Greatest Quartet in World Returns to NZ

MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE USE 24 June 2008

Greatest Quartet in World Returns to NZ

Acclaimed as “the greatest string quartet in the world”, the internationally renowned Takács Quartet returns to New Zealand in July for concerts in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch as part of Chamber Music New Zealand’s 2008 season.

The multi award-winning Takács Quartet performs at the Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE® on Wednesday 23 July, followed by a concert at the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday 24 July and the James Hay Theatre, Christchurch on Saturday 26 July.

Since its formation in 1975 in Budapest, Hungary, the Takács Quartet has been acclaimed around the world and won numerous awards including four Gramophone Awards and a Grammy Award.

“They are currently the greatest string quartet in the world.” The Guardian (UK), 2006

Founded by Gabor Takács-Nagy, Károly Schranz, Gabor Ormai and András Fejér, the ensemble has had periodic changes with the most recent being Geraldine Walther, long-time Principal violist of the San Francisco Symphony. Károly Schranz (violin) and András Fejér (cello) are both still members of the quartet and will be touring to New Zealand.

The quartet has been quartet-in-residence at The University of Colorado since 1983 and is also resident quartet at the Aspen Music Festival and School. They perform in concert halls throughout the world with a repertoire ranging from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert to Bartok, Britten, Dutilleux and Janacek.

“The Takács Quartet has the ability to make you believe that there’s no other possible way the music should go and the strength to overturn preconceptions that comes only with the greatest performers”. Harriet Smith - Gramophone Magazine

The performance programme for the New Zealand tour includes the world premiere of a new quartet by Wellington composer John Psathas.

Chamber Music New Zealand commissioned John to write a new work for the internationally-renowned quartet and John says the new piece ‘A Cool Wind’ aims to trigger the compassionate side of human nature.

“In essence this work embodies a struggle to keep hoping, to continue aspiring.”

The Takács Quartet performs at the Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE® on Wednesday 23 July, at the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday 24 July and the James Hay Theatre, Christchurch on Saturday 26 July. Book at Ticketek. For more information visit www.chambermusic.co.nz

Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand.

ENDS

"…they are peerless. The combination of glowing tone-colours and impeccable technical control is in itself captivating, but it is the compelling immediacy of the Takács's playing that engages one in every moment." The Guardian, London, November 2007

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The Takács Quartet:
Edward Dusinberre violin
Károly Schranz violin
Geraldine Walther viola
András Fejér cello

The Programme
Programme 1
John Psathas world premiere of new commission by CMNZ
Janacek String Quartet No 2 ‘Intimate Letters’
Schubert String Quartet No 15 in G D887
Programme 2
Haydn String Quartet in G minor Opus 74 No 3 ‘Rider
John Psathas world premiere of new commission by CMNZ
Beethoven String Quartet in C Opus 59 No 3 ‘Rasumovsky’

AUCKLAND: Wednesday 23 July 8pm | Auckland Town Hall (Programme 2)
WELLINGTON: Thursday 24 July 8pm | Wellington Town Hall (Programme 1)
CHRISTCHURCH: Saturday 26 July 8pm | James Hay Theatre (Programme 2)

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