NEXT CONCERTS, COMING SOON:
Clare Hall, Cambridge on Saturday January 18 2025, @7.30pm;
Kings Place, London on Sunday January 19 2025, NB @6.00pm!
Please see 'Concerts' for more details.
We will be appearing live on BBC Radio 3's 'In Tune' programme on January 16 2025, between 5 and 7pm.

---

PLEASE USE THIS EMAIL ADDRESS FOR CONTACT, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
[email protected]

ALAN GEORGE:
After 56 years, founder member Alan George has stepped aside, drawing to a close an extraordinary and exceptional career as violist in the Fitzwilliam Quartet.
We are indebted to Alan and will miss his wealth of knowledge and experience.

The Quartet is actively seeking his replacement; more news will follow in due course.

​FITZWILLIAM RECORD LATE BEETHOVEN
The quartet's projected complete Beethoven cycle for Decca came to an unexpectedly early end in 1986, following the premature retirement of both Christopher Rowland and his successor Daniel Zisman. Nearly 40 years later, they have followed Opp.127/133, 130, 132, and 135 with perhaps the greatest of them all - the C sharp minor (Op.131) - coupled with a re-make of his next and final quartet, the F major (Op.135). Following their release of Schubert's own last quartet (the G major, D.887) on gut strings, they are proud to resume their exploration of works from 1826 Vienna with a further attempt to re-create the sounds and performing practices of that time.

​FITZWILLIAM HAVE COMPLETED RECORDING OF CHAMBER WORKS BY IAN STEPHENS
In February the quartet returned to Wyastone studios for the postponed second instalment of this pioneering project of music by one of our most important living composers: with the clarinet quintet and string quartet Springhead Echoes already in the can, they teamed up with the distinguished oboist Jonathan Small for Ian's Oboe Quintet, together with his atmospheric string quartet North Country.

​FITZWILLIAM APPOINTS NEW CELLIST
​The FSQ was thrilled that Ursula Smith agreed to join the quartet on 14 October, 2023.
Lucy, Andrew, and Alan - indeed, everyone connected with the quartet - welcomed her with open arms!

---

Fitzwilliam appointed quartet-in-residence at Clare Hall, Cambridge

In October 2021 the members of the Quartet were each elected Fellow Commoners "with enthusiasm!" by the Governing Body of Clare Hall, Cambridge: "awarded to members who make, and continue to make, a conspicuous and exceptional contribution to College Life" - thus confirming their new appointment as Resident Quartet at the College. They began active work there with a concert on 8 January, 2022, which included Beethoven's visionary C sharp minor Quartet (Op.131). Further concerts took place in February, May, and July that year. They have now embarked on their fourth season there. Plans are afoot for masterclasses, workshops, and chamber music coaching, plus study sessions with writer and broadcaster Richard Wigmore; the next of these will take place on January 17th and 18th 2025.

---

MOST recent ReleaseS

Schubert | Late String Quartets | Linn Records 2021

Schubert | A minor and D minor String Quartets - a Divine Art CD released on Valentine's Day 2020

​Shostakovich | Last Three String Quartets
​ Linn Records

Beethoven | Violin Sonatas | Lucy Russell & Sezi Seskir

---