Lindsay String Quartet
| Company type | String quartet ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Sheffield , United Kingdom |
| Products | Classical music performances and recordings |
The Lindsay String Quartet—also known simply as The Lindsays—was a prominent British string quartet ensemble that performed from 1965 until 2005.
History
The group made their first public appearance at the Royal Academy of Music in 1965, initially dedicating their repertoire to the string quartets of Bartók and Beethoven. Two years later, in 1967, they became Leverhulme Scholars at Keele University. By 1970, the quartet adopted the name of Lord Lindsay, the founder of Keele University. In 1971, Ronald Birks took over the role of second violinist from Michael Adamson. Their recording of Beethoven’s Late Quartets earned them a Gramophone Award in 1984. The following year, violist Roger Bigley departed to join the BBC Philharmonic and subsequently the RNCM, with Robin Ireland stepping in as his replacement.
Beginning in 1974, the ensemble held the position of Quartet-in-Residence at University of Sheffield, and from 1979 they fulfilled a similar role at University of Manchester. Their responsibilities included directing concert series, leading seminars, and providing coaching sessions. They also curated annual festivals at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre and maintained an active international touring schedule.
After nearly four decades together, the quartet announced its retirement in 2005, marking the occasion with farewell concerts around the globe and concluding with four final performances in Sheffield. Following disbandment, members embarked on separate individual pursuits.
Their prolific recording catalogue features celebrated cycles of quartets by Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Dvořák.
In 2019, founding cellist Bernard Gregor-Smith published A Quintessential Quartet: The Story of the Lindsay String Quartet, chronicling their history.
Peter Cropper (1945–2015), the group’s leader, established the charity Music in the Round during the 1980s to advance chamber music across the UK from Sheffield. The Lindsay String Quartet played a central role in this organisation until their retirement. Cropper passed away unexpectedly in 2015 at age 69.
Members
- Peter Cropper (first violin)
- Michael Adamson (second violin, 1965–1971)
- Ronald Birks (second violin, 1971–2005)
- Roger Bigley (viola, 1965–1985)
- Robin Ireland (viola, 1985–2005)
- Bernard Gregor-Smith (cello)
Awards
Gramophone Award – 1984
Honorary doctorates conferred by Keele University (1986), Sheffield Hallam University (1990), University of Leicester (1998), University of Sheffield (2001), and University of Manchester (2005)
Books
A Quintessential Quartet: The Story of the Lindsay String Quartet authored by Bernard Gregor-Smith
Art
An oil portrait depicting the Lindsay String Quartet members—Peter Cropper, Ronald Birks, Robin Ireland, and Bernard Gregor-Smith—painted by György Gordon in 2003 is exhibited at The National Portrait Gallery, London
ASV Lindsay String Quartet discography
BEETHOVEN: String Quartets "Rasumovsky" Nos. 7–9 CD DCA 553, 554 BEETHOVEN: String Quartets Nos. 12–16 & Grosse Fuge CD DCA 601–604 BEETHOVEN: Complete Cycle of String Quartets Op.18, Op.14, Op.29, Op.59, Op.74, Op.95, Op.127, Op.130, Op.133, Op.132, Op.104, Op.131 & Op.135 CD DCA 1111–1119
BARTOK: String Quartets Nos. 1–6 CD DCA 504, 509, 510
BORODIN: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2; String Sextet (with L. Williams and R. Wallfisch) CD DCA 1143
BRAHMS / SCHUMANN: Piano Quintets (with P. Frankl) CD DCA 728
MENDELSSOHN: String Quartet No. 6 & BRAHMS: String Quartet No. 2 CD QS 6173
HAYDN: The Seven Last Words CD DCA 853 HAYDN: String Quartets "Sun" Op.20 Nos.1–6 CD DCA 1027, 1057 HAYDN: String Quartets Op.33 Nos.1–6 CD DCA 937, 938 HAYDN: String Quartets Op.54 "Tost I", Op.55 & Op.64 CDs DCA 582, 906, 1083–1084 HAYDN: String Quartets Op.76 CDs DCA 1076–1077 HAYDN: String Quartets Op.50 Nos.1–6 & Op.74 Nos.1–3 CDs GLD 4007–40132 HAYDN: String Quartets Op.77 Nos.1–2, Op.42 & Op.103 CD GLD 40102
MOZART: Quartets K387/K458/K428/K421/K465 & Quintets K515/K516/K593/K614; Clarinet Quintet K464 CDs DCA 923, 968, 992, 1018, 1042, 1069
RAVEL & DEBUSSY: String Quartets / STRAVINSKY: Three Pieces CD DCA 930
SCHUBERT: Quintet (with Douglas Cummings), String Quartets Nos.8/13/12/14/15 CDs DCA 537, 593, 560, 661
TIPPETT: String Quartet No.4 / BRITTEN: String Quartet No.3 CD DCA 608
"THE BOHEMIANS": JANACEK: The Two String Quartets "Kreutzer Sonata" & "Intimate Letters" / DVORAK: Cypresses CD DCA 749 SMETANA: The Two String Quartets / DVORAK: Romance & Two Waltzes CD DCA 777 DVORAK: String Quartets Nos.10 &14; Nos.12 "The American" &13; Bagatelles / String Quintet "The American" CDs DCA 788, 797, 806 DVORAK & MARTINU: Piano Quintets (with Peter Frankl) CD DCA 889
References
Bigley, Roger (1981). Beethoven String Quartets Op.59 'Razumovsky', liner notes from the CD. Academy Sound and Vision Ltd.
Individual members
- Profile of Peter Cropper
- Ronald Birks' biography
- Official site of Robin Ireland
- Discography of Bernard Gregor-Smith