Takács Quartet

Takács Quartet is a renowned string quartet founded in 1975 at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary, by Gábor Takács-Nagy, Gábor Ormai, Károly Schranz, and András Fejér. The quartet has performed with prominent orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Cleveland Orchestra, under the batons of conductors like Pierre Boulez, Simon Rattle, and Bernard Haitink. They have also collaborated with notable musicians, including Alfred Brendel, Mitsuko Uchida, and Joshua Bell. The quartet's name is derived from the first name of its founder, Gábor Takács-Nagy, who was a student of Zoltán Kodály and Sándor Végh at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music.

● History

The Takács Quartet was formed in 1975 and quickly gained international recognition, winning the International String Quartet Competition in Evian in 1977, and the Bartók String Quartet Competition in Budapest in 1978. The quartet has undergone several changes in its membership over the years, with Edward Dusinberre and Andras Fejer being the longest-standing members. They have performed at numerous festivals, including the Salzburg Festival, Edinburgh Festival, and Tanglewood Music Festival, and have worked with composers such as Elliott Carter, György Kurtág, and Thomas Adès. The quartet has also been influenced by the Budapest String Quartet and the Amadeus Quartet, and has performed with other notable ensembles, including the Juilliard String Quartet and the Emerson String Quartet.

● Members

The current members of the Takács Quartet are Edward Dusinberre (first violin), Harumi Rhodes (second violin), Richard O'Neill (viola), and Andras Fejer (cello). Previous members include Gábor Takács-Nagy (first violin), Károly Schranz (second violin), Gábor Ormai (viola), and Peter Szabo (cello). The quartet has also collaborated with other musicians, such as Steven Isserlis, Ralph Kirshbaum, and Lawrence Power, and has performed with orchestras like the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and San Francisco Symphony.

● Repertoire

The Takács Quartet has a diverse repertoire, ranging from the classical works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven to the modern compositions of Bartók, Shostakovich, and Ligeti. They have also performed works by Brahms, Schumann, and Dvořák, and have collaborated with contemporary composers like John Adams, Philip Glass, and Arvo Pärt. The quartet has a strong connection to the music of Hungary, and has performed works by Zoltán Kodály, Ernő Dohnányi, and Leo Weiner. They have also been influenced by the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic, and have performed with conductors like Claudio Abbado and Riccardo Muti.

● Discography

The Takács Quartet has an extensive discography, with recordings on labels such as Decca Records, Hyperion Records, and Telarc Records. Their recordings include the complete string quartets of Bartók, Beethoven, and Brahms, as well as works by Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert. They have also recorded works by contemporary composers, such as Elliott Carter and Thomas Adès, and have collaborated with other musicians, including Mitsuko Uchida and Alfred Brendel. The quartet's recordings have received critical acclaim, with awards from Gramophone Magazine and the International Record Review.

● Awards

The Takács Quartet has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance, the Gramophone Award for Chamber Music, and the Avery Fisher Prize. They have also been recognized with the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary and the Kossuth Prize, and have been appointed as Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music and the Juilliard School. The quartet has also been praised by critics, with reviews in publications like The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Times, and has been recognized by organizations like the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Library of Congress.