Brodsky Quartet at 50

The Brodsky Quartet is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, and we like to think we still look young
enough for that to be almost unbelievable!
How has it been 50 years since we started this lifelong journey together? Looking back, I find it wonderful
that 10- and 12-year olds were already infused with passion and belief in the longevity that is now playing
out. Two of us remain from the beginning, one joined as we turned professional 40 years ago, and our new
fourth member has had her own similar path in the endlessly rewarding and fascinating life that is the String
Quartet!
So many people have helped us along the way: from our parents, through teachers, agents, sponsors,
record companies and promoters, we have a lot to be thankful for. Many concert halls worldwide have
loyally supported all our projects – London’s Kings Place to Sydney Opera House, too many to mention.
From entire cycles of Schubert, Shostakovich, Beethoven, Zemlinsky, Bartok, to the more unusual things
we’ve thrown at them; song cycles – with a Who’s-Who line-up of collaborators – theatrical pieces,
educational projects and grand spectacles. Like the 400-strong performance of Britten’s Noye’s Fludde at
Wimbledon Festival, bringing back fond memories of our own childhood involvement back in Middlesbrough
1971, not long after the work was written. Crazy late-night marathons at our favourite summer school,
Dartington, which we first visited as students in ’74 then returned as professionals at least twenty times
over the years. ANAM in Melbourne, where students rose to the challenge of our demanding Side-by-Side
projects, to be repeated in Mexico, Holland, Scotland and, coming up this year, Dartington once more.
Delfina Entrecanales, Neil Rackham, Patrick Fahey are amongst the generous friends who have helped us
along the way, sponsoring concerts, acquiring instruments, funding recordings. Marjon Koenekoop, Maria
Angeles de Scals amongst the many agents who have put in tireless work on our behalf, culminating in our
long-term soulmate and fifth member, the wonderful Sarah Trelawny Ford.
We still gain a huge amount of pleasure in the endlessly fascinating vocation we have made our lives’ work.
Rehearsals can delve with manic intensity into the minute detail of our craft, as much now as when we
were young and finding our collective voice. The passion remains in our hearts and, we hope, will still
manage to thrill our audiences as we set off on this anniversary season!