Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-05-01 / 9. szám
Members of the quartet started to play chamber music at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest under the tutelage of renowned teacher and composer Leo Weiner. Inspired and encouraged by Weiner, they formed a professional ensemble in 1957, calling themselves the Komlos Quartet initially .The Quartet was subsequently renamed the Bartók Quartet in honor of their great countryman, Bela Bartók. The ensemble rose to worldwide fame as winner of the 1959 International Haydn Competition in Budapest and International Schumann Competition in Berlin, the following year. In 1963 the Bartók Quartet captured first place at the prestigious International Quartet Competition in Liege, Belgium. The Kossuth Prize- Hungary's highest award for artistic accomplishment- was conferred upon the Quartet in 1970 and again in 1997, the first time the prize had been given twice to any ensemble. Additional awards: Unesco Prize 1981, Bartók Prize 1986. The Bartók Quartet's tonal beauty, larity, directness and exceptional ensemble playing have caused critics and audiences alike to acclaim it as one of the most distinguished chamber groups on the international scene. The ensemble is equally at home with repertory classical to the contemporary eras. It has presented the complete Bartók quartet cycle on many occasions. The Bartok's recording of the Beethoven quartets was cited by High Fidelity , as one of the greatest recordings of the last quarter century . The BartokQuartct has performed over 3,600 concerts throughout the world, and its frequent tours in North America have taken them to virtually every major musical center, from New York to Los Angeles, and everything between. San Francisco, Boston, Cincinnati, Quebec, Toronto and Montreal in Canada. Its recent schedules have taken them to such major festivals as Tanglewood, Spoleto, Salzburg, Edinburgh, Aix-en Provence and Lucerne. When the members of the Quarter were asked why they stop by every year, the answer is that they like to meet Hungarian people. In exchange we love to see them and listen to their music. They are always welcome. Page 3 Balázs Fábri, Chief Elder of the Calvin UCC opens the evening. Right. Dr Balázs Somogyi Talks about the Quartet and intruduces the the music
