What is it about a piece by Berg on the programme and attendances falling off? Sadly, this was the way it was for the Doric String Quartet, with at least 40 regulars missing this talented quartet's appearance in Leamington.

"We are doing very well this year," said one of the much respected regulars as we left the Pump Room. "We must be the champions of Chamber Music in the Midlands".

The Doric's rise to prominence has taken a mere ten years - four young talented musicians, two with Royal Academy connections, one with Guildhall connections and the fourth member with strong European links.

Haydn's Quartet in B flat Op. No 3 opened the programme, a sober, melancholy piece which probably didn't showcase the talents of the quartet players.

John Myerscough (cello) carefully inducted his audience into the Berg Lyric Suite explaining that, post Wagner, there was a huge musical change, Berg being one of the pioneers of breaking the boundaries of traditional composition.

There is great emotional tension created throughout the Lyric Suite with each movement being given a stronger adjective as the music progresses. Myerscough encouraged us to feel this emotional journey - the players feel exhausted by the end.

The Brahms Quartet in C Minor Op.51 No 1, with its dramatic opening movement brought the programme to a close – a chance for the quartet to demonstrate some confident playing, especially on cello, and producing a simply lovely tone.

By way of tradition the Doric Quartet played as an enthusiastic encore - Mozart's Minuet and Trio 76 No 1 in G major.

On reflection, they would probably have preferred to open their concert with Mozart rather than with Haydn!

Clive Peacock