Panocha Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Panocha Quartet in a Czech
string quartet
whose playing is admired for its fine tone, stylistic sensitivity, technical address and polish. It was formed at the Prague Conservatory
in 1968 from a trio consisting of Jiří Panocha (violin), Jaroslav Hlůzě (viola), and Jaroslav Kulhan (cello). At the suggestion of their teacher, Josef Micka, they recruited violinist Pavel Zejfart to make up a quartet. In 1971 Hlůzě was replaced on the viola by Miroslav Sehnoutka. Panocha plays a 1743 violin by Carlo Antonio Testore of Milan
.
In 1975 the ensemble won the Prague International String Quartet Competition and in 1976 they received the Bordeaux
Gold Medal. They made their US
début in 1975 and their German
and Irish
débuts the following year. In 1980 they toured Japan
with the Smetana Quartet
, whose members had been among their teachers. Since then they have enjoyed an international reputation. Their repertory, founded on the Czech masters and the Viennese classics, includes the complete cycles by Dvořák
and Martinů
(both of which they have recorded) and a large number of quartets by Haydn
, as well as many 20th-century works. They have collaborated on record and in concert with the pianists Rudolf Firkušný
, Jan Panenka
and András Schiff
.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
whose playing is admired for its fine tone, stylistic sensitivity, technical address and polish. It was formed at the Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory, sometimes also Prague Conservatoire, in Czech Pražská konzervatoř, is a Czech secondary school in Prague dedicated to teaching the arts of music and theater acting.- Instruction :...
in 1968 from a trio consisting of Jiří Panocha (violin), Jaroslav Hlůzě (viola), and Jaroslav Kulhan (cello). At the suggestion of their teacher, Josef Micka, they recruited violinist Pavel Zejfart to make up a quartet. In 1971 Hlůzě was replaced on the viola by Miroslav Sehnoutka. Panocha plays a 1743 violin by Carlo Antonio Testore of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
.
In 1975 the ensemble won the Prague International String Quartet Competition and in 1976 they received the Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
Gold Medal. They made their US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
début in 1975 and their German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
débuts the following year. In 1980 they toured Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with the Smetana Quartet
Smetana Quartet
The Smetana Quartet was a Czech string quartet that was in existence from 1945 to 1989.- Personnel :1st violin* Václav Neumann , from 1943 to 1945* Jaroslav Rybenský, from 1945 to 1947* Jiří Novák , since 19472nd violin...
, whose members had been among their teachers. Since then they have enjoyed an international reputation. Their repertory, founded on the Czech masters and the Viennese classics, includes the complete cycles by Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
and Martinů
Bohuslav Martinu
Bohuslav Martinů was a prolific Czech composer of modern classical music. He was of Czech and Rumanian ancestry. Martinů wrote six symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. Martinů became a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic...
(both of which they have recorded) and a large number of quartets by Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, as well as many 20th-century works. They have collaborated on record and in concert with the pianists Rudolf Firkušný
Rudolf Firkusny
- Life :Born in Moravian Napajedla, Firkušný started his musical studies with the composers Leoš Janáček and Josef Suk, and the pianist Vilém Kurz. Later he studied with Alfred Cortot and Artur Schnabel. He began performing on the continent of Europe in the 1920s, and made his debuts in London in...
, Jan Panenka
Jan Panenka
Jan Panenka was a Czech pianist. He recorded many of Beethoven's works, and he played for many years with the Suk Trio.- Life :...
and András Schiff
András Schiff
András Schiff is a Hungarian-born British classical pianist, who has won a number of awards including the Grammy and made numerous recordings.- Biography :...
.