Martin Lovett OBE (3 March 1927 – 29 April 2020) was an English cellist, best known for his work for 40 years with the Amadeus Quartet, one of the leading string quartets at the time.[1]
Martin Lovett | |
|---|---|
 Amadeus Quartet, from left: Lovett, Brainin, Nissel, Schidlof | |
| Born | 3 March 1927 Stoke Newington, London, England |
| Died | 29 April 2020 (aged 93) London, England |
| Education | Royal College of Music |
| Occupation | Cellist |
| Organizations | Amadeus Quartet |
| Awards | |
Life and career
editLovett was born in Stoke Newington (north-east London) on 3 March 1927.[2] When he was 11, his father, a cellist with the Hallé Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, gave him his first lessons. At age 15, he won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London.[3][4] He joined the Amadeus Quartet at the age of 19, in 1947, with violinists Norbert Brainin and Siegmund Nissel, and violist Peter Schidlof.[3][5] He was the only English player in the quartet of otherwise Austrian refugees.[6] They remained together for 40 years, until the death of Schidlof in 1987, when they decided to disband.[5] They recorded many quartets,[1] including Beethoven's complete string quartets,[4] and also in 1968 Schubert's Quintet "The Trout", D. 667, with pianist Emil Gilels and double bassist Rainer Zepperitz.[7]
After the end of the Amadeus Quartet, Lovett was much in demand for performances with various chamber music groups including the Amadeus Ensemble.[3] He gave chamber music courses all over the world.[3] The Amadeus Summer Course, held each year at the Royal Academy of Music in London, was a highlight of this activity. He joined the Verdi Quartet for a 1989 recording of Schubert's String Quintet, D. 956.[8]
A former Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, he also acted as a judge in many international chamber music competitions.[3] As a quartet member, Lovett was awarded the OBE, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.[4]
Lovett was married for 55 years to Suzanne Rosza, whom he met while they studied at the Royal College of Music.[3] They had two children, Sonia and Peter, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.[5] He later remarried, to the writer Dorinde Van Oort.[9]
He died in North London on 29 April 2020, aged 93.[5][4][6] News of his death was first announced by his daughter, Sonia, who confirmed that it was due to complications from COVID-19.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Sheppard, John (March 2009). "The Legendary Amadeus Quartet". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ a b Allen, David (14 May 2020). "Martin Lovett, Last Living Member of the Amadeus Quartet, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Martin Lovett". Royal College of Music. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Amadeus Quartet cellist Martin Lovett has died". Gramophone. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Amadeus Quartet cellist Martin Lovett has died aged 93". The Strad. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ a b Laspière, Victor Tribot (29 February 2020). "Mort de Martin Lovett, dernier membre du célèbre Quatuor Amadeus". France Musique (in French). Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Downey, Harry (October 2000). "Franz Schubert (1797–1828) / ... Quintet in A Major . D667 "The Trout"". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Moore, Ralph (March 2018). "Franz Schubert (1797–1828) / Complete String Quartets / String Quintet D956". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Potter, Tully (6 May 2020). "Martin Lovett obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
External links
edit- Martin Lovett discography at Discogs
- Artist Martin Lovett at Grammy Awards
- Portraits of Martin Lovett at the National Portrait Gallery, London
- Martin Lovett in conversation with Norbert Meyn / Royal College of Music, 2015 on YouTube
- Beethoven, String Quartet No.16, Op.135, 3.mov – Amadeus Quartet – London, 1973 on YouTube
