One of the reasons for this might be that they all pursued other aspects of music alongside the quartet: as soloists, playing in other chamber music groups, playing in, leading and directing orchestras, coaching chamber music and teaching, and freelancing in the session world. But I think it’s safe to say that the quartet has formed the core of musical life for all four players. Perhaps some of the secret of their strength together has been the very diversity of their characters and outlooks. The fact that they played bridge before and in the intervals of concerts is well known and also points to a degree of comfortable ease and mutual appreciation between them rare in groups whose members saw such a lot of each other.