Reviews
In a personal letter on his String Quartet No. 13, York University (1972)
“…The Fitzwilliam Quartet, whom I admire very much. Thank you for a superlative performance of my thirteenth quartet.” - D. Shostakovich
5-Star review of Schubert Quartets, Linn Records (2021)
"I gave their earlier Schubert disc an enthusiastic review (Fanfare 44:1), and I’m ready to praise the same high level of musicality and boldness of interpretation in this new account of Schubert’s last string quartet, the daunting No. 15 in G, whose unsettling, ambiguous spirit has puzzled many performers. The Fitzwilliam has a unity of purpose backed up by strong interpretative abilities and charismatic playing. I haven’t encountered many great recordings of this work, and theirs joins an engrossing one by the Tetzlaff Quartet in 2017 as the best in a long while."
- Huntley Dent, Fanfare Magazine
Peter Hewitt, CEO Benslow Music (2018)
"Bravi tutti, for the concert too, truly wonderful. It’s these transformative moments that make the work we do so worthwhile."
Jerry Dubins, Fanfare (2015)
“The Fitzwilliam String Quartet, in my opinion, is, and has been for many years, Britain’s premier string quartet ensemble…….a flagship British ensemble that should be the pride of that nation.”
Buxton Music Festival (2015)
"The quartet excelled themselves with Shostakovich’s String Quartet No 3 in F, Opus 73. It was powerful, sensitive and wonderful to hear." - Mavis Kirkham, Buxton Advertiser
NADSA Concerts (2014)
'The Fitzwilliam Quartet performed a glorious concert." - Jeff Collman
Music In Peebles (2013)
"Just home after electrifying performance of Shostakovich 3rd quartet by the Fitzwilliam String Quartet. Many converts won over judging by comments at the end! Mesmerising Britten and Beethoven as well. Great music, fabulous performances, a big audience - fantastic start to the new season!" - Facebook Post
Djanogly Recital Hall, University of Nottingham (2011)
"It was a revelation to hear Bruckner’s quintet played on instruments with this gut string set-up appropriate to the time of its composition, and to hear it performed with a flexible lyricism that has become a rare thing in Bruckner performance. But above all this was a performance that communicated splendidly the work’s generous and tender heart and the profundity of its composer's vision." – Ken Ward, The Bruckner Journal
Rubbra Quartet No. 2, Wigmore Hall (May 2001)
“A powerful and emotionally committed performance of Rubbra’s Quartet No.2….a sublime stream of thought beautifully laid to rest by the Fitzwilliam in the tranquil Adagio coda.” – The Independent
Concert, Grahamstown, National Arts Festival, South Africa (June 2001)
“Touches like these are what give the Fitzwilliam, for whom bold programming and superb playing are equal music, the edge over most other quartets in the world. The standing ovation, which a packed house gave them was not only for their integrated sound and fine ensemble, it was clearly also for the revelation of new worlds in old works.” – Cue
Concert, incl. Tchaikovsky String Quartet No. 3, Agora, St Petersburg (September 2000)
“The playing of the music was absolutely immaculate, with its subtle feeling of style and deep penetration into its content. The intensity with which they played shone through, and musicians and audience alike were caught up in a common extravaganza. The culmination of this evening [Tchaikovsky No.3], in the former flat of Modest Tchaikovsky, was performed so faithfully, "in Russian", by the British musicians. I very much hope that the Fitzwilliam Quartet will be a permanent guest of St. Petersburg.” – Alexander Kantorov, St Petersburg Times
Schubert String Quintet, York Early Music Festival (July 1998)
“The enthralling rendition, with Moray Welsh, of Schubert’s Quintet in C was one of the highlights of the 1998 festival.” –Early Music Today
Concert, Doncaster Art Gallery (1998)
“The Fitzwilliam is a world-class quartet, and recently graced the Museum with playing of breathtaking precision, outstanding concentration, marvellous style and authority. They afforded astonishing variety of mood and period covering 300 years – do we have a more versatile quartet? A gorgeous musical experience.”
-Philip Scowcroft, Doncaster Free Press
Shostakovich String Quartet No. 4, Borodin String Quartet No. 2, Wigmore Hall (July 1997)
“The Fitzwilliam in its reincarnated state, with Lucy Russell as leader, captured the soul of the music [Shostakovich No.4] in their absorption with every gesture and shading. Borodin’s Quartet No.2 was played with similar passion and an effortlessly rich collective tone.” -The Strad
Delius String Quartet, Bradford University (1980)
“This was the best performance of the Delius Quartet I have ever heard.”-Eric Fenby
“…The Fitzwilliam Quartet, whom I admire very much. Thank you for a superlative performance of my thirteenth quartet.” - D. Shostakovich
5-Star review of Schubert Quartets, Linn Records (2021)
"I gave their earlier Schubert disc an enthusiastic review (Fanfare 44:1), and I’m ready to praise the same high level of musicality and boldness of interpretation in this new account of Schubert’s last string quartet, the daunting No. 15 in G, whose unsettling, ambiguous spirit has puzzled many performers. The Fitzwilliam has a unity of purpose backed up by strong interpretative abilities and charismatic playing. I haven’t encountered many great recordings of this work, and theirs joins an engrossing one by the Tetzlaff Quartet in 2017 as the best in a long while."
- Huntley Dent, Fanfare Magazine
Peter Hewitt, CEO Benslow Music (2018)
"Bravi tutti, for the concert too, truly wonderful. It’s these transformative moments that make the work we do so worthwhile."
Jerry Dubins, Fanfare (2015)
“The Fitzwilliam String Quartet, in my opinion, is, and has been for many years, Britain’s premier string quartet ensemble…….a flagship British ensemble that should be the pride of that nation.”
Buxton Music Festival (2015)
"The quartet excelled themselves with Shostakovich’s String Quartet No 3 in F, Opus 73. It was powerful, sensitive and wonderful to hear." - Mavis Kirkham, Buxton Advertiser
NADSA Concerts (2014)
'The Fitzwilliam Quartet performed a glorious concert." - Jeff Collman
Music In Peebles (2013)
"Just home after electrifying performance of Shostakovich 3rd quartet by the Fitzwilliam String Quartet. Many converts won over judging by comments at the end! Mesmerising Britten and Beethoven as well. Great music, fabulous performances, a big audience - fantastic start to the new season!" - Facebook Post
Djanogly Recital Hall, University of Nottingham (2011)
"It was a revelation to hear Bruckner’s quintet played on instruments with this gut string set-up appropriate to the time of its composition, and to hear it performed with a flexible lyricism that has become a rare thing in Bruckner performance. But above all this was a performance that communicated splendidly the work’s generous and tender heart and the profundity of its composer's vision." – Ken Ward, The Bruckner Journal
Rubbra Quartet No. 2, Wigmore Hall (May 2001)
“A powerful and emotionally committed performance of Rubbra’s Quartet No.2….a sublime stream of thought beautifully laid to rest by the Fitzwilliam in the tranquil Adagio coda.” – The Independent
Concert, Grahamstown, National Arts Festival, South Africa (June 2001)
“Touches like these are what give the Fitzwilliam, for whom bold programming and superb playing are equal music, the edge over most other quartets in the world. The standing ovation, which a packed house gave them was not only for their integrated sound and fine ensemble, it was clearly also for the revelation of new worlds in old works.” – Cue
Concert, incl. Tchaikovsky String Quartet No. 3, Agora, St Petersburg (September 2000)
“The playing of the music was absolutely immaculate, with its subtle feeling of style and deep penetration into its content. The intensity with which they played shone through, and musicians and audience alike were caught up in a common extravaganza. The culmination of this evening [Tchaikovsky No.3], in the former flat of Modest Tchaikovsky, was performed so faithfully, "in Russian", by the British musicians. I very much hope that the Fitzwilliam Quartet will be a permanent guest of St. Petersburg.” – Alexander Kantorov, St Petersburg Times
Schubert String Quintet, York Early Music Festival (July 1998)
“The enthralling rendition, with Moray Welsh, of Schubert’s Quintet in C was one of the highlights of the 1998 festival.” –Early Music Today
Concert, Doncaster Art Gallery (1998)
“The Fitzwilliam is a world-class quartet, and recently graced the Museum with playing of breathtaking precision, outstanding concentration, marvellous style and authority. They afforded astonishing variety of mood and period covering 300 years – do we have a more versatile quartet? A gorgeous musical experience.”
-Philip Scowcroft, Doncaster Free Press
Shostakovich String Quartet No. 4, Borodin String Quartet No. 2, Wigmore Hall (July 1997)
“The Fitzwilliam in its reincarnated state, with Lucy Russell as leader, captured the soul of the music [Shostakovich No.4] in their absorption with every gesture and shading. Borodin’s Quartet No.2 was played with similar passion and an effortlessly rich collective tone.” -The Strad
Delius String Quartet, Bradford University (1980)
“This was the best performance of the Delius Quartet I have ever heard.”-Eric Fenby