Bartók – The String Quartets (3 × CD, Album)

Takács Quartet – Hungaroton 3× Audio CD Stereo/Mono, HCD 12502-04-2

Product Information

• Label / Catalog Number: Hungaroton – HCD 12502-04-2
• Series: Bartók Béla Complete Edition – II. Piano Music 7 (String Quartets Cycle)
• Format: 3 × CD, Album, Box Set (Stereo and Mono)
• Country: Europe
• Released: 1995
• Genre: Classical
• Style: Modern
• Condition: USED VERY GOOD
• ASIN: B006BBBSAS, 5553789990

Overview

English Overview:
Discover one of the most compelling cycles in modern chamber music with "Bartók – The String Quartets (Complete)" as performed by the renowned Takács Quartet. This definitive 3-CD box set offers a complete recorded cycle of Béla Bartók’s six string quartets—composed between 1908 and 1939—which stand as landmark contributions to 20th-century music. The collection provides an intimate entrée into Bartók’s evolving musical language, displaying his signature blend of "night music," witty irony, and poignant emotional depth. The Takács Quartet, through their vivid interpretations, skillfully navigates the passionate contrasts—from the lush romanticism of the First Quartet to the densely charged modernism, and even the palindrome structures unique to the Fourth and Fifth Quartets. Their performance is powered by technical brilliance, expressed through everything from pronounced glissandi to percussive pizzicati, bringing Bartók’s challenging scores to life in extraordinary detail.

Notable Critical Insight:
As noted by Thomas May, this cycle is not only a milestone of modern chamber music but also a benchmark performance that redefines the expressive potential of the string quartet repertoire.

Product Features

Musical & Structural Details

• Complete Cycle:
  • Includes all six string quartets spanning Bartók’s creative period from 1908 to 1939.
• Interpretative Brilliance:
  • The Takács Quartet’s performance synthesizes lyrical passion, tension, and humor while affording each movement an exceptional level of textural detail.
• Dynamic Range of Expression:
  • Experience the wide tonal palette and technical demands—from the expansive "Lento" and energetic "Allegro Vivace" segments to intricate passages of "Ritornell" and "Allegretto Pizzicato" that evoke a percussive quality.
• Audio Formats:
  • Available in both stereo and mono editions, preserving the historic sound characteristics while showcasing modern clarity.

Performance & Production Details

• Pioneering Chamber Ensemble:
  • Performed by the internationally acclaimed Takács Quartet, featuring:
  • Violin I: Gábor Takács-Nagy
  • Violin II: Károly Schranz
  • Viola: Gábor Ormai
  • Cello: András Fejér
• Production Excellence:
  • Engineered with expert balance by István Berényi, with meticulous lacquer cutting by EO.
• Liner Notes & Visuals:
  • Liner notes by János Kárpáti provide scholarly insights; cover design by Péter Nagy and photography by Sándor Kertész enhance the collector’s appeal.
• Producer:
  • Recording produced by András Székely.

Track Listing

String Quartet No. 1 Op. 7 Sz. 40 (29:02)

• 1.1: I: Lento (9:00)
• 1.2: II: Allegretto (8:20)
• 1.3: (Introduzione) Allegro (1:37)
• 1.4: III: Allegro Vivace (10:05)

String Quartet No. 2 Op. 17 Sz. 67 (26:31)

• 1.5: I: Moderato (10:15)
• 1.6: II: Allegro Molto Capriccioso (7:46)
• 1.7: III: Lento (8:30)

String Quartet No. 3 Sz. 85 (15:44)

• 2.1: Prima Parte: Moderato (5:16)
• 2.2: Seconda Parte: Allegro (5:37)
• 2.3: Ricapitolazione Della Prima Parte: Moderato (3:04)
• 2.4: Coda: Allegro Molto (1:47)

String Quartet No. 4 Sz. 91 (22:16)

• 2.5: I: Allegro (5:47)
• 2.6: II: Prestissimo, Con Sordino (2:49)
• 2.7: III: Non Troppo Lento (5:17)
• 2.8: IV: Allegretto Pizzicato (2:46)
• 2.9: V: Allegro Molto (5:37)

String Quartet No. 5 Sz. 102 (30:01)

• 3.1: I: Allegro (7:37)
• 3.2: II: Adagio Molto (5:28)
• 3.3: III: Scherzo: Alla Bulgarese (Vivace) (5:10)
• 3.4: IV: Andante (4:50)
• 3.5: V: Finale: Allegro Vivace (6:56)

String Quartet No. 6 Sz. 114 (28:28)

• 3.6: I: Mesto - Vivace (7:21)
• 3.7: II: Mesto - Marcia (7:30)
• 3.8: III: Mesto: Burletta - Moderato (6:52)
• 3.9: IV: Mesto (6:45)

Publishers & Credits

• Composed By: Béla Bartók
• Performer (Strings): Takács Quartet
• Cello: András Fejér
• Viola: Gábor Ormai
• Violin [I]: Gábor Takács-Nagy
• Violin [II]: Károly Schranz
• Lacquer Cut By: EO
• Liner Notes: János Kárpáti
• Photography: Sándor Kertész
• Cover Design: Péter Nagy (3)
• Engineer (Balance): István Berényi
• Producer (Recording): András Székely
• Label: Hungaroton
• Series: Bartók Béla Complete Edition – II. Piano Music 7

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