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• Takács plays the KCPA Great Hall

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Krannert Center for the Performing Arts »
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The word is pronounced TAK-ACH, with a soft “A.” The Hungarian translates freely to “overlays” or “covers” — and it’s the name of a magical the string quartet. Their four members represent two of the original Hungarians, plus one American and one Brit. On November 19, their fifth appearance at the Krannert Center since 1989 will break new ground.

Founded in 1975, at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest when all four were students, the group won an international competition in France by 1977. Of that original ensemble, Karoly Schranz and Andras Fejer remain. Of that original East European look, only those two artists remain as the quartet’s headquarters relocated to the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1983. But, amazingly, with three replacements over the next 38 years, the beauty and uniqueness of their sound remains. So, what makes this string quartet unique?

First of all, they go different places with their music. They have performed with actor Philip Seymour Hoffman a musical work called “Everyman”, inspired by the Philip Roth novel. They have toured with poet Robert Pinsky, and performed with the Hungarian Folk ensemble Muzsikas a program where they explore the Hungarian folk roots of Bartok’s string quartets. It is this very program we will be treated to on November 19 in the Great Hall.

Then there is that sound, that rich, polished, but intense string harmony. It is more than great playing; it is putting heart in the polish. The Takacs sound is a performance level of superlative play with a resonance of its own. Thirty-four recordings testify this legacy. Listen, but hear what others have said. It has won three major international competitions; its Beethoven middle quartets won a Grammy Award for Best chamber Music Recording. Its Bartok quartets won the Gramophone magazine’s Chamber Music Recording of the Year and the Japan Academy gave an identical award to their album the Beethoven early quartets.

Yes, many string quartets have come our way, many good ones, but, one listen and you just may hear something with this ensemble you have not heard before. Gramophone magazine noted after listening to their recent recording Schubert chamber music, ”The Takacs have the ability to make you believe there is no other possible way this music should go, and the strength to overturn preconceptions that comes only with the greatest performers.”