‘Glorious and wonderful’ the Takács on tour for Musica Viva

Britten, Ravel, Janáček and Gordon Kerry. A suitable repertoire for a string quartet which was founded in Budapest, came to international attention in France, is based at the University of Colorado in Boulder, appointed Associate Artists for 2012-13 at the Wigmore Hall in London and which is soon to tour to Sydney.

Musica Viva presents the Takács Quartet which for decades has occupied the pinnacle of the performing and recording worlds. Founded in 1975 at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest by four students, Gabaor Takacs Nagy, Karoly Schranz, Gabor Ormai and Andras Fejer, the quartet came to fame when it won the first prize and the critics Prize at the International String Quartet Competition in Evian,France.

There followed numerous worldwide awards and over 16 recordings for the Decca label. Violinist Edward Dusinberre joined the quartet in 1993 and violinist Roger Tapping in 1995. Violinist Geraldine Walther replaced Tapping in 2005. Their recording of the six Bartok String Quartets won the 1998 Gramophone Award for chamber music and was nominated for a Grammy in 1999. Their most recent recording in November 2011 were the Opus 71 and 74 string quartets of Haydn.

In May, 2012, Gramophone Magazine announced that the Takács Quartet was the only string quartet to be inducted into its first Hall of Fame, sharing the honour with such legendary artists as Jascha Heifetz, Leonard Bernstein and Dame Janet Baker

For this, their 9th Australian tour, cellist and founding member András Fejer says that performing Britten’s first and third quartets is a fair exchange with Edward Dusinberre, the quartet’s first violin and only British member.

He says “Ed has been an extremely good sport, learning all the Bartok Quartets 17 years ago.  So we feel it’s long overdue that we should learn to play all the Britten quartets.”

The quartet is fresh from a Britten cycle in the UK  tour, so they will bring with them to Australia, the context and experience of a complete overview. “It’s really depressed and dark,” says Fejer.  “It’s glorious – wonderful.”

Rounding off the quartet’s tour program are the “Variations” of Musica Viva’s 2012 Featured Composer Gordon Kerry.

The Takács Quartet:

Edward Dusinberre Violin

Károly Schranz Violin

Geraldine Walther Viola

András Fejer Cello

Tickets:  $38 – $99. Concessions available.  CRH VIP $72

(Additional fees may apply)

Bookings: on line at www.cityrecitalhall call (02) 8256 2222 or in person at the Box Office, 2, Angel Place, Sydney.