Werk: Streichquartett Nr. 53 in D-Dur "Die Lerche", Op.64 Nr.5, Hob. III:63

Unter dem Titel Das Bartók-Projekt spielte das Jerusalem Quartett an drei Abenden alle sechs Streichquartette von Béla Bartók im kleinen Saal der Laeiszhalle. Stefan Pillhofer berichtet vom letzten Konzertabend mit den Quartetten Nr. 5 und 6.

Aren’t nicknames interesting! I’m sure there’ll have been hundreds of studies into the development, designation, and deployment of nicknames and the historical and sociological conclusions we can draw from the Daves, D-Diddies and Dangerous Dans alike. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if the nickname formed the basis of an entire field of academic enquiry.

This was a short BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert, but a very good one. Of course, nothing less would be expected from the Takács Quartet, who surely have a very good claim to be the world's foremost string quartet. Even if only for a sold-out hour, all the characteristics which make them great were amply on show here.