To William Hennessy, Adelaide owes its ownership of an important nationally and internationally known ensemble Adelaide Advertiser 9th December, 1996
…this most inspiring quartet performed with taste and flair in the manner of the best models of quartet playing… La Nuova Venezia, Venice 1988
Australian quartet a revelation. For their first performance in France, the Australian String Quartet offered an evening of the highest artistic standing Dernieres Nouvelle D’Alsace - Strasbourg - France - 1990
Visionary quality The Strad – London
A little more than a decade ago the ASQ set out with the highest ambitions. In this Festival those goals have been most eloquently realised in the most telling and rewarding way in powerfully sustained, exemplary performances of works that are the pinnacles of their medium Adelaide Festival 1996 - Adelaide Advertiser - The Complete Late Quartets of Beethoven
The North American ear, slightly jaded by high energy string tone, is struck by the relaxed natural sound of the Australians……you will travel far to find any chamber music players as fine…….they took us into their world and made us feel like citizens The Chronicle Herald - Nova Scotia – Canada – 1988
polished interpretations from a master ensemble The Australian – Sydney 1987
The ASQ has had an immense impact on Australia’s cultural life David Barmby – Head of Artistic planning Musica Viva – 1995
under the inspired leadership of William Hennessy…..one of the most profound accounts of Mozart’s G Minor Quintet ever heard by this writer Tully Potter – The Cambridge Companion to The String Quartet - UK
The ASQ’s concert demonstrated most decisively that we have in this country, a quartet which can stand with the best international ensembles The Canberra Times 1995
…..presented with such compelling authority and with such understanding of genre that one could scarcely credit that the quartet had been in exisistence for so short a time. If playing of this quality is any pointer to the future, the quartet can be considered a major new force on the Australian music scene. Neville Cohen – The Australian – Perth April 1986.
inspired music making where any attempt to dissect matter from manner would simply diminish the whole exalted experience John Carmody – Sun Herald, 11/6/95 - Of the Australian String Quartet performances of all six Bartok String Quartets
Splendid Mastery of Bartok Quartets The Australian – Adelaide October, 1995
one of the great success stories of the Australian music scene Musica Viva Australia
Australia has a few connoisseur performing acts – The Australian String Quartet is one of them Brisbane Courier Mail
It is still unusual to hear an ensemble like the recently formed and much praised Australian String Quartet The Independent – London 1988
Corporate command of the widest variety of colour and nuance Daily Telegraph – London
commanding poise and clarity… The Strad – London.
….performances of a consistency and concentration that amply justify the quartet’s growing reputation…… Daily Telegraph – London
….splendid interpretation…..bore witness to this high class quartet from Australia. Komsomolets, Yerevan - Armenia
….quiet dedication to musical truth…. Adelaide Review
…adventurousness matched by engaging artistry…. Musical Opinion London
Striking display of shared virtuosity Adelaide Advertiser
For sheer beauty, their performance is unequalled on the local chamber music scene this season, rich as it has been The Greenville News - South Carolina USA
Musica Viva brings some scintillating groups to Australia, but few match the compatability of ASQ’s first and second violin William Hennessy and Elinor Lea (now Levy), a partnership that may be equalled but not bettered, one the former student of the other who respond as one to the music’s possibilities. Brisbane Courier Mail.
…a remarkable performance of the Beethoven Quartet (op 59 no 2) The Age - Melbourne 1986
an impressive UK debut at Wigmore Hall the Strad – London January 1986
The Australian String Quartet were quite brilliant… The Age – Melbourne 1994
It took the Australian String Quartet a while to win acceptance as this country’s flagship quartet, but it has carried the national name with pride for years now. The Australian – Sydney 1996
Since its formation in 1985 the ASQ has done much to foster the creation of a native string quartet repertory The Age 8th Sept 1994
a superb introduction to a composer whose work, though not ground breaking, is nevertheless full of beauty and vitality The Strad – London – on Alfred Hill (Australian composer) Quartets recording for Marco Polo by the Australian String Quartet.
… the sort of performances one dreams about. Hobart Mercury - the six quartets of Bartok
Splendid Mastery of Bartok Quartets The Australian – Adelaide October, 1995
commanding poise and clarity… The Strad – London.
Australians impress The Times – London
Australian Quartet knows its business Toronto Star – Canada
Australian quartet of quality and power South China Morning Post – Hong Kong
It is not hard to predict that the Australian String Quartet, because of its high level of artistry, will be a group in high demand on the American concert stage Michael Barta (former leader of the Kodaly Quartet ) - The Register News - Illinois - USA 1988