11 July 2008
The Allegri String Quartet
Beethoven Quartet Op 18 No 2 in G
Britten Quartet No 1 in D
Schumann Quartet in A major
The 'cello desk was takn tonight by Sally Pendlebury, and we were all delighted that the pleasant sunny evening we think of as Festival Weather has finally made an appearance.
The Beethoven Quartet Op 18 No 2 in G is a genial work, and the Allegri performed with a sort of radiant playfulness that was very engaging.
In his introduction to the Britten, Raffy described it as a "subversive" piece and had us all on the look-out for expectations unfulfilled and habitual ideas overset. Nor were we disappointed, and if the piece does not have the charm of the first piece in the programme, the absolute integrity of the performance gave us a glimpse, perhaps, of Britten at play.
The second half was taken up with the Schumann Quartet No 3. Raffy's introduction described it as "experimental" and "gratuitiously difficult in parts", but needless to state the Allegri rose magnificently to the challenge and brought the concert to a rousing conclusion.
Rachel Wright
Committee Member