Colin Twigg Catherine Schofield Michael Schofield Lucy Wilding
Colin Twigg violin 1, Catherine Schofield violin 2
Michael Schofield viola, Lucy Wilding cello
The Bridge Quartet is firmly established as one of Britain's leading string quartets. Their acclaimed recordings for Meridian, particularly of the complete quartets by their namesake, the British composer Frank Bridge (1879-1941), have led to invitations to tour internationally, including the USA, Switzerland and this season in Italy, Spain and France. In 2006 they were the only quartet invited to represent Britain at the Fayence International Quartet Festival. They often perform in Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Tuscany (Italy). The quartet are represented in Eastern Europe by Illyria.
In London, highlights include Haydn 'Seven Last Words' and late Beethoven at the South Bank Centre as well as a recital to a capacity audience at Wigmore Hall: Ravel and Brahms quartets and the first London performance of the Bridge Viola Quintet. The Quartet has performed in many festivals and series throughout the UK such as the Warwick International Quartet Series and Cambridge Summer Recitals as well as for numerous music clubs. They collaborate with some of the UK's outstanding performers in Brahms Sextet, Schubert cello quintet, Mozart viola quintets as well as clarinet and piano quintets.
The members of the Bridge Quartet are highly respected as coaches on international courses such as the Dartington International Summer School as well as various courses for amateurs throughout Europe. Their pioneering educational work has won several awards and was featured on BBC Television. They are Musicians-in-Residence in the London Borough of Hounslow where they give community performances and showcase their "West 4 Sunday Series" in the Edwardian surroundings and excellent acoustics of Chiswick Town Hall, London W4.
Their discovery of an early quartet by Delius led to premiere performances at the Delius Festival in the USA and a recording, coupled with quartets by Grieg and Grainger. This received the highest rating by Diapason "une revelation totale" and was the Chamber Music Disc of the Month in The Strad: "An outstanding release ... enchanting performances." Their most recent CD, of chamber music by Bridge as a student, was reviewed in Gramophone 2005: "Pleasing discoveries ... the Bridge Quartet prove persuasive advocates ... intensely warmhearted ... a very attractive release," and by The Strad in 2005: "A landmark recording with gripping ensemble ... highly recommendable."
The Bridge Quartet feature on a highly acclaimed Naxos recording of William Alwyn chamber music which sold over 3000 copies in the first six months. They were delighted to play at the visionary English Music Festival in Oxfordshire and are linking future recordings of English works to the next Festival.