2008 Woodie Awards
Takacs String Quartet plays on the house
Andrew Throdahl
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Arts
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Their program, which consisted of late Mozart, late Bartok and late Schumann, stood off the beaten path. I will probably always associate these works with the Takacs' performance, which is more than can be asked of most performers.
Mozart's Quartet in D Major, K. 575, seemed to be painted in pastels. Perhaps the Mead Chapel acoustics made the fortes mezzoforte, and the pianos pianississimo. In any case, it was almost nerve-wracking how delicate the piece was - it felt as if someone would drop out, especially Karoly Schranz, whose dynamic Muppet hair shivered and shook with each sixteenth note. This was a plus for Mozart's meticulous filigree accompaniment, as cellist Andras Fejer (he has an afro) hardly had to play out during his solo in the trio of the minuet. The variety of dynamics in the fourth movement was extraordinary, but one had to lean in to hear it. Perhaps I was just itching to see some bow hairs break, which is what came next.
Bartok's mournful sixth quartet can easily turn into a sort of acoustic oatmeal laced with depressants. The Takacs' solution was to underscore all of Bartok's disparate textures, which, to say the least, is an extraordinary technical achievement. They adapted comfortably to each puzzle-like configuration and, as in the Mozart, changed dynamics in a split-second. Their sul tasto playing was made extra-abrasive in order to really stand out.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
anne w
Anne
posted 10/04/08 @ 7:31 PM EST
It is said that classical music is elitist, but I think that has less to do with the price and more to do with some people's narrow ideas about precisely how the audience and performers should behave during concerts (last week's review of Vladimir Feltsman exemplifies the kind of pretension that I believe turns people away from classical music: http://media. (Continued…)
Andrew
posted 10/06/08 @ 10:01 PM EST
Don't confuse high-standards with pretension.
Emily
posted 10/07/08 @ 11:35 AM EST
The article Anne cites clearly indicates pretension for classical music in its deliniation between the demands for respect for classical versus any other kind. (Continued…)
Anne
posted 10/07/08 @ 3:53 PM EST
Don't confuse spaces with hyphens.
And also, uh, what Emily said. For you, it doesn't seem to be about high standards, but rather about YOUR standards (which include rules having nothing to do with the actual music) being imposed on unwilling audiences and performers. (Continued…)
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