Budapest String Quartet

The Budapest Quartet existed from 1917 to 1967 and was one of his time to the most famous chamber music performer. The first band consisted of the Hungary Emil Hauser, Imre Poganyi, Istvan Ipolyi and Dutchman Harry Son, who worked at the Budapest Opera. Later, Russians and Ukrainians were added to a quartet. It was founded in 1917 in Budapest. The ensemble debuted with his first concert in the same year in Kolozsvár. This was followed in 1920 international tours across several continents. In 1938, the Quartet moved because of the tense situation in Europe to the U.S., where it was located until 1962 at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Former member Harry Son and his wife Marianne were arrested in Amsterdam in 1942 and murdered in Auschwitz. In the 40s there was a collaboration with the Hungarian- conductor George Szell of the Cleveland Orchestra, which accompanied the quartet at the piano. In 1967, the quartet disbanded.

The Quartet for its warm expressive interpretations became well known both ranged from classical to contemporary music such as Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók. It was one of the most successful string quartets that time. Made a name for the quartet by the recording of the chamber music of Beethoven. The Quartet was over 30 years with Columbia Records.

Members

First violin:

• Josef Roismann (1932-1967)

Second Violin:

• Alfred Indig (1917-1920)
• Imre Pogany (1920-1927)
• Josef Roismann (1927-1932)
• Alexander Schneider (1932-1944 and 1955-1967)
• Edgar Ortenberg (1944-1949)
• Jac Gorodetzky (1949-1955)

Viola:

• Istvan Ipolyi (1917-1936)
• Boris Kroyt (1936-1967)

Violoncello:

• Harry Son ( born Henri Mozes Son) ( 1917-1930 )
• Mischa Schneider (1930-1967)