String Quartet 1 - 3

String Quartet 1 - 3 cover $30.00 Out of Stock
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BENJAMIN BRITTEN
String Quartet 1 - 3
Takacs Quartet

[ Hyperion / CD ]

Release Date: Tuesday 10 September 2013

This item is currently out of stock. We expect to be able to supply it to you within 2 - 4 weeks from when you place your order.

'Arguably the greatest string quartet before the public today' (The Sunday Times), the Takács Quartet have recorded much of the great Classical and Romantic quartet repertoire during their fruitful career. Now they turn to three masterpieces of the twentieth century.

The three quartets span the composer's life, the first written in America and the second written at the height of Britten's fame after the premiere of Peter Grimes. It was written to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Purcell's death-a composer who was a lifetime inspiration to Britten-and the last movement is cast in the form of a huge Chacony. The third Quartet was written at the end of Britten's life and refers specifically to his last opera, Death in Venice. Peter Pears described this haunting work as being 'of a profound beauty more touching than anything else, radiant, wise, new, mysterious-overwhelming'.

'Arguably the greatest string quartet before the public today' (The Sunday Times)

"There is a wonderful intimacy to both their playing and the recorded sound, but they're not beyond making an unlovely sound when they need to... There is richness, depth, eeriness and beauty...The all-important sense of ambiguity, present to a greater or lesser degree in all of this music...is conveyed with the utmost delicacy and discretion" MusicWeb International, 7th November 2013

"The players attack each one with their customary passion, panache and individuality." The Times, 8th November 2013

"The Takacs Quartet performs these works with a depth of understanding and passion that uncovers Britten's complex inner world while revealing his musical genius through impeccable execution. The close recording divulges every sound without eschewing the reverberation of a live performance. This recording is a perfect chance to discover these twentieth century masterpieces." (Five Stars AudAud.com)

Editor's Choice - Gramophone November 2013

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25
String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36
String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94