The Allegri String Quartet Mozart Quintets in C Major NaimCD085

We proudly present this brand new recording of Mozart's two great quintets by the Allegri Quartet. This disc is significant for several reasons. It sees Peter Carter re-united in the Allegri with Prunella Pacey, who was the quartet's viola player in the days when Peter made his first recordings with them.

It is also the last recording to be made with Peter before his retirement from the quartet after 28 years as leader.

This rendition of Mozart's C Major and G Minor quintets sees the Allegri at their sparkling best; the tonal beauty and exceptional precision a consistent part in all they do. The C Major, composed in April 1787, and the G Minor composed the month after, make for an exalted and contrasting pair, the one outwardly bright but serious, the other filled with sombre beauty.

The present members of the Allegri Quartet are the inheritors of a tradition that begun nearly fifty years ago in order to create inspired performances of the great classical and romantic chamber music repertoire

Rafael Todes on 2nd violin, Pál Banda on cello and Dorothea Vogel join Peter and Prunella for this True Stereo recording by Ken Christianson of Pro Music, Chicago.

The Allegri String Quartet The 50th Anniversary of the Allegri Quartet NaimCD074

The Naim Label is proud to join The Allegri Quartet in celebrating its golden anniversary.

The Allegri has been in existence for 50 years, and is the UK's oldest and longest surviving string quartet. We feel that this is a extraordinary achievement, and are proud to be part of the Quartet's recording history.

To commemorate this special occasion, The Naim Label is releasing "50th Anniversary of the Allegri Quartet", a collection of highlights from our catalogue with the Quartet. The disc also includes two special guest appearances by the renowned clarinettist James Campbell, and by Patrick Ireland, lead violinist with the original quartet.

The selected recordings highlight the work that the Quartet has recorded with Naim over the past nine years, and feature work by Haydn, Bruch, Shostakovich, Schubert, Stravinsky, Britten, Mozart, Brahms and Beethoven.

This disc is also a superb showcase for the talent of Ken Christianson, who has made these recordings in a variety of venues including the Henry Wood Hall, the Jacqueline du Pre Hall and the Sir Michael Tippett Centre.

The Allegri String Quartet featuring James Campbell Haydn, MacMillan, Schubert NaimCD067

Featuring a carefully chosen repertoire of work by Haydn, MacMillan and Schubert, this CD demonstrates the quartet's wealth of chamber music experience from around the world.

The Allegri has gained three new members: Rafael Todes on second violin, Dorothea Vogel on viola and Pal Banda on cello join Peter Carter. This balance of youth, maturity and experience leads to a performance that is breathtakingly dynamic and full of the hallmarks of the Allegri's distinctive personality.

Tuireadh by James MacMillan was commissioned by the BBC for the Allegri Quartet, in memory of the victims of the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster. This is their first recording of the piece, and sees them accompanied by world-renowned clarinet player James Campbell. Also of note is the stained glass featured on the CD cover. This was also created in memory of the lives lost, and is installed in Ferryhill Church, Aberdeen.

Haydn's String Quartet in F Major, Opus 50, was written for the cello-playing King Frederick William II of Prussia. The Allegri have chosen to record No 5 for this disc, thus sharing the King's good fortune with us! Schubert's Opus 29 completes the disc; this was the first quartet to have been performed publicly and the only one to have been published before Schubert's death.

Ken Christianson was once again in charge of the Nagra, recording with the Allegri at St Leonards, Whitsbury.

The Allegri String Quartet Beethoven, Britten NaimCD027

This is the Allegri String Quartet's fifth album for the Naim Label and is a further example of their brilliant expertise in interpretation.

Beethoven composed his Opus 131 for string quartet in 1826 while Britten's Opus 94 was not composed until 1976, demonstrating the Quartet's versatility necessary to perform works from different centuries. The deep musicality and superlative technique of the four individuals combine to create a seamless dynamic communality.

This CD was recorded by Ken Christianson at the Henry Wood Hall in London. This venue was chosen for its size and famous acoustic attributes, which were vital to the finished recording.

The Allegri String Quartet with James Campbell Schubert, Stravinsky, Mozart NaimCD024

This is our fourth and penultimate recording of the Allegri Quartet with its present line-up - cellist Bruno Schrecker retires at the end of summer 1998.

The quartet is joined on this occasion by internationally renowned clarinettist, James Campbell. He has performed with many of the world's finest orchestras and has had many new works written specially for him. This CD features a Schubert arrangement by Brian Newbould that was specially commissioned by Campbell for clarinet and string quartet.

The Allegri String Quartet Haydn, Shostakovich, Schumann NaimCD016

Our third recording by the Allegri Quartet, this disc features music from three different centuries and brilliantly showcases the quartet's gift for interpretation.

Recorded by Ken Christianson in the Jacqueline du Pre Music Building at St Hilda's College, Oxford, this stunning collection brings you Haydn's charismatic Quartet Op.42 in D minor, Shostakovich's Quartet 3 in F, Op.73, and Schumann's Quartet Op.41 No.3 in A, often regarded as a supreme example of this composer's work.

The Allegri String Quartet Schubert, Haydn, Ravel NaimCD012

We so enjoyed working with the Allegri on the unique recording of Max Bruch's A Minor String Quartet (naim cd010), we asked for more!

Dear Julian, I have just listened to the new CD and am happy to report that I'm delighted. The sound is very true, almost more beautiful than when it leaves our instruments. Congratulations!

Peter Carter
Allegri String Quartet.

The Allegri String Quartet with Patrick Ireland Bruch, Brahms NaimCD010

This is the very first recording of Bruch's A minor String Quartet, a work he composed during his eightieth year.

The recording was made by the Allegri Quartet with Patrick Ireland in July 1994, at Mells Church in the village of Great Elm, England. The piece is coupled here with Brahms' powerful G major Quintet Opus 111. "This is its first recording and the freshness of ideas and argument is most winning,"remarked The Guardian.