Allegri Quartet Next Week

Press, Volume C, Issue 29508, 9 May 1961, Page 9

Allegri Quartet Next Week

The Allegri Quartet, which will give the second concert of the season for the Christchurch Chamber Music Society in the Civic Theatre on Monday, takes its name from Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652), who is reputed to be the first composer ever to write for a quartet of strings. The quartet, which made its debut in London in February, 1954. has toured extensively in Britain and Europe. It is frequently heard' on the radio in Britain, taking part in many of the 8.8.C.’s most important chamber music concerts, and it has recorded for H.M.V. in the History of Music in Sound series. The members of the quartet are Eli Goren (violin), James Barton (violin), Patrick Ireland (viola), and William

Pleeth (’cello). Mr Goren was born in Vienna, where he made appearances as a soloist from an early age. He studied with Emil Hausner, the founder of the Budapest Quartet. Mr Goren is leader of the London Mozart Players

Mr Barton, who was born in London, won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music at the age of 11. He studied with Max Rostal and rapidly established himself as a gifted chamber music player. He is one of the very few violinists to bow with the left arm. a fact which is of considerable advantage in solving the problem of quartet balance. The violist, Mr Ireland, was admitted to the Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral at the age of 10. He won

scholarships to Wellington College and the Royal School of Music. After serving as a pilot in the Royal Air Force during the war, he continued his studies at Worcester College, Oxford. He has appeared as a soloist in London, the provinces and on the 8.8. C.

Mr Pleeth, who has recorded for both the leading British record groups, is one of Britain’s best known broadcasting and concert 'cellists. He appears as soloist with all the leading British orchestras. He is a professor at the Guildhall School of Music.

The quartet will play three works—Mozart’s Quartet No. 4 in C, K. 157; Benjamin Britten’s Quartet No. 1; and Beethoven’s Quartet No. 13 in B-flat. Op. 130.