Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Talich Quartet :: Mozart: 6 Quartets Dedicated to Haydn (No. 3, K. 156 / No. 14, K. 387 / No. 15, K. 421 / No. 16, K. 428 / No. 17, K. 458 / No. 18, K. 464 / No. 19, K. 465) / Sonata for violin & piano K. 301 / Haydn: Quartet Op. 74 No. 3 "Le Cavalier"

Sublime

melonjamboree | New York, New York USA | 09/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A few notes are appropriate (cribbed from All Classical Guide)Formed at the Prague Conservatory in 1964, the Talich Quartet takes its name from the important conductor and founder of the Czech Philharmonic, Václav Talich (1883-1961), from whom the current first violinist is descended. Internationally recognized as one of Europe's finest quartets, the Talich performs regularly in major cities throughout the world and has made numerous recordings.Works of Czech composers, such as Bedrich Smetana, Antonín Dvorák, Bohuslav Martinu, and Leos Janacek, form the core of the Talich Quartet's repertoire, both in performance and on recordings. However, their extensive and varied discography also includes the complete string quartets of Mozart, Beethoven, and Bartók, which have won numerous awards including a "Golden Disc" from Czech label Supraphon and several "Grand Prix du Disque" awards as well as the French Académie du Disque Lyrique's "Diapason d'Or." Their recording history has become long and distinguished enough to merit re-releases, and in 2000 Harmonia Mundi announced the Talich Quartet's newly-repackaged Beethoven cycle on Calliope, featuring the long-time configuration of Petr Messiereur, Jan Kvapil, Jan Talich, Sr. and Evzen Rattay.Performances by the Talich are always of a high caliber and statements such as this -- from a Boston Globe reviewer -- are typical of critics' responses: "[The Talich quartet are] so serenely good that, as a listener, one has no choice but to put oneself in their hands." Comments generally point out the quartet's subtlety, elegance, and intensity in their interpretations of a wide range of styles."