Viktor Kalabis(1923-2006) : String Quartets No. 1-3 (Kocian Quartet), No. 4-7 (Zemlinsky Quartet)
A tribute to Viktor Kalabis, one of the greatest Czech composers of the latter half of the 20th century,
close friend of Jindřich Feld (1925-2007) and František Kovaříček (b.1924), who lived through both the
German occupation and the communist era. The musician admired French culture, adored Stravinsky’
Russian and French periods and Bartok's values and felt at ease with the large symphonic and
concerto forms. He also composed seven intimate Quartets from 1949 onwards, his last one in 1993.
With his wife, the harpsichordist Zuzana Růžícková, he shared his love of Bach. He was also
influenced by painters such as Marc Chagall and Ota Janeček, and he dedicated many years of his life
to promoting the work of Martinů, and helped found the Martinů Institute.
Read a review at Classica (in French)
Felix Mendelssohn(1809-1847) : Quartets Op.44/2 & 80, Capriccio Op. 81/3
The Quartet in E minor, a favourite key of Mendelssohn’s, was written on his honeymoon journey. Its immediate success barely outlived him, although its formal perfection served as a model for Schumann (Op.41), Brahms, Smetana, Dvořák and even Tchaikovsky, who drew the essentials of their art of the quartet from it. The Zemlinskys, trained in the double Czech and avant-garde schools, restore its purity of style and forgotten modernity, as in the final Opus 80, a veritable ‘Requiem for Fanny’, the beloved sister who died in May 1847, and for himself, who would follow her to the grave on 4 November.
String Quartet in E minor op. 44 No. 2 III. Andante String Quartet in F minor op. 80 I. Allegro assai - PrestoB. Martinů: String Quartets No.1 , No.3 and No.6
The composer of Julietta left seven string quartets that do not, by any means, form a cycle but rather a
succession of testimonies stretching from 1920 to 1947. This second volume – the first is on PRAGA 250 205 -
juxtaposed the French Quartet (no.1, performed by Zemlinsky Quartet), a lengthy and luxurious, homage to Debussy and Dvořák, the shortest
(no.3) ‘pocket’ Quartet and the Sixth (both performed by Prazak Quartet) written in the post-war utopia, a fantastic counterpoint of madrigals for strings
with astonishing polymelodicism, introduction da camera to last Symphony no.6 (Symphonic Fantasies, 1951-53),
with his earnest, struggling character and high symphonic spirit.
String Quartet No. 1, H.117 II. Andante moderato String Quartet No. 1, H.117 IV. Allegro con brioRead a review at Gramophone (in English)
F. Mendelssohn Bartholdy: String Quintet Op.12, String Quartet Op. 18
The Zemlinsky Quartet together with The Prazak Quartet celebrates the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. On this CD you can find String Quartet in E flat major Op. 12 (The Prazak Quartet), String Quintet in A major Op. 18 and Minuetto in F sharp minor (The Zemlinsky Quartet + Josef Klusoň). String Quintet in A major, Op. 18 I. Allegro con moto
Read a review at www.audaud.com (in English)
Read a review at The Strad (in English)
Read a review at www.allmusicguide.com (in English)
Read a review at Klassik (in German)
F. Schubert: Early works for string quartet
In January 2008, another 4-CD set recorded by Zemlinsky Quartet was published. This time, Praga Digitals brought the attention of the ensemble to the early works by Franz Schubert. The recording contains 11 string quartets from the first period of the composer´s life. In addition, we can find here the well-known Quartet Movement C minor D. 703, coming together with the less-known 41-bars-long fragment of its second movement. This time, the publisher used a painting by P. Renoir for the cover of the CD.
String Quartet in G Moll D. 173, IV. Allegro String Quartet in C Major D. 46, I. Andante con moto
Read a review at Klassik (in German)
A. Zemlinsky: String Quartets No.1 and No.3
In March 2007, The Zemlinsky Quartet released new project - string quartet No.1 in A Major op.4 and string quartet No.3 op. 19 by Alexandr Zemlinsky.
String Quartet No. 1, I. Allegro con fuoco String Quartet No. 3, I. AllegrettoRead a review at Gramophone (in English)
Read a review at Arte (in French)
Read a review at Ensemble (in German)
Read a review at Klassik (in German)
Read a review at The Strad (in English)
A. Dvořák: Early works for sring quartet
Since 2007, the Zemlinsky Quartet records exclusively for French publishing company Praga Digitals (Harmonia Mundi distribution). The first project was a recording of early works for string quartet and the viola quintet op. 1 by A. Dvořák (with Josef Klusoň - violist of the Pražák Quartet). The set of 4 CDs was released in January 2007, and it immediately gained a big success - it received the important French prize "Diapason d´Or" in March.
Read a "Diapason d´Or" review (in French)
Read a review at www.parutions.com (in French)
Read a review at American Record Guide (in English)
Read a review at The Strad (in English)
Read a review at Classica (in French)
Read a review at Classics Today (in French)
Read a review at Fanfare (in French)
Read a review at Monde Musique (in French)
Read a review at Ensemble (in German)
String Quartet in F Moll op. 9, I. Allegro con brio String Quartet in A Moll op. 2, II. Adagio affetuoso ed appassionato
Josef Suk: String Quartets
This CD was recorded in a Danish edition Classico. The manager became interested in the possibility of recording the (almost) complete string quartets by Josef Suk (the only missing are the second version of the last movement of quartet No. 1 and an early Barcarola). This CD was recorded in Prague in February 2004 and it was reviewed in the January 2005 issue of The Strad (read review).
String Quartet in B flat Major op. 11, I. Allegro moderato String Quartet No. 2
A.Dvořák,L.Janáček,J.Suk, F.X.Richter
First CD of Penguin Quartet:
On March 28, 2003, the new CD of Penguin Quartet was released! It was recorded in February 2003 by Bohemia Music with music director Jiří Gemrot and sound engineer Jan Lžičař. The graphic design was made by Flashstudio. The CD contains string quartets by the most famous Czech composers. You can find here String Quartet F major Op. 96 "American" by A. Dvořák, String Quartet No. 1 "Kreutzer sonata" by L. Janáček, Meditation on an Ancient Czech Chorale "Saint Wenceslas" Op. 35a by J. Suk and String Quartet C Major Op. 5/1 by F. X. Richter. This CD was reviewed in the February 2004 issue of The Strad (read review).
A. Dvořáka: String Quartet in F Major op. 96, I. Allegro ma non troppo L. Janáček: String Quartet No. 1 "Kreutzer Sonate" , III. Con moto
The CDs are available with the members of the quartet. If you would be interested in buying our CDs, please contact us at
Petr Holman
Tachovská 1438
153 00 Praha 5, Czech Republic,
call cell phone +420 777315433 or write e-mail at petrholman@volny.cz.
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