‘Playing with gut strings and classical bows, the London Haydn Quartet bring both freshness and depth to the six works that the composer wrote at Esterhazy in 1771’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘Gut strings sometimes mean sour intonation, but not with this superb British group. Formed out of love for Haydn, they explore his repertoire with a light touch and kaleidoscopic colours. This second Hyperion survey brings the six Op 17 quartets … crammed with subtle pleasures. A set to bring long-lasting pleasure’ (The Times)

‘Lucky Haydn, lucky Haydn lovers … great clarity to textures and there are many exquisitely shaded ends to phrases among the innumerable brilliant moments’ (Early Music Review)

‘As in their previous releases, these four players led by Catherine Manson deliver an amazing precision of intonation and articulation’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘These refined performances profile the music’s conversational sophistication and its sheer fluency, underscoring Haydn's gift for civility and wit’ (Financial Times)

‘The LHQ are gradually working their way through the mature Haydn quartets, and proving ideal companions in this eventful music … they revel in Haydn's ever-inventive scherzos and zany prestos, with dazzling playing from their leader, Catherine Manson, in the 'Joke' and 'Bird' quartets. Available in a two-for-one deal, this delectable set is a bargain, too’ (The Sunday Times)

‘The lovely plangency of gut strings … the many examples of Haydn's wit are laid out with an audible twinkle in the eye. The musicians know how to have gentle fun together—and they seem happy to welcome interested listeners in to share it with them’ (Gramophone)

‘Does it need saying that they're awfully good? Here is Haydn in all his inexhaustible moods and guises … a constant source of wonder … the Takács players have the magical gift of playing them so that they seem absolutely right … in the opening Adagio of Op 71 No 2, rich broken chords—no attacking crunches here—punctuate a line of soft and delicious anticipation leading into the open-hearted high jinks of the Allegro … a constant and rewarding delight’ (The Strad)

‘Now led by the Englishman Edward Dusinberre—who relishes the Haydn virtuosity demanded of Salomon—the Takács play this ever-surprising music with their characteristic imagination, contrapuntal rigour, sensitivity to texture and colour, and, in the dizzying finales, wit. They are the epitome of Goethe's four intelligent conversationalists, always fresh in their response to Haydn's astonishing inventiveness’ (The Sunday Times)

‘Structure and integrity of feeling are heard here in abundance … they unfold the Adagio cantabile of the Quartet in D major, Op 71 No 2 with an unhurried fullness and luminosity … these readings never sound mannered, but alive’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘The musicians' clarity of line and perfect balance, well reflected in Hyperion's recording … after these magnificent CDs, if the Takács wanted to record Haydn's other 62 quartets, I wouldn't raise a hand to stop them’ (The Times)

‘Takács Quartet delivers these works with commanding verve and style, often casting novel perspectives on pieces which deserve to be far better known than they actually are … Op 71 No 2 has at its heart one of the most radiant Adagio slow movements to be found among Haydn's later quartets … and it is played here with exceptionally beautiful tone and unerring refinement by the Takács Quartet’ (Gramophone)