Allegri String Quartet in residency at Oxford
24 Feb 09
The Allegri String Quartet, one of the oldest British Chamber ensembles in existence, will be in residency at Oxford’s Music Faculty this week.
They were founded in 1953 and like all the senior professional String Quartets, the members of the Allegri teach and give masterclasses as well as performing and recording. The current members are Ofer Falk (violin), Raphael Todes (violin), Dorothea Vogel (viola) Katherine Jenkinson (cello).
Professor Robert Saxton, University Lecturer and Fellow of Worcester College said: ‘Oxford's Faculty of Music is delighted to welcome the Allegri String Quartet for their annual visit as an ensemble in Residence. This promises to be a truly inspiring week.'
Dr Martyn Harry, University Lecturer and Fellow of St Anne's, said: 'I have been very lucky as a composer to have worked closely with this inspirational group, whose interpretations of the classical string quartet repertoire are unfailingly fresh and insightful.
'The Quartet will be giving two concerts in the Holywell Music Room this week. Each concert will feature a collaboration with a student from the Music Faculty: in a work by Schubert with the promising young counter-tenor Joe Bulger on Wednesday evening, and in the Mozart Clarinet Quintet with the former BBC Young Musician of the Year, Mark Simpson.'
The Allegri String Quartet will be holding an evening concert tomorrow (Wednesday 25 February) at 8pm, as well as an open rehearsal from 2-3.30pm earlier in the day. They will be performing a number of pieces including those by Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn.
On Friday (27 February), they will be holding a lunchtime concert at 12.45pm. This will include pieces by Haydn and Mozart.
As this year is the 200th since the death of Haydn, the Music Faculty will also hold a workshop on Haydn String Quartet Op76 no1, which is mainly for students, but also open to the public. This will be led by Professor Saxton and held on Thursday (26 February) at the Denis Arnold Hall in the Faculty of Music from 1.30-3pm. It will give an insight into one of Haydn’s most celebrated quartets and look at the first movement in detail.
Tickets can be bought online or on the door.