Smetana Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Smetana Quartet was a Czech
string quartet
that was in existence from 1945 to 1989.
2nd violin
Viola
Cello
as violist, the group gave its first perfirmance as the Smetana Quartet in November 1945, in Prague. Neumann left to pursue conducting in 1947, at which point Rybensky went to the viola desk and Jiří Novák (who shared first violin desk with Josef Vlach, founder of the Vlach Quartet
, under Vaclav Talich
in the Czech Chamber Orchestra) came in as first violin.
By 1949 the group had official connections with the Czech Philharmonic. The first foreign tour was in 1949, to Poland, and the first recording was of a quartet by Bedřich Smetana
in 1950. Rybensky was obliged to retire through ill health in 1952, and was replaced by Milan Škampa. The performers were appinted Professors at the Academy of Musical Arts in 1967. Of their many recordings, those made at that time for German Electrola are considered particularly fine.
For many years this group, which has been called the finest Czech quartet of its time, played the Czech repertoire from memory, giving these works a special intensity and intimacy.
Antonín Kohout trained the Kocian Quartet (founded 1972) and the Martinů Quartet
(1976), though the latter's members had been pupils of Professor Viktor Moučka, cellist of the Vlach Quartet
.
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...
that was in existence from 1945 to 1989.
Personnel
1st violin- Václav NeumannVáclav NeumannVáclav Neumann was a Czech conductor, violinist and viola player.Neumann was born in Prague where he studied at the Prague Conservatory, with Josef Micka , and with Pavel Dědeček and Metod Doležil . He co-founded, and played 1st violin in, the Smetana Quartet, before holding conducting posts in...
(1920-1995), from 1943 to 1945 - Jaroslav Rybenský, from 1945 to 1947
- Jiří Novák (1924-2010), since 1947
2nd violin
- Lubomír Kostecký (born 1922)
Viola
- Jiří Neumann, from 1943 to 1945
- Václav NeumannVáclav NeumannVáclav Neumann was a Czech conductor, violinist and viola player.Neumann was born in Prague where he studied at the Prague Conservatory, with Josef Micka , and with Pavel Dědeček and Metod Doležil . He co-founded, and played 1st violin in, the Smetana Quartet, before holding conducting posts in...
, from 1945 to 1947 - Jaroslav Rybenský, from 1947 to 1956
- Milan Škampa (born 1928), since 1956
Cello
- Antonín Kohout (born 1919)
Origins and activities
The Smetana Quartet arose from the Quartet of the Czech Conservatory, which was founded in 1943 (during the Nazi occupation) in Prague by Antonin Kohout, the cellist. With J. Rybensky and L. Kostecky as first and second violins, and Václav NeumannVáclav Neumann
Václav Neumann was a Czech conductor, violinist and viola player.Neumann was born in Prague where he studied at the Prague Conservatory, with Josef Micka , and with Pavel Dědeček and Metod Doležil . He co-founded, and played 1st violin in, the Smetana Quartet, before holding conducting posts in...
as violist, the group gave its first perfirmance as the Smetana Quartet in November 1945, in Prague. Neumann left to pursue conducting in 1947, at which point Rybensky went to the viola desk and Jiří Novák (who shared first violin desk with Josef Vlach, founder of the Vlach Quartet
Vlach Quartet
The Vlach Quartet is the name of two consecutive classical string quartet musical ensembles, based in Prague, which are linked by family tradition in the Vlach family. The original Vlach Quartet was founded in 1949 and wound up in 1975...
, under Vaclav Talich
Václav Talich
Václav Talich was a Czech conductor, violinist and pedagogue.- Life :Born in Kroměříž, Moravia, he started his musical career in a student orchestra in Klatovy. From 1897 to 1903 he studied at the conservatory in Prague with Otakar Ševčík...
in the Czech Chamber Orchestra) came in as first violin.
By 1949 the group had official connections with the Czech Philharmonic. The first foreign tour was in 1949, to Poland, and the first recording was of a quartet by Bedřich Smetana
Bedrich Smetana
Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music...
in 1950. Rybensky was obliged to retire through ill health in 1952, and was replaced by Milan Škampa. The performers were appinted Professors at the Academy of Musical Arts in 1967. Of their many recordings, those made at that time for German Electrola are considered particularly fine.
For many years this group, which has been called the finest Czech quartet of its time, played the Czech repertoire from memory, giving these works a special intensity and intimacy.
Antonín Kohout trained the Kocian Quartet (founded 1972) and the Martinů Quartet
Martinu Quartet
The Martinů Quartet is a Czech string quartet ensemble founded in 1976, originally under the name Havlák Quartet by students of Professor Viktor Moučka at the Prague Conservatory. In 1985, with the approval of the , the quartet assumed its present name Martinů Quartet, pledging to promote the...
(1976), though the latter's members had been pupils of Professor Viktor Moučka, cellist of the Vlach Quartet
Vlach Quartet
The Vlach Quartet is the name of two consecutive classical string quartet musical ensembles, based in Prague, which are linked by family tradition in the Vlach family. The original Vlach Quartet was founded in 1949 and wound up in 1975...
.