsons Kirke, Alice Works, Yngel + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)19/09 – Frederiksberg Festspil: Sankt Anne Girls Choir + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)
16/09 – Frederiksberg Festspil: Madame Nielsen + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)07–
09/09 – Verdensfrelserinden, Theatre Momentum, Odense (DK)
25–28/08 – Copenhagen Opera Festival, The Danish Opera, Nordkraft, Copenhagen (DK)
07–08/08 – Theatre Nordkraft, Nordkraft, Aalborg (DK)
28/07 – Sorø Klosterkirke: Snorre Kirk + Halvcirkel, Sorø (DK)
15–19/06 – Verdensfrelserinden Theatre S/H, Copenhagen (DK)
20–22/05 – Verdensfrelserinden, Aarhus Theatre, Aarhus (DK)
01–21/02 – Verdensfrelserinden, Theatre S/H, Copenhagen (DK)
19/02 – Anslag: Opening concert at Musikhuset København, Copenhagen (Radio P2: Danish National Broadcast) (DK)
2020:
02/12 – MAYHEM, Copenhagen (DK)14/10 – Malmö Konsthall, Malmö (SE)16/10 – Live transmission at P2 (Danish national radio), Copenhagen 31/10 – Teater Momentum, Odense (DK) 29/05 – Koncertkirken Live-stream, Copenhagen (DK)
2019:
03/12 – Klub Primi, Copenhagen (DK)
07/12 – Sunship Aarhus: Kunstakademiets Udstillingssted ‘Splab’, Aarhus (DK)
11/07 – Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Hania Rani + Halvcirkel, Xenon, Copenhagen (DK)
01/06 – TED X Frederiksberg (TED talk), Copenhagen (DK)
06/02 – Vinterjazz, Koncertkirken (DK)
2018:

05/12 – ALICE, Copenhagen (DK)
13/09 – Talk/workshop/concert, Halvcirkel at Nordea (private event), Copenhagen (DK)07/08 –
22/09 Dansekapellet: PANIC DAY - Uppercut Danseteater, Copenhagen (DK)
25/08 – Badesøen Festival, Albertslund (DK)
01/07 – Roskilde Festival: Clarissa Connelly + Halvcirkel, Roskilde (DK)
07/05 – Talk/workshop/concert, F5BOX (private event), Copenhagen (DK
)01/02 – FUKK: Den Frie Udstillingsbygning: Cosmologym + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)
2017:
21/12 Bremen Teater: Bremer/McCoy + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)
18/10 – Absalon Folkehus: The Royal Danish Ballet + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)
24/09 – City Link Festival – The Underwater Ballroom, Copenhagen (DK)
07/07 – Klassisk på Kyssetrappen: Ofelia Beach, Copenhagen (DK)
21/07 – Aarhus Jazz festival, The House Festival, Aarhus (DK)
06/05 – Stadsteatern, Gothenburg (SE)
06/04 – Cinemateket, Copenhagen (DK)18/03 – Radar, Aarhus (DK)
11/03 – Vibe & Tone, support for Jacob Bellens, Copenhagen (DK)
09/03 – Politikens Litteraturpris (Award show for literature), Copenhagen (DK)
19/02 – Christians Kirke: Nikolaj Hess + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)
16/02 – Sigurdsgade, Debut album release concert, Copenhagen (DK)
09/02 – Nivågård Art Museum: Nikolaj Hess + Halvcirkel, Nivå (DK)
08/02 – Onsdagskoncerten: Universitetets Festsal, Copenhagen (DK)
2016:
10/12 – Koncertkirken, Copenhagen (DK)18/11 – Jazzhouse Copenhagen: Craig Leon + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)
10/07 – Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Nikolaj Hess + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)
06/07 – Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Nikolaj Hess + Halvcirkel, Copenhagen (DK)
02/06 – Wilhelmscenen: Klassisk Distortion, Copenhagen (DK)
31/03 – Bådteatret, Copenhagen (DK)
30/03 – Bådteatret, Copenhagen (DK)
03/03 – Dome of Visions, Copenhagen (DK)
24/01 – Dansekapellet, Copenhagen (DK)