Antonín Dvořák: String Quartets Nos. 9 & 13 Zemlinsky Quartet

• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): String Quartet No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 34, B. 75:
• 1 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 34, B. 75: I. Allegro - Più mosso 11:42
• 2 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 34, B. 75: II. Alla polka. Allegretto scherzando - Poco meno mosso - Trio (Quasi l'istesso tempo) - Da capo 06:31
• 3 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 34, B. 75: III. Adagio 07:52
• 4 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 34, B. 75: IV. Finale. Poco allegro - Più mosso 07:04
• String Quartet No. 13 in G Major, Op. 106, B. 192:
• 5 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 13 in G Major, Op. 106, B. 192: I. Allegro moderato 09:30
• 6 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 13 in G Major, Op. 106, B. 192: II. Adagio ma non troppo 10:25
• 7 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 13 in G Major, Op. 106, B. 192: III. Molto vivace 06:37
• 8 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 13 in G Major, Op. 106, B. 192: IV. Finale. Andante sostenuto - Allegro con fuoco 10:22
• Total Runtime 01:10:03

Info for Antonín Dvořák: String Quartets Nos. 9 & 13

Although Dvorak's string quartets are among the finest ever written, other than the famous "American" quartet, they remain largely unfamiliar to most listeners. This is surprising, as most of the quartets are brilliant and accessible, full of distinctive melodies and passionate invention. This recording from Praga featuring the Zemlinsky Quartet presents two of the composer's quartets, Nos.9 and 13, Opp.34 and 106. The ninth quartet, in the key of D minor, was completed in late 1877 and dedicated to Brahms. Technically brilliant, the work has a melancholy flavor that has been attributed to Dvorak's memories of the death of his daughter. The G major thirteenth quartet, one of the composer's last two efforts in the genre, was the first quartet he completed following his return from America.

Zemlinsky Quartet

Digitally remastered

Zemlinsky Quartet
Founded in 1994 while the members were still students, the ZEMLINSKY QUARTET has become a much lauded example of the Czech string quartet tradition. The Zemlinsky Quartet won the First Grand Prize at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition in 2010. They have also been awarded top prizes at the Banff International String Quartet Competition (2007), Prague Spring International Music Competition (2005) and London International String Quartet Competition (2006), where they also received the Audience Prize. The Quartet was recipient of the Alexander Zemlinsky Advancement Award in 2008. Other notable prizes include Beethoven International Competition (1999), New Talent Bratislava (2003), Martinů Foundation String Quartet Competition (2004), and the Prize of Czech Chamber Music Society (2005). In the season 2016/17, Zemlinsky Quartet was appointed as the residential ensemble of the Czech Chamber Music Society.

While students at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts Prague, the ensemble was coached by members of renowned Czech string quartets including the Talich, Prague, Kocian and Pražák Quartets. The ensemble also took part in several master classes including ProQuartet, in France and Sommerakademie in Reichenau, Austria where they were awarded First Prize for the best interpretation of a work by Janáček. From 2005 to 2008, the quartet studied with Walter Levin, the first violinist of LaSalle Quartet. Their recent mentor has been Josef Klusoň, the violist of the Pražák Quartet.

Zemlinsky Quartet is named after the Austrian composer, conductor and teacher Alexander Zemlinsky (1871-1942), whose enormous contribution to Czech, German and Jewish culture during his 16-year residence in Prague had been underrated until recently. His four string quartets (the second one being dedicated to his student and brother-in-law Arnold Schönberg) belong to the basic repertoire of the ensemble. Since 2005, the quartet has maintained a special relationship with the Alexander Zemlinsky Foundation in Vienna.

The Zemlinsky Quartet performs regularly in the Czech Republic and abroad (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Monaco, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Canada, USA, Brazil, Japan, South Korea). Recent major appearances of the Zemlinsky Quartet include London’s Wigmore Hall, Cité de la Musique in Paris, Library of Congress, Place des Arts in Montreal, Prague Spring Festival, and their New York debut on Schneider/New School Concerts Series. Their vast repertoire contains more than 200 works ranging from Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Dvorak to works by contemporary composers. The members of the ensemble also perform as soloists and are individual prize-winners of several competitions (Concertino Praga, Spohr International Competition Weimar, Tribune of Young Artists UNESCO, Rotary Music Competition Nürnberg, Beethoven International Competition, Kocian International Competition).

Between 2006-2011, the Zemlinsky Quartet were Assistant Quartet-in-Residence at Musikakademie Basel in Switzerland. Music education is an important part of their professional life and during their tours, the quartet is often invited to give master classes to students of any age. They also perform educational concerts for students. Recently, František Souček and Petr Holman have been appointed Professors at the Prague Conservatory.

Booklet for Antonín Dvořák: String Quartets Nos. 9 & 13