Yesterday (Thursday 8 January), the Allegri Quartet called out to fellow musicians to assemble at St Martin in the Fields church near Trafalgar Square to perform Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings as a tribute to the people killed in Wednesday's terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris.
Despite initial security fears, 150 string players gathered from 9.45pm onwards to prepare for the performance and played the piece at 10.45pm. The performance followed a short speech and one minute’s silence to commemorate the victims.
A large crowd gathered to watch the moving performance. The Facebook page for the event was updated today with a message that says, ‘Thanks to the thousands of people who joined last night in a beautiful, peaceful, united gathering. Very moving!’
Watch part of the performance in the video below.
Picture: screenshot from video
Visit the BBC News website for up to date coverage related to the Charlie Hebdo attack.