Pražák Quartet

Pražák Quartet in 2011. From left: Vlastimil Holek, Michal Kaňka, Josef Klusoň, Pavel Hůla

The Pražák Quartet (in Czech: Pražákovo kvarteto) is a Czech string quartet established in 1972. It is one of the Czech Republic's premiere chamber ensembles. It was founded while its members were still students at Prague Conservatory (1974-1978). The quartet was awarded First Prize at the Evian International Competition in 1978 and the Prague Spring Festival Prize in 1979 with second places not being awarded at both the competitions to indicate the difference in level.

Members

• Václav Remeš, violin (until 2010)
• Pavel Hůla, (from 2010); now: Jana Vonášková, violin
• Vlastimil Holek, violin
• Josef Klusoň, viola
• Michal Kaňka, cello

Recordings

The Prazak Quartet has made more than 60 recordings during its long history, including some of the most important works in the string quartet and chamber music literature. They record for Praga Digitals. A partial discography includes:

• Ludwig van Beethoven - String Quartet op. 18, no. 1, 4, 5
• Ludwig van Beethoven - String Quartet op. 18, no. 2, 3, 6
• Ludwig van Beethoven - Quartets op. 59 Razumovsky
• Ludwig van Beethoven - String Quartet op. 74 and 95
• Ludwig van Beethoven - String Quartet op. 127 and 131
• Ludwig van Beethoven - String Quartet op. 132 and 135
• Alban Berg / Anton Webern - String Quartets
• Anton Webern - String Quartet, Op. 28 (1938)
• Johannes Brahms - String Quartet No. 3 in B flat major, Op. 67, Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34
• Johannes Brahms - String Quartet no 1 Op. 51/1, Clarinet Quintet Op. 115
• Johannes Brahms - String Quartet no 2 in A minor, Op.51, String Quintet no 2 in G major Op. 111
• Anton Bruckner - String Quintet with viola, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - String Quintet with viola K. 516, Jan Talich : viola
• Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet no 10 Op. 51 / B. 92 "Slavonic", String Quartet no 13 Op. 106 / B.192
• Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet no 11 in C Op. 61 / B. 121, Cypresses (12) B. 152 - complete cycle for String Quartet
• Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet no 12 in F major, Op. 96 / B 179 "The American", Terzetto in C major, Op. 74 / B 148, Bagatelles, Op. 47 / B 79
• Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet no 14 Op. 105 / B. 193;String Quartet no 12 Op. 96 / B. 179 "The American"
• Antonín Dvořák - Piano Quintet in A Op. 5 / B. 28 (1875);Piano Quintet in A Op. 81 / B.155 (1887), Ivan Klansky - piano
• Arnold Schönberg - String Quartet no 1 in D minor Op. 7, String Quartet no 2 in F sharp minor Op. 10 with soprano, Christine Whittlesey, soprano

External links

• Prazak Quartet homepage