My father, Patrick Ireland, who has died aged 100, was the original viola player with the Allegri Quartet, a British chamber music ensemble.
He joined the quartet in 1953 with its founding members William Pleeth, Eli Goren and James Barton. By 1956 the Allegri had become the chosen quartet for John Barbirolli’s notable recording of Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, with the Sinfonia of London. From then on they went from strength to strength, developing an international career and giving world premieres of dozens of new pieces over the years.
