Preview: Endellion to perform Beethoven String Quartet Cycle, May 2006

The Endellion String Quartet, recently celebrating its first quarter-century of making music, will devote its 14th season of concerts at West Road Concert Hall to the Beethoven String Quartet Cycle. Concert dates are: October 4th and November 1st this year, and January 17th, February 14th, March 14th and May 9th in 2007.

The quartet is currently recording the complete cycle for Warner Classics. The second CD of nine has just been released.

Meanwhile their season at West Road drew to a close on May 24th with performances of Beethoven’s Arrangement for String Quartet of Piano Sonata op.14 No.1, Martinu’s String Quartet No.3 a d Mozart’s Piano Quartet in E flat K493, with pianist Clare Hammond.

Founded in 1979, the Endellion String Quartet are Andrew Watkinson and Ralph de Souza, violins, Garfield Jackson, viola, and David Waterman, cello. They have regularly played in North and South America, Australasia, the Far and Middle East, South Africa, and every country in western Europe.

Guest artists with whom they have worked include members of the former Amadeus Quartet, Sir Thomas Allen, Joshua Bell, Michael Collins, Steven Isserlis, Mitsuko Uchida and Tabea Zimmermann.

The quartet has appeared at nearly all the major series and festivals in the UK, including the Proms and the 25th anniversary concert of the first BBC lunchtime broadcast from St John’s, Smith Square. It has won numerous prizes and awards for its concerts and recordings including the Royal Philharmonic Society’s award for Best Chamber Ensemble. It has been the Quartet in Residence at Cambridge University since 1992.

According to the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the Endellion is: ‘arguably the finest quartet in Britain, playing with poise, true intonation, excellent balance and a beautiful tone. In music of the Viennese classical composers it has few challengers but it has won praise in a wide repertory, its Beethoven and Bartok cycles being especially admired.’

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