The Takacs Quartet was founded 40 years ago by four young Budapest students, two of whom are still with the group. New Zealanders have enjoyed them in the concert hall more than once; and on their last visit, in 2012, the quartet appeared on the Good Morning show.
Four years before that, they gave us a taste of Kiwi, premiering John Psathas' A Cool Wind and I remember leader Edward Dusinberre on stage, praising the composer for making so much of the inherent creative tension between four individual musicians.
In conversation on that visit, Dusinberre had mentioned his group was keen to record the two quartets of the Czech Leos Janacek (1854-1928); now, three years later, a new Takacs CD features these in the excellent company of the composer's fellow-countryman, Bedrich Smetana.
Gavin Plumley's programme note stresses this link, setting off with the observation that "Nationalism is a public business".
Throughout these passionate, inspired performances, one is struck by the determination of two composers struggling to make their individual Czech voices heard in a world of pervasive and numbing internationalism.
