Reviewed by Steven Whitehead For 50 years the Talich Quartet has taken its place in a prestigious line of Czech musicians. Jan Talich Senior, the creator of the Quartet, was the nephew of Vaclav Talich, music director of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra from 1919 to 1939. In 1997 the latest musician in the family, Jan Talich Junior, took over the reins of the Quartet from his father, surrounding himself with three talented musician in Roman Patrocka (violin II), Vladimir Bukac (viola) and Petr Prause (cello). On this mid-price release they turn their attention to Joseph Haydn's String Quartet op.51, usually known as 'The Seven Last Words Of Christ'. This was composed for liturgical use with the relevant passages from the Gospel accounts of the Passion being read with the music serving as an interlude for reflection and prayer. I have never experienced the piece in this context but I imagine that those who like to use music as an aid for meditation will get much from it. Considering this CD merely as a recording of a string quartet it is outstanding. The clarity is exemplary, allowing us to hear every detail of some exquisite playing. The downside, if there has to be one, is that the music is so beautiful and so well played that it may lead us to forget what it is about: Jesus, the Son of God, spent hours dying on a cross. Haydn, like Bach, was a great composer who truly believed the Gospel. Thus their reflections on the Passion were shaped by their faith that this was not the end. While they shared the grief of Good Friday they knew that Easter Sunday was coming so even in their most sombre moments the joy of the Resurrection was bubbling underneath. There are many other recordings of 'The Seven Last Words' and while this reviewer has not heard all of them he can confidently state that this version by the Talich Quartet is the best he has heard so far.
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