Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-28
The Flonzaley Quartet.

THE WASHINGTON SOCIETY of
the Fine Arts again announces a
series of three chamber music con-
certs by the famous Flonzaley Quartet
These VIII be given January 5, Febru-
airy 20 and March 8, in the auditorium
of the Central High School at $3.50
pm.
In its origin the F1onzaley Quartet
is an American organization. It took
root on these shores, and its fret
recognftions We're gained here. Yet
little Belgium must be admitted TO a
partnership in this glory, for all the
original and present members of the
quartet owe their musicianship to the
schools and teachers of that country.
Adolfo BETH, first violin. is an Ital-
ian by birth. On March 81, 1875, he
was born at Bagni de Lucca. Like all
Italian children 1t was naturally as
sumed by his parents that he was
musical, so that he was given a violin
to study upon in his sixth year. Until
he was 16 he was inclined to regard
music as a secondary talent, for he
loved to write. At that time his SUI
perior musical ability was recognized.
He went to Belgium to study with
Cesar Thomson at the Liege Con-
servatory. He remained with this
famous teacher four years, and was
awarded the gold medal in this con
servatory in 1896. Then he toured
Austria, Italy and Germany as viz
tuoso. In 1900 he was appointed as
sistant TO Cesar Thomson in the lat
ter's virtuoso class at the Brussels
Conservatory, where he remained
three years until he Joined the newly
formed Flonzaley Quartet
Alfred Pochon, second violin of the
ensemble. was born at Lausanne in
1873, and is a. descendeut Of an OLD
Swiss family of note. He, too, studied
the violin at an early age, and went
later to the Liege Conservatory 10
work with Cesar Thomson, where h
earned numerous honorary diplomas.
He followed this study with a tour OF
Europe, and varied his virtuoso work
with membership in the Thomson
Quartet in Brussels and the concert
mastership in the orchestra of Eugene
Isaye in the same city. In 1902, he
left for the United States, where he
joined with NJ. f. ]. de Coppet in
founding the Flonzaley Quartet.
Ivan d'Archambeau. ceIlist, was
born near Liege, in Belgium, in 1879.
He comes of family of musicians.
At the age of Is he commenced the
study Of the violoncello, studying i'm
mediately at the Conservatory of Yer
viers, where he carried off highest
honors. He continued his work a 4
the Brussels and Frankfort conserva-
tories, and then toured, with great
success, as a soloist, Germany, Bel
GUM and Scotland. In 1903, when
the Flonzaley Quartet was formed, he
joined the founders.
Felicien dArchambeau, Yioiist, is
younger brother of Ivan. He was
graduated from the Liege ConEervs-
tory with highest honors in piano,
violin and composition. He played
both the viola and violin in the fam
lily quartet which the d'Archambeau
organized for their own pleasure and
that of their friends. Felicieu Oar
chambeau (who holds the place which
in the original FlonzaleY Quartet was
held by Cgo Ara) is perhaps tho most
versatile member of the group. He
won remarkable success during sew
eral years as a conductor of operas
and symphonic orchestras in France.
Belgium, Algeria and Egypt, but h.
continued to cultivate his favoritc
instrument, the viola
No doubt the fact that all four
members Of the Flonzaley Quartz
have the same musical training has
done much TO enable them 70 aclliev"
that unity of Interpretation and en-
scmbie which made the Westminster
Gazette say of them on a. recent visi.
which they made TO London, The
principal difficulty experienced in
writing about the Flonzaleys is Ia
find 4 new way of saying once again
how superlatively and incredibly
good they are