The Chilingirian Quartet is a British string quartet. It gave its first public concert in Cambridge in 1972. By the time the quartet celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, there had been various changes in the line-up. However, it has continued to be led by Levon Chilingirian.
History Founded in 1971 in London,Chilingirian Quartet. Hyperion it became a resident quartet of the University of Liverpool (1973–1976)Tetlow, H. Chilingirian Quartet in Liverpool, The Guardian, 19 Oct 1973, p.11 after taking lessons with Siegmund Nissel from the Amadeus Quartet. In 1976 they won the International Competition for Young Concert ArtistsGaster, A., International Who's Who in Music, 1980, Melrose Press, Cambridge. p.125 and became resident quartet of the Royal College of Music of London.Notes on the Arts, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 26 Nov 1992, p.65
Festival appearances The quartet had a long-term association with the Lake District Summer Music Festival from its inception in 1985. They were also involved with the Scottish chamber music festival "Mendelssohn on Mull" of which Levon Chilingirian was artistic director from 2003 to 2016.
Members Levon Chilingirian* first violin Mark Butler, Charles Sewart, Ronald Birks (2009–2020), second violin Simon Rowland-Jones*, Csaba Erdélyi (1980–1987), Louise Williams (1987–), Susie Mészáros, Asdis Valdimarsdottir, viola Philip De Groote* Stephen Orton (2013– ) cello
Note: * = founder member
Premieres Mouvement pour quatuor à cordes 1988 by Alain Daniel.Alain Daniel Homepage Closer 1988 by Frédérick Martin
Recordings Amongst other recordings a box set of LPs of Schubert's last three quartets was issued by Nimbus Records on Nimbus2301/2/3 from 1978 studio performances where Simon Rowland-Jones was the violist.
Other selected recordings Antonín Dvořák: String Quartet No. 8 & String Quartet No. 9. Chandos Records (1990) Antonín Dvořák: String Quartet No. 13, String Quartet in F Major & Two Waltzes. Chandos Records (1991)
Source Alain Pâris, Dictionnaire des interprètes, series Bouquins, Éditions Robert Laffont 1989,
References
External links Chilingirian Quartet Home page Discography on Discogs Chilingirian Quartet, more details on Hyperion Chilingirian Quartet (BBC) Chilingirian Quartet, Haydn Opus 76 No 3 (YouTube)