11 July 2004
The Allegri Quartet with James Barton, David Roth, Keith Lovell and Bruno Schrecker
The atmosphere was electric as the audience assembled for the final concert
of the Llanfyllin Festival of 2004, aware that we are unlikely to have such
an assembly of Allegris and ex-Allegris again. We were pleased that our Patron,
Lord Gowrie, was able to join us for this concert, which began with the Sextet
from "Capriccio" by Strauss, for which the present Allegri were joined by
Keith Lovell and Bruno Schrecker. For the Mozart, Keith Lovell returned with
the present Allegri, and after the interval the "Allegri String Octet" returned
to the stage for the Mendelssohn. The audience was quietened only reluctantly
- and temporarily - when Bruno Shrecker remained to make an announcement:
Peter Carter is intending to retire at the end of this year, after leading
the quartet for more than twenty-five years. The standing ovation continued
for some time, as the audience used the only means available to them to express
their thanks and appreciation for over thirty years of the Festival and fifty
years of the Allegri String Quartet.