Being conducted by a composer in a powder blue suit and bright yellow trainers certainly creates an impression. Sir Michael Tippett died in 1998 and was such an inspirational musician that when the Tippett Quartet was formed in thesame week, they decided to take his name.

The Tippett Quartet is one of Britain’s leading string quartets, committed to combining mainstream repertoire with contemporary works, and have been described as 'bold and innovative … extraordinary technical accomplishment with flair and a bright communicative spark' (The Times).

Their interpretations are stylistically varied, informed by the breadth of their repertoire and it is their clarity of execution and total commitment in their performances that has led to collaborations with artists such as Lawrence Power, David Owen Norris, Melvyn Tan, Ashley Wass and Craig Ogden. The quartet has premiered works by composers including John Adams, Cecilia Ore, Simon Holt, Robert Walker, Howard Goodall and Stephen Dodgson. The quartet’s impressive and diverse catalogue of recordings have not only topped the classical charts but also entered the pop charts.

The Tippett Quartet was formed in 1998, the year in which they made their Wigmore Hall debut. They have since performed at the BBC Proms, Cheltenham Festival, Three Choirs Festival, Chichester Festivities, Dartington International Summer School, Presteigne Festival and the Lincoln and Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival. They have also performed at Kings Place, PurcellRoom, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Bridgewater Hall, The Sage, Gateshead and regularly return to Wigmore Hall. The quartet frequently appears on BBC Radio 3 and has broadcast live performances on Radio Novi Sad, Serbia and Sveriges Radio (Swedish National Radio).