These masterpieces of the chamber music repertoire will be performed by Quartet musicians Attila Falvay, Erika Toth, Janos Fejervari and Gyorgy Eder at the NCPA.
Inviting the Kodaly Quartet is a part of an ongoing initiative by the NCPA to present all the 16 Beethoven String Quartets over one year. Last year, in November 2009, the NCPA brought the Ebene Quartet, who played two Beethoven quartets.
Mr. Khushroo Suntook, Chairman, NCPA, says, “The Kodaly Quartet is creating a new standard of excellence in chamber music being played in today’s date and time. Named after the great Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály, this Hungarian leading quartet has been a leading ensemble on the international scene for many years. Having the wonderful world-class musicians present their interpretation of four Beethoven’s masterpieces is an honour for us.”
The Kodaly Quartet from Budapest is one of the leading string quartets in the world. In a career spanning over four decades, Kodaly Quartet has made over 50 recordings. Their monumental undertaking of the complete quartet cycles of Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert for Naxos have beaten many records and is a task rarely equaled by other ensembles. Kodaly Quartet’s recording of Vol VI of the Beethoven cycle was voted BBC Music Magazine’s ‘Pick of the Month’ and received five stars for both performance and sound.
As Goethe described chamber music as “four rational people conversing”, this form of presenting western classical music requires special dexterities, both musical and social, which are different for the skills required for playing solo or symphonic works. The Kodaly Quartet artistes are a perfect blend of these skills and are looking forward to enthrall the music lovers through their enchanting performances at the NCPA.
The Program Schedule:
April 14, 2010
Experimental Theatre, 7.00 pm
Artistes:
Attila Falvay (Violin 1)
Erika Tóth (Violin 2)
János Fejérvári (Viola)
György Éder (Cello)
Beethoven: Quartet Op. 18 No. 4 in C minor
Schubert: Quartet No. 10 in E flat major D 87
Beethoven: Quartet Op. 59 No 3 in C major
April 15, 2010
Experimental Theatre, 7.00 pm
Artistes:
Attila Falvay (Violin 1)
Erika Tóth (Violin 2)
János Fejérvári (Viola)
György Éder (Cello)
Beethoven: String Quartet in A major Op. 18 no 5
Schubert: ‘Quartettsatz’ in C minor D 703
Beethoven: Quartet Op. 130 in B flat major
Members:
Attila Falvay (violin)
Was admitted to the Ferenc Liszt Academy at the age of sixteen and pursued his studies under the direction of Prof. Snitkowsky. In 1979 he was awarded the Second Prize at the Szigeti International Violin Competition. The following year he won the First Prize of the Hubay Competition. He completed a post graduate course conducted by Prof. Josef Sívó at the Academy of Music, Vienna. Falvay joined the Kodály String Quartet in 1980.
Erika Tóth (violin)
Received her Artist Degree and Doctorate (DLA) from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. She also studied at the Yale Summer School (US), the Banff Centre (Canada) and at the University of Wisconsin (US). In 1978 she joined the Eder String Quartet with whom she performed intensely worldwide until 1986. They recorded, amongst many other works, the complete Bartók String Quartets, the Haydn Op.76 for Teldec. She and participated in the world premiers of Kurtág's Mikroludium and the Schnittke 3rd String Quartet. In 1989 she moved to Perth, Western Australia, where she founded the Stirling String Quartet with her husband, Pal Eder. Since 1997, she resides in Budapest, where she performs with various chamber ensembles and teaches violin and chamber music. She joined the Kodály String Quartet in June 2005.
János Fejérvári (viola)
Completed violin and viola studies at the Ferenc Liszt Academy in Budapest. While studying, he attended chamber music classes conducted by György Kurtág and András Schiff. Between 1981 and 1985 he played at the Budapest Opera as the leader of the viola section. He is a founding member of the Budapest String Chamber Orchestra playing the first viola there for many years. He also works as a viola and chamber music professor at the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest.
György Éder (cello)
Studied in Prof. Ede Banda's class at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music. After completing his degree further studies led him to USA and Canada (Yale University, 1978, the Banff Center School of Fine Arts, 1983, University of Wisconsin, 1984-85). He was principal cellist of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra and later the Budapest Festival Orchestra for several years. Being a founder-member of the Éder String Quartet he won international competitions (Evian, 1976; Munich, 1977). He has toured in almost every European country, the USA, Australia and New Zeland several times. He has made recordings for Hungaroton, Teldec and Naxos labels.