The much-f�ted Tak�cs Quartet presents three popular string quartets from Czechoslovakia. Jan�cek's String Quartet No.1 was inspired by Leo Tolstoy's novella, The Kreutzer Sonata, which was in turn inspired by Beethoven's Violin Sonata No.9. Jan�cek's String Quartet No.2 was dedicated to his friendship with Kamila St�sslov�, a married woman 38 years his junior with whom he exchanged over 700 letters. As the subtitle suggests, Smetana's String Quartet No.1 'From My Life' is semi-autobiographical and consists of sketches of periods from Smetana's life. All three works share narrative undercurrents that draw performances of gripping engagement from this elite group of players.
