As first violinist of the renowned Tákacs Quartet, Edward Dusinberre has had to grapple like few others with the enigmatic quality of Beethoven’s quartets, which have long been the backbone
of the Tákacs’ repertory. In his book, he offers a compelling investigation into the nature of the quartets by focusing on a selection of works taken from the different chronological periods
and stylistic groupings. This is cleverly intertwined with the historical narrative of Beethoven’s engagement with the composition and performance of the quartets between 1798 and 1826, as
well as the autobiographical narrative of the Takacs’s own engagement with the works for over two decades since Dusinberre’s arrival in 1993 (or four decades from the group’s original
founding in 1975). In the always insightful and often hilarious memoirs passages, the author treats us to a new understanding of the crafting of a musical performance, from the first group
rehearsals to the resulting concert or recording session.
