Siegmund "Sigi" Nissel (1922-2008)

The Amadeus Quartet (left to right): Cellist Martin Lovett, first violinist Norbert Brainin, second violinist Siegmund Nissel, and violist Peter Schidlof

I recently learned of the passing of Siegmund "Sigi" Nissel, the beloved teacher and the second violinist and administrator of the Amadeus Quartet, the top-notch English string quartet that performed together for over 40 years. The Amadeus Quartet was founded in 1947 by three Viennese violinists who had fled Nazi-subjugated Austria for England - Norbert Brainin, Peter Schidlof (who later switched to viola), and Nissel - and the English cellist Martin Lovett.

The Amadeus Quartet disbanded in 1987 upon the death of violist Peter Schidlof. Boston Globe critic Anthony Tommasini wrote of the Amadeus Quartet following their Celebrity Series concert in 1987, their 40th, and last, year together, "...their homogeneous ensemble, their collective palette of coloristic nuances, and their ability to inflect their readings with telling detail all remain marvels." Mr. Nissel was part of that marvel for its entire lifespan, the sort of thing most of us can only dream about.

The Amadeus performed on the Celebrity Series four times: in 1961, '74, '78, and '87.

The Times (UK) obituary

Siegmund Nissel wikipedia page

New York Times obituary

Boston Globe obituary

Telegraph (UK) obituary

The Washington Post obituary

The Independent (UK) obituary

On An Overgrown Path: In memorium Siegmund Nissel

Video of the Amadeus Quartet: from Beethoven's Op. 135 Quartet

Video of the Amadeus Quartet: from Bartok's String Quartet No. 4