Overview
Beethoven, Unbound: The Gold Standard of Beethoven
The Takács Quartet is universally regarded as one of the greatest interpreters of Beethoven’s string quartets. On Valentine’s Day, they present a program that traces the composer’s evolution—from classical elegance to dramatic intensity and symphonic scope. Beethoven’s early Op. 18 reveals wit and lyricism, the compact Op. 95 distills raw emotional power, and the expansive Op. 59, No. 3 reshapes the quartet forever. In Takács’ hands, these works speak with clarity, urgency, and humanity. This performance stands at the heart of the season, offering a benchmark interpretation of Beethoven’s genius by an ensemble that has defined this repertoire for generations.
Program:
Beethoven – String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 18, No. 6
Beethoven – String Quartet in F minor, Op. 95, “Serioso”
Intermission
Beethoven – String Quartet in C major, Op. 59, No. 3
*Program subject to change.
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Performer Bio
In recognition of its fiftieth anniversary, the world-renowned Takács Quartet was recently the subject of an in-depth profile by the New York Times and featured on the cover of Strad magazine. The Takács released two anniversary season albums in 2025 for Hyperion Records to glowing reviews. ‘Flow’ by Ngwenyama, composed for the ensemble, was followed by an album of piano quintets by Dvořák and Price with Marc André Hamelin. In August 2025 for Musica Viva in Australia, the ensemble plays a new work ‘Sonnet of an Emigrant’ for quartet and narrator by Cathy Milliken with texts by Bertolt Brecht.
Edward Dusinberre, Harumi Rhodes (violins), Richard O’Neill (viola) and András Fejér (cello) are excited about upcoming projects including performances throughout the USA of Mozart viola quintets with Jordan Bak and a new string quartet, NEXUS, written for them by Clarice Assad, co-commissioned by leading concert organizations throughout North America. The group’s North American engagements include concerts in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Boston, Princeton, Ann Arbor, Washington DC, Duke University, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Cleveland, Phoenix and Portland.
- Venue Information
