Martin Lovett

OBE
Amadeus Quartet, from left:
Lovett, Brainin, Nissel, Schidlof
Born(1927-03-03)3 March 1927
Stoke Newington, London, England
Died29 April 2020(2020-04-29) (aged 93)
London, England
EducationRoyal College of Music
OccupationCellist
OrganizationsAmadeus Quartet
Awards

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]

Life and career

Lovett 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

  1. 1 2 Sheppard, John (March 2009). "The Legendary Amadeus Quartet". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Martin Lovett". Royal College of Music. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Amadeus Quartet cellist Martin Lovett has died". Gramophone. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Amadeus Quartet cellist Martin Lovett has died aged 93". The Strad. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  6. 1 2 Laspière, Victor Tribot (29 February 2020). "Mort de Martin Lovett, dernier membre du célèbre Quatuor Amadeus". France Musique (in French). Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  7. ↑ Downey, Harry (October 2000). "Franz Schubert (1797–1828) / ... Quintet in A Major . D667 "The Trout"". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  8. ↑ Moore, Ralph (March 2018). "Franz Schubert (1797–1828) / Complete String Quartets / String Quintet D956". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  9. ↑ Potter, Tully (6 May 2020). "Martin Lovett obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
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