The Takács Quartet to Play Finney Chapel April 13

The Takács Quartet, the ensemble the Boston Globe hailed as “the peak of its profession,” will perform in Oberlin’s Finney Chapel at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 13.

The concert marks the final date of the 2013-14 Artist Recital Series at Oberlin, a season that has included visits by Yo-Yo Ma, Susan Graham, and others.

Widely considered the world’s foremost interpreters of Beethoven’s late string quartets, the Takács will feature the master’s emotionally-charged and boundary-shattering A minor quartet, opus 132. The quartet, a break from the conventional sonata form Beethoven so heavily influenced, was already in process when he was stricken with a lengthy and serious illness in 1825. After his recovery, Beethoven added an expansive middle movement, known as the “Heiliger Dankgesang”—his musical letter of gratitude to God.

The Takács Quartet’s performance of the remarkable third movement from Beethoven’s String Quartet, Op. 132, can be heard on NPR.

Also included on the program are Shostakovich’s dramatic second string quartet and two works by Webern: Six Bagatelles for String Quartet, Op. 9, and Five Movements for String Quartet, Op. 5.

Formed in 1975 at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, when its founding members were still students, the Takács Quartet is widely recognized as one of the world’s greatest ensembles. Based at the University of Colorado at Boulder, the quartet is equally committed to teaching and performing, with nearly 100 engagements each year in venues around the world. Today, the Takács Quartet consists of original members Károly Schranz (violin) and András Fejér (cello), as well as Edward Dusinberre (violin) and Geraldine Walther (viola).

Tickets for the Takács Quartet are $42, $35 for seniors and Oberlin staff and alumni, and $13 for students. All tickets are $3 more at the door.

Tickets may be purchased in advance by visiting oberlin.edu/artsguide, calling 800-371-0178, or visiting Oberlin’s Central Ticket Service (in Hall Auditorium, 67 N. Main St., Oberlin) noon-5 p.m. weekdays.

For more information on the arts at Oberlin, please visit the online Arts Guide.