Janáček Quartet

Janáček Quartet

Janáček Quartet is a Czech string quartet.

It was formed in 1947 by students of Váša Černý at the Conservatory of Brno, originally under the name "JAMU Quartet". The founders were: Jiří Trávníček (1st violin), Miroslav Matyáš (2nd violin), Jiří Kratochvíl (viola), and Karel Krafka (cello).

In 1949, the ensemble changed its name to Janáček Quartet, after the Moravian composer Leoš Janáček.Trávníček had some musical ties with him (he was a student of František Kudláček, a member of "Moravian Quartet" that premiered Janáček’s String Quartet No. 2., "Intimate Letters" and edited the work in cooperation with the composer).

The quartet initially concentrated mainly on Janáček's chamber works.

In 1952 Miroslav Matyáš was replaced by Adolf Sýkora, and that lineup was maintained until the death of Jiří Trávníček in 1973. Bohumil Smejkal joined the quartet after Trávníček’s death (in 1973). Current members of the quartet are: Miloš Vacek (1st violin), Vítězslav Zavadilík (2nd violin), Ladislav Kyselák (viola) and Břetislav Vybíral (cello).

Winning a competition in the former West Berlin in 1955 opened the door to great concert halls and since then they have gained international recognition. Recordings by the quartet have won numerous awards, including the Grand Prix of the Charles Cros Academy, and the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (both for recording of Janáček’s string quartets). The Janáček Quartet has made recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, Eterna, Decca and other labels.

The quartet is unusual amongst string quartets in performing without sheet music, from memory. It is also noted for a distinctive style of playing.

References

*Adolf Sýkora: Z mého života v Janáčkově kvartetu. Brno: Opus musicum, 2007. ISBN 80-903211-4-3
*Janáček/Novák: String Quartets CD. Supraphon Archive SU 3460-2111

External links

* http://www.janacek-quartet.cz/


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