Amadeus Quartet
| Company type | String quartet |
|---|---|
| Industry | Classical music performance |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Founder | Norbert Brainin, Siegmund Nissel, Peter Schidlof, Martin Lovett |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
Area served | Europe, North America, Japan, South America |
| Products | Classical music recordings and performances |
The Amadeus Quartet was a string quartet established in 1947 and remained active until 1987, maintaining its original lineup throughout its existence.
Renowned for its elegant, polished sound and flawless group cohesion, the ensemble is frequently linked to the Austrian musical heritage despite being formed and based in the United Kingdom.
History
Violinists Norbert Brainin (1923–2005), Siegmund Nissel (1922–2008), and violist Peter Schidlof (1922–1987), all of Jewish descent, escaped Vienna following Hitler's 1938 Anschluss. Brainin and Schidlof initially met while interned in a British camp, where Schidlof later encountered Nissel. After their release, they studied under violin pedagogue Max Rostal, who introduced them to cellist Martin Lovett (1927–2020). In 1947, they formed the Brainin Quartet, which was renamed the Amadeus Quartet a year later in 1948.
Their first performance as the Amadeus Quartet took place at London's Wigmore Hall on 10 January 1948, with support from British composer Imogen Holst. They celebrated their 35th anniversary at the same venue in 1983 with a program featuring Beethoven's String Quartet in C major, Op. 59 No. 3. The group embarked on extensive tours throughout Europe, North America, Japan, and South America.
The ensemble produced approximately 200 recordings, encompassing complete quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. For Mozart’s quintets and sextets as well as works by Franz Schubert, Brahms, and Anton Bruckner, they frequently collaborated with violist Cecil Aronowitz and cellist William Pleeth. While their repertoire emphasized Classical and Romantic composers, they also performed works by 20th-century figures such as Béla Bartók and Benjamin Britten, the latter of whom composed his final string quartet expressly for them; this piece premiered after his death.
Awards
The Amadeus Quartet earned numerous accolades including the Order of the British Empire bestowed by the Queen, honorary doctorates from the Universities of London, York, and Caracas, Germany’s highest civilian decoration—the Great Cross of Merit—as well as the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art. Additionally, they received the distinguished Grand Prix du Disque award.
Following the passing of violist Peter Schidlof in 1987 from a heart attack at age 65, the quartet chose to disband in accordance with their 1947 agreement that no substitute would be sought if a member left or died. Later, Norbert Brainin died in 2005, Muriel Nissel in 2008, and Martin Lovett—the last surviving founding member—passed away in 2020.
Further reading
- Muriel Nissel, Married to the Amadeus: Life with a String Quartet, , Giles de la Mare Publishers Limited
- List of émigré musicians from Nazi Europe who settled in Britain
- Discography: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8339234--amadeus-quartet-the-complete-recordings-on-dg