Chester Music Society: Celebrity Concert - Primrose Piano Quartet

The Primrose Piano Quartet was formed in 2004 by pianist John Thwaites and three of the UK's most renowned chamber musicians (Lindsay, Sorrel, Edinburgh, Maggini Quartets). It is named after the great Scottish violist, William Primrose, who himself played in the Festival Piano Quartet. Alongside their performances of the major repertoire, the Primrose Quartet have researched widely the forgotten legacy of 20th century English composers, and have revived a number of remarkable and unjustly neglected piano quartets. Their first CD featured works by Thomas Dunhill, William Hurlstone, Roger Quilter and Arnold Bax. It was released in 2004 to wide critical acclaim and was followed by a disc presenting music by Cyril Scott, William Alwyn, Herbert Howells and Frank Bridge,which was a Five Star choice in the Classic FM Magazine. The Primrose Quartet celebrated Hurlstone's centenary (30th May 2006) live on BBC Radio 3 and at the Wigmore Hall.

A recent highlight has been the world première of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's Piano Quartet at the Cheltenham Festival in 2008. This twenty-minute piece, commissioned by the Primrose, has proved very appealing, and was recorded in 2009 for the Meridian label.
Having been selected for the Making Music Concert Promoters' Network in 2004/5 and again for the 2011/2012 season, the Primrose have toured throughout the UK as well as abroad, for example an extensive tour of Denmark in 2010.

Programme:

Bridge: Phantasy Quartet
Dvorák: Piano Quartet No 2 in E flat major Op 87
Brahms: Piano Quartet No 1 in G minor Op 25