Haydn Takacs

The Takács Quartet began their exclusive association with Decca in 1988 and the first release was the CD of Haydn String Quartets, op.76 nos.1-3; this was followed by the other three quartets that make up the set: op.76 nos. 4-6. This set of quartets was Haydn's last and was published in 1797 (his projected set of 6 quartets op.77 produced just two works and his op.103 remained a fragment). The second of these discs, containing nos.4-6 of op.76 was particularly warmly received by Gramophone in January 1990.

Released on our joint label Verbier Festival Gold, Portraits of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, Vol. 1 is the first of a series of upcoming albums that highlights the extraordinary chemistry between the ensemble and their beloved Music Director, Hungarian chamber music legend Gábor Takács-Nagy. This first album opens and closes with exciting interpretations of Haydn’s final 104th and Schumann’s 3rd “Rhenish” symphonies. It further features a sensational rendition of Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto with frequent VFCO collaborator and close friend of the festival Martha Argerich. And there is also room for a Scarlatti encore from the iconic pianist.

Released on our joint label Verbier Festival Gold, Portraits of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, Vol. 1 is the first of a series of upcoming albums that highlights the extraordinary chemistry between the ensemble and their beloved Music Director, Hungarian chamber music legend Gábor Takács-Nagy. This first album opens and closes with exciting interpretations of Haydn’s final 104th and Schumann’s 3rd “Rhenish” symphonies. It further features a sensational rendition of Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto with frequent VFCO collaborator and close friend of the festival Martha Argerich. And there is also room for a Scarlatti encore from the iconic pianist.

This 10 CD-Set offers a collection of the most popular Mass compositions from the Viennese Classics up to the romantic period. It includes famous masterpieces like Mozart’s „Coronation Mass“, Beethoven Missa solemnis, Haydn „Harmony Mass“, Gounod St. Cecilia Mass but also rarities like „Missa Sancti Joannis Nepomuceni“ by Michael Haydn, the „Coronation Mass“ by Cherubini, „Missa sacra“ by Robert Schumann and the „Misa solemnis“ of the german romantic composer Friedrich Kiel. Performed by well known artists like the Vienna Boys’ Choir, RIAS Chamber Choir, Tölzer Boys’ Choir, Wiener Akademie and last but not least also includes the spectacular recording of Beethoven’s Missa solemnis with conductor Michael Gielen.

The Takács Quartet, Hungarian but now resident in the U.S., takes string quartet playing back to its basics here, and does so transcendently (paradoxical as that may sound). You may find the playing a bit neutral at first, with Haydn's more dancelike rhythms rendered straightforwardly, but keep listening: each movement is a carefully polished jewel, with each instrument making up a set of perfectly sharp facets.