Melbourne String Quartet
The Melbourne String Quartet has appeared in various guises over the years. One group formed in 1973 and another in 1994.
The 1973 group was formed from members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Leonard Dommett (concert-master), Donald Scotts (deputy), Paul O'Brien (principal viola), and Phillip Green (principal cello).
The 1994 incarnation of the Melbourne String Quartet [photo] featured some of Melbourne's finest string players including Carl Pini, Gerard van der Weide, Jane Hazelwood and Arturs Ezergailis. This is the group in the photo.
Melbourne String Quartet is featured on the following titles
Peter Sculthorpe
A retrospective compilation of favourite chamber works by the late Peter Sculthorpe, drawn from Move’s own catalogue. Torres Strait song, Kakadu landscapes and intimate string writing are heard in performances by leading Australian musicians.
Torquing Points
An exciting juxtaposition of 20th-century Australian and 19th-century European styles. Gordon Kerry's Torquing Points for String Quartet and Mark Pollard's The Quick or the Dead sit approachably beside the classical works on this programme.
Melbourne String Quartet also appears on
Sequenza and Other Works by Ian Bonighton
Ian Bonighton’s death at 33 in 1975 cut short one of the most distinctive young voices in Australian composition. This remastered survey gathers his music for choir and organ with tape, percussion, string quartet, solo horn and piano.
Members of Melbourne String Quartet
Carl Pini
Carl Pini is a musician of international reputation, beginning his career in London in 1960 as Leader of the London String Quartet. From 1968 he spent six years in Sydney, forming the Carl Pini Quartet which made three world tours with Musica Viva, as well as recording extensively for EMI.
Gerard van der Weide
Gerard van der Weide was born in the Netherlands and started playing the violin when he was seven years old. His main teacher was Jacques Holtman, former leader of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Amati String Quartet.
Jane Hazelwood
Jane Hazlewood began her professional life as a violinist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. In 1978 the opportunity arose for Jane to play viola within the ACO and after studying in Sydney, she furthered her studies in Berlin with Wolfram Christ.
Arturs Ezergailis
Arturs Ezergailis was born in 1957 in Adelaide. He took cello lessons with James Whitehead and later with Kurt Hess. For three years he was a cellist with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and was soloist in the Saint-Saens cello concerto. For two years he was a member of the Adelaide String Quartet.
Leonard Dommett
Leonard Dommett (1928–2006) was an Australian violinist, conductor and teacher. Long concertmaster of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, he was a leading soloist for whom many Australian composers wrote concertos.