Music Academy of the West to Host
the World-Renowned Takács Quartet
For Immediate Release July 7, 2008
Contact:
Tim Dougherty
805.695.7908
Santa Barbara, CA – Rare are the artists who routinely garner the most sweeping of superlatives. Rarer still are those whose transcendence is accepted as an uncontested article of faith among critics and fellow artists alike. The Takács Quartet, which will begin a one-week residency at the Music Academy of the West later this month, is a collective of just such artists.
Recently hailed by London's Guardian as "the greatest string quartet in the world," the Takács will perform twice at the Lobero Theatre and lead a string chamber masterclasses in Lehmann Hall at the Music Academy between July 13 and 20. The Takács will perform a recital at 8 pm Thursday, July 17, and will appear as part of a broader program involving several Music Academy faculty members on Tuesday, July 15. The latter event will begin at 8 pm. Tickets for the Lobero performances cost $43 and $38, respectively. The quartet's masterclass will take place at 1 pm on Friday, July 18. Masterclass tickets cost $12 ($11 for students and seniors).
On July 17 the Takács will perform Haydn's String Quartet in G Minor, op. 74, No. 3 ("Rider"); the U.S. premiere of James McMillan's String Quartet; and Schubert's String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D. 887/op.161. On July 15 the ensemble will tackle Janáček's Quartet for Strings, No. 2, Intimate Letters. The latter will take place as part of the Academy's Chamberfest series at The Lobero throughout the summer season.
Founded 32 years ago in Budapest, the Takács Quartet continues to impress reviewers and audiences around the globe. Echoing literally scores of similarly admiring reviews, Gramophone magazine's Harriet Smith recently wrote, "The Takács have 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." Consisting of Edward Dusinberre (first violin), Károly Schranz (second violin), violist Geraldine Walther, and cellist András Fejér, the Takács is based in Boulder, Colorado, where it has been in residence at the University of Colorado since 1983.
Having performed repertoire ranging from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert to Bartok, Britten, Dutilleux, Janáček, and Sheng in virtually every music capital in North America, Europe, Australasia, and Japan, the Takács also has appeared at numerous prestigious festivals, including Aspen, Berlin, Cheltenham, City of London, Mostly Mozart, Ravinia, Salzburg, Schleswig Holstein, and Tanglewood. The ensemble is known as well for its award-winning recordings on the Decca label, including its recording of the complete Beethoven Quartet Cycle, which has been awarded a Grammy Award, two Gramophone Awards, the BBC Music Disc of the Year Award (late quartets), the Classical Brits Award for Ensemble Album of the Year (late quartets), and three Japan Record Academy Chamber Music Awards. Commenting on the group's performances and recordings of these quartets, Cleveland's Plain Dealer enthused, "The Takács might play this repertoire better than any quartet of the past or present." This will be the quartet's fourth Academy residency.
The Music Academy will present the West Coast premiere of William Bolcom's opera A Wedding as well as a performance by conductor Peter Oundjian as part of the Academy's 61st Summer Festival. The Academy is presenting 188 events over the course of its 2008 Summer School and Festival, which began June 23 and will conclude on August 16. Additional highlights will include a performance by the Canadian Brass, and conducting turns by Nicholas McGegan, Anne Manson, and Daniel Hege. Featuring the Academy's exceptionally talented Fellows, together with illustrious guest performers and faculty, the events are presented at the Academy's scenic Miraflores campus and in venues throughout Santa Barbara.
For information, call 969-8787. Information is also available online at www.musicacademy.org.
Founded in 1947, the Music Academy of the West is among the nation's preeminent summer schools and festivals for gifted young classical musicians. The Academy provides these promising musicians with the opportunity for advanced study and frequent performance under the guidance of internationally renowned faculty artists, as well as guest conductors and soloists. Admission to the Academy is strictly merit based, and Fellows receive full scholarships (tuition, room, and board). Academy alumni are members of major symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, ensembles, opera companies, and university and conservatory faculties throughout the world. Many enjoy careers as prominent solo artists. Based in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West presents more than 200 public events annually, including performances by faculty, visiting artists, and Fellows; masterclasses; orchestra and chamber music concerts; and fully staged opera. The Music Academy will broadcast live performances by the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera at Hahn Hall beginning in October. For more information, visit www.musicacademy.org.
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