Alinde Quartet’s New Approach to Classical Music: Fusing Senses and Interaction

Stories | April 8, 2025

Alinde Quartet, founded in 2010, is known for its distinctive take on classical music, bringing a fresh and interactive perspective to chamber music. This internationally renowned quartet from Cologne aims to revolutionize the way they interact with the audience, not just performing music but an experience that involves all the senses making the audience co-participants of the performance.

A Family of Musicians

The Alinde Quartet’s biography is as rare as its music. It originated as a violin duo of two musicians, Eugenia Ottaviano and Guglielmo Dandolo Marchesi, who first crossed paths in an orchestra and, discovering a god-given musical bond that they would share a lifetime later, developed the quartet over the years. Over time, the quartet increased in size as Guglielmo recruited his brother Bartolomeo Dandolo Marchesi as the cello player, and more recently, Gregor Hrabar, a very experienced violist, in 2023.

Their tight-knit family dynamic is a central part of the quartet’s identity, with each player having a shared history of music and appreciation for each other. The ease of communication by the quartet through music is a result of working together for years, providing an environment where performance comes easily and becomes second nature.

Photo Source: Alinde Quartet, Merita Project

A New Era in Classical Concerts: Music Meets Visuals

The Quartet’s performances are not just about the music; they are designed to be immersive experiences that engage all of the senses. Their ongoing endeavor, as part of a greater campaign sponsored by Merita, is not only a live show but also an interactive light display that invites the public to immerse themselves in the experience.

The concept, named Musical Kaleidoscope, encourages the public to influence the mood of the atmosphere by altering the colors of the performance space. The goal is to create an immersive environment where the music is enriched by visual cues so that the audience can experience the emotions of the music not only in terms of sound but also through the colors and lighting around them. The varying colors are designed to capture varying moods and enhance the emotional bond between the performers and their audience.

The new method of presenting classical music enables an interactive and dynamic concert, where performer and audience merge. The aim is to generate a feedback system, whereby the audience’s responses can change the mood of the concert, making every performance unique.

A Testimony to Family Engagement and Inclusivity

Alinde Quartet’s innovation is not merely visual. The quartet is particularly interested in engaging families, especially children, in their concerts. By inviting the audience to direct the performance, children who would otherwise remain disconnected in a conventional environment are given the opportunity to engage actively, making the concert experience entertaining and educational.

Their performances invite children to be active participants in the music rather than passive observers, and they discover that classical music is not a mental exercise but an emotional and dynamic art. This unique experience is expected to resonate with families, offering a space where parents and children can enjoy the show together in a more participatory and inclusive environment.

The Role of Merita in Creating New Concert Formulas

Collaboration between Le dimore del quartetto and the Merita project has played a significant role in enabling the Quartet to realize their new ideas and concepts. As a gateway specifically designed to offer support for musicians and chamber ensembles in creating new projects and formats, Merita provided the Alinde Quartet with everything they needed in terms of experimenting with new things. For the quartet, joining this initiative was an opportunity to experiment with new concert formats and broaden their artistic horizons. Their work in the Merita program has introduced them to new ways of interacting with the audience and creating the concert idea.

The Future of Interactive Music: Looking Ahead

Alinde Quartet is excited about new possibilities their new project will bring to future concerts. They envision bringing their creative concerts to schools, small theaters, and community centers, where families and new crowds alike can share the fusion of music and visual art in intimate, accessible settings.

Through their work, the quartet aims to break down classical music’s time-honored barriers and make it more accessible and exciting for all ages. In particular, they aim to attract those who might not otherwise attend a traditional classical concert, such as families and younger audiences.

In the future, the Quartet will continue developing the participatory concert format, playing in all types of spaces, and presenting their music to audiences who would never have otherwise considered attending a classical music concert. Their vision is a world where classical music is an interactive, engaged experience for everyone.

The Future of Interactive Music: Looking Ahead