Janáček Quartet

Czech string quartet

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The Janáček Quartet (Czech: Janáčkovo kvarteto) is a Czech string quartet musical ensemble founded in 1947 which is still currently active.

Origins and activities

The Janáček Quartet was formed in 1947 by students of Váša Černý at the Conservatory of Brno, originally under the name JAMU Quartet. The quartet initially concentrated mainly on Janáček's chamber works. 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 substitution of Adolf Sýkora for Miroslav Matyáš in 1952 was the only personnel change during the first twenty-five years, until the death of Jiří Trávníček in 1973. 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, Supraphon, Eterna, Decca and other labels.

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

Personnel

1st violin

Jiří Trávníček (1947–1973)
Bohumil Smejkal (1973– ? )
Miloš Vacek (current)

2nd violin

Miroslav Matyáš (1947–1952)
Adolf Sýkora (1952–(after 1973))
Vítězslav Zavadilík (current)

viola

Jiří Kratochvíl (1947–(after 1973))
Ladislav Kyselák (1989–2008)
Jan Řezníček (current)

cello

Karel Krafka (1947–(after 1973))
Břetislav Vybíral (current)

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