The Quartet was originally brought together when two students of Jenő Hubay – Sándor Végh on violin and Dénes Koromzay on viola – as well as violinist Zoltán Székely and violoncellist Pál Hermann, were recruited in 1937.
Szekely was a friend of Béla Bartók's, and the group became rapidly known by giving the Hungarian première performance of the Bartok 5th Quartet, which it studied with the composer.
During the war they were trapped in the Netherlands, and devoted the period to the intensive study of the Beethoven quartets, which were subsequently launched upon the world in the brilliant career which the group achieved after 1945.
In around 1956 the cello, and around 1960 the second violin desk, was reassigned, and in this new form the Quartet continued to maintain its busy programme of performance until 1972, while also undertaking teaching positions and the coaching of younger instrumentalists.
In 1957, the newly configured Quartet performed in Boston for the Peabody Mason Concert series.