The Primose Piano Quartet was formed in 2004 by pianist John Thwaites and three of the UK's most renowned chamber musicians (Lindsay, Sorrel, 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 the forgotten legacy of 20th century English composers and 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.
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 International Music Festival in 2008. This twenty-minute piece, commissioned by the Primrose, has proved very appealing, and will be available on a new CD early in 2010 on Meridian.
Alongside their performances of the major repertoire, the Primrose Quartet have researched the forgotten legacy of 20th century English composers and 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.
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 International Music Festival in 2008. This twenty-minute piece, commissioned by the Primrose, has proved very appealing, and will be available on a new CD early in 2010 on Meridian.
Another exciting commission, born out of their strong Scottish connections, is the "Burns Air" project, timed to celebrate Robert Burns's 250th anniversary.
Having chosen an air with a haunting melody and text, the Primrose invited Sally Beamish, John Casken, Jacques Cohen, Peter Fribbins, Francis Pott, Zoë Martlew, Piers Hellawell, Joe Cutler and Stephen Goss to write a short variation each.
The finished work had its world première in October and the Scottish première in November 2009 at the Sound Festival in Aberdeen, followed by a London performance in February 2010 at King's Place.
Having been selected for the Making Music Concert Promoters' Network in 2004/5, the Primrose perform throughout the UK and abroad, with a 10-concert tour of Denmark in 2010. They offer innovative educational workshops for schools including composers' workshops linked to the Burns Air project. They were Ensemble-in-Residence at the London College of Music 2004-2009.
Having been selected for the Making Music Concert Promoters' Network in 2004/5, the Primrose perform throughout the UK and abroad, with a 10-concert tour of Denmark in 2010. They offer innovative educational workshops for schools including composers' workshops linked to the Burns Air project. They were Ensemble-in-Residence at the London College of Music 2004-2009.
