Ravinia 2024 Issue 2

TAKÁCS QUARTET Formed in 1975 by four students at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, the Takács Quartet quickly established itself as a leading ensemble with both first prize and the Critics’ Prize at the 1977 International String Quartet Competition in Evian, France. Top prizes at the Portsmouth, Bordeaux, and Budapest Competitions followed in 1978, as well as the Bratislava Competition in 1981. In 2012 Gramophone named Takács the first string quartet to be inducted into its Hall of Fame. The quartet has recorded 16 albums on the Decca label since 1988, including an award-win- ning collections of Bartók’s and Beethoven’s complete quartets, well as works by Borodin, Brahms, Chausson, Dvořák, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Smetana with such guest artists as violinist Joshua Bell, violist Gyorgy Pauk, and pianists Andreas Haefliger, Andrés Schiff, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Since 2006, Takács has also made many recordings on the Hyperion label, including piano quintets by Brahms with Stephen Hough, by Shostakovich, Schumann, and Franck with Marc-André Hamelin, and by Elgar and Beach with Garrick Ohlsson; an all- Dohnányi disc with Hamelin; string quintets by Brahms and Dvořák with violist Lawrence Pow- er; Schubert’s string quintet with Ralph Kirsh- baum; and quartets by Brahms, Britten, Haydn, Janáček, Smetana, and Debussy. Most recently, Takács released an album of Schubert quartets and recorded works by Price and Dvořák with Hamelin for Hyperion, and they also collabo- rated with bandoneon virtuoso Julien Labro on an album for the Yarlung label. Takács has been in residence at the University of Colora- do–Boulder for over 35 years, and yesterday led a masterclass at the Ravinia Steans Music Insti- tute. As Associate Artists of London’s Wigmore Hall, this season the quartet presents works by Haydn, Britten, Ngwenyama, Beethoven, and Janáček, as well as Schubert’s quintet with Adri- an Brendel. Entering its 50th season, Takács will be premiering a concerto written for them and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra by Ga- briela Lena Frank. Tonight the Takács Quartet returns for its eighth season at Ravinia, where it first appeared in 1989. MARTIN THEATRE 7:30 PM THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2024 MILOŠ KARADAGLIĆ , guitar VIANO STRING QUARTET # LUCY WANG and HAO ZHOU, violins AIDEN KANE, viola TATE ZAWADIUK, cello Migration • Immigration • Identity Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Guitar Quintet, op. 143, is the skeleton of the program with numerous, varied pieces interspersed between each movement of the quintet. The program flows without applause, from one piece to another. Each work has meaning in the context of the theme of migration, identity, and belonging. MARIO CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895–1968) Born in Italy, emigrated to the U.S. when Mussolini rose to power. I. Allegro, vivo e schietto from Guitar Quintet, op. 143 * Miloš Karadaglić, Viano String Quartet BENEDETTO MARCELLO (1686–1739) Married his student in a secret ceremony: he was a nobleman and she a commoner. The marriage was annulled, and he spent his life moving to find happiness. II. Adagio from Oboe Concerto No. 2 in D minor * Miloš Karadaglić, Viano String Quartet AARON JAY KERNIS (b.1960) This guitar quintet reflects popular styles of the ’90s. The echoes of everyday music that form the source material for this work are a reminder that we are surrounded by unceasing music. II. Salsa pasada from 100 Greatest Dance Hits * Miloš Karadaglić, Viano String Quartet DOMENICO SCARLATTI (1685–1757) Born in Italy, moved to Portugal, and then finally to Spain. Sonata (Aria) in D minor, K. 32 Miloš Karadaglić, Viano String Quartet MARIO CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO II. Andante mesto from Guitar Quintet, op. 143 * Miloš Karadaglić, Viano String Quartet ANTONIO VIVALDI (1678–1741) Born in Italy, moved to Vienna for financial support. Died in poverty. II. Larghetto from Trio Sonata in C major, RV 82 * Miloš Karadaglić, Viano String Quartet GABRIELA LENA FRANK (b.1972) Born in America of Lithuanian Jewish heritage. Her mother is Peruvian of Chinese descent. II. Dance del Mallqui-Rey from Inca Dances [abridged version] * Miloš Karadaglić, Viano String Quartet ANONYMOUS Composer unknown, as is the case with many works that were passed on from generation to generation. Spanish Romance Miloš Karadaglić, Viano String Quartet Program continues on next page. RAVINIAMAGAZINE • JULY 1 – JULY 21, 2024 84 AMANDATIPTON