«This is ensemble playing at its finest – four voices that sing, breath and phrase as one. The sound is full and vigorous, yet never forced or raucous.» (The Strad)
The outstanding young Zemlinsky Quartet is back for a third visit to Pro Musica! Since its founding in 1994, the quartet has solidly established itself within the unparalleled Czech string quartet tradition, becoming the archetype of an ensemble displaying the continuity of the school and tradition of the string quartet in Bohemia. Due to its virtuosistic playing and cohesion, it has since convinced a large public of music lovers. Acknowledged as one of the most important of its kind due to its technical perfection as well as its elegant sonority, the young Czech quartet offers its listeners a rich sound inspired by a creative spirit.
The Zemlinsky Quartet was awarded the 1st Grand Prize in the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition (2010), and also enjoyed a string of top prizes in the Banff International String Quartet Competition (2007), Prague Spring International Music Competition (2005) and London International String Quartet Competition (2006), where it was also awarded the Audience Prize.
The Zemlinsky Quartet is regularly invited to perform in the Czech Republic and abroad (in numerous countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America). The repertoire of the ensemble is far ranging, containing more than 180 works by many leading composers, including contemporary music. The Zemlinsky Quartet is named after the Austrian composer, conductor and teacher Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1942), whose enormous contribution to Czech, German and Jewish cultures during his 16-year stay in Prague was underestimated for decades.
Programme :
- Haydn : Quartet in D major, Op. 50 No 6
- Janáček : Quartet No 2 (Intimate Letters)
- Mendelssohn-Bartholdy : Quartet in F minor, Op. 80.
You can listen here to a musical excerpt of their recent appearance at Pro Musica (2009).
To visit the artists’ website, click here.