Bohuslav Martinů String Quartets Nos. 1, 3 & 6 Prazak Quartet & Zemlinsky Quartet

• Bohuslav Martinů (1890 - 1959): String Quartet No. 6, H. 312:
• 1 Martinů: String Quartet No. 6, H. 312: I. Allegro moderato 07:08
• 2 Martinů: String Quartet No. 6, H. 312: II. Andante 07:55
• 3 Martinů: String Quartet No. 6, H. 312: III. Allegro - Allegro con brio 08:20
• String Quartet No. 3, H. 183:
• 4 Martinů: String Quartet No. 3, H. 183: I. Allegro 04:08
• 5 Martinů: String Quartet No. 3, H. 183: II. Andante 04:38
• 6 Martinů: String Quartet No. 3, H. 183: III. Allegro vivo 03:51
• String Quartet No. 1, H. 117:
• 7 Martinů: String Quartet No. 1, H. 117: I. Moderato - Allegro ma non troppo 08:44
• 8 Martinů: String Quartet No. 1, H. 117: II. Andante moderato 06:18
• 9 Martinů: String Quartet No. 1, H. 117: III. Allegro non troppo 09:14
• 10 Martinů: String Quartet No. 1, H. 117: IV. Allegro con brio 12:02
• Total Runtime 01:12:18

Info for Bohuslav Martinů String Quartets Nos. 1, 3 & 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), a lengthy and luxurious, homage to Debussy and Dvorak, the shortest (No.3) ‘pocket’ Quartet and the Sixth 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.

"Martinù’s seven numbered string quartets do not form a coherent cycle in the way that the quartets of Bartók, Simpson or Shostakovich do. Martinù’s belong rather to the general corpus of his chamber music as a whole, relating as much to those works written close to each in time as much as themselves.

The three recorded here could scarcely be more different in texture, structure and dimension – and idiom – and none goes over the ground again of its fellows. True, the expansive early First (1918), taking up half the disc’s playing-time, is stylistically impure, embracing the various influences of Brahms, Debussy, Dvoøák and Reger with the same easy charm with which his later music disdained technical challenges. It is a thoroughly engaging score, earnest and beguiling by turns, although sounding nothing like the neo-classical Martinù of the 1920s and ’30s.

The Zemlinsky Quartet excels in this warm-hearted, exuberant score, a performance I enjoyed immensely. But the Pražák Quartet’s of the spikier Third (1929) and lyrical Sixth, both more concise – No 3 runs for just 12 minutes – are equally impressive and balance the Zemlinsky’s of No 1 superbly. Praga’s sound, recorded in Prague’s Dominová Studio, is very clear and well balanced. Unequivocally recommended." (Guy Rickards, Gramophone)

Prazak Quartet
Zemlinsky Quartet

The Pražák Quartet
one of today’s leading international chamber music ensembles - was established in 1972 while its members were students at the Prague Conservatory, and won major chamber music prizes early on, including first prize at the prestigious Evian String Quartet Competition, along with a special recording prize from Radio France. Since then, the quartet has gained attention for its place in the unique Czech quartet tradition, and for its musical virtuosity.

For more than 30 years, the Prazak Quartet has been at home on music stages worldwide. They are regular guests in the major European musical capitals such as Prague, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Milan, Madrid, London, Berlin, and Munich, and have been invited to participate at numerous international festivals, where they have collaborated with such artists as Menahem Pressler, Jon Nakamatsu, Cynthia Phelps, Roberto Diaz, Josef Suk, and Sharon Kam.

The quartet has toured widely in North America, having performed in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Washington, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal and many others. The quartet returns to the US and Canada every other year.

The Prazak Quartet has recorded extensively for Praga/Harmonia Mundi which, to date, has released 50 award-winning CDs. In addition to numerous radio recordings in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, the Prazak Quartet has also made recordings for Supraphon, Panton, Orfeo, Ottavo, Bonton, and Nuova Era.

As of 2020, violinist Marie Fuxová and cellist Jonáš Krejčí joined the quartet. The new members bring their extensive string quartet and chamber music experience, having played with the Pavel Haas, Škampa, Petersen and Schulhoff quartets as well as in many chamber orchestras and ensembles. They bring their experience and energy into the group while remaining faithful to the Czech quartet tradition, character and quality which are the longtime hallmarks of the Pražák Quartet. A new CD with the last string quartets of Josef Haydn will be released on the Aparté/Praga label in August 2021.

Booklet for Bohuslav Martinů String Quartets Nos. 1, 3 & 6