The Allegri Quartet celebrated its 50th birthday in 2004 and continues to go from strength to strength.
In 2007 it performed the complete string quartets of Beethoven, programming them alongside contemporary works over four seasons. Also in 2007 - an anniversary for Elgar (1857-1934) - the Quartet were joined by pianists Rian de Waal and Martin Roscoe for performances of Elgar’s elegiac Piano Quintet, a work that they recorded and broadcast live with de Waal for Canadian Radio in 2002. These performances will be in addition to performing works by the composers that they have championed for decades (Haydn, Beethoven, Bartok and Shostakovich), as well as exploring new and more unusual repertoire.
The Quartet enjoys collaborating with other artists, and has worked with outstanding concert performers such as Jack Brymer, Clifford Curzon, Annie Fischer, Dame Thea King, John Ogden and Gervase de Peyer at international festivals that include Aldeburgh, Edinburgh, Prague Spring, Berlin, Hong Kong, and Stavanger.
The Quartet also has an interesting association with the Newark School of Violin Making, giving feedback to young luthiers on their work and performing on a selection of the finest instruments produced each year.
“…the Allegri Quartet’s performance of Mendelssohn’s A minor string quartet was utterly gripping”.The Sunday Times, July 2005
“…the shimmer and grace and intelligence of this ensemble is riveting”.
The Independent on Sunday, January 2004