It was at the QEH on Tuesday last to hear the Takacs Quartet play Haydn - Bartok 3rd quartet - and Smetana No 1 in E minor (from my life). They also did a Haydn last movement as an encore.
Superb concert with totally committed playing from the quartet, and a huge ovation from a pretty much packed hall. A friend who joined us commented on how attentive and quiet the audience was and how the atmosphere was so electric.
He corrected me about the final high E in the first violin part which represents Smetana's horror at his deafness, for me to realise now that I was right as the quartet was in E minor and not F minor as he thought. His perfect pitch must have gone up a semitone!
As usual another stunning concert from the Takacs - but not broadcast or recorded. I'm only sorry I did not have a chance for the usual chat with in particular Edward the leader afterwards as I would have liked to ask why they changed the Haydn from the Rider Op 74 No 3 (a very hard quartet) and also about the new strings he is using, having persuaded me to try them too. Not always time for the added pleasures seeing old friends, as they have become for me over the years.
Superb concert with totally committed playing from the quartet, and a huge ovation from a pretty much packed hall. A friend who joined us commented on how attentive and quiet the audience was and how the atmosphere was so electric.
He corrected me about the final high E in the first violin part which represents Smetana's horror at his deafness, for me to realise now that I was right as the quartet was in E minor and not F minor as he thought. His perfect pitch must have gone up a semitone!
As usual another stunning concert from the Takacs - but not broadcast or recorded. I'm only sorry I did not have a chance for the usual chat with in particular Edward the leader afterwards as I would have liked to ask why they changed the Haydn from the Rider Op 74 No 3 (a very hard quartet) and also about the new strings he is using, having persuaded me to try them too. Not always time for the added pleasures seeing old friends, as they have become for me over the years.
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