Czech quartet to play at Vinehall

Since its foundation in 1994, the Zemlinsky Quartet has become a prime example of the Czech string quartet tradition.

The quartet studied at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts, Prague, where they were coached by members of renowned Czech string quartets including the Talich, Prague, Kocian and Pražák Quartets.

The quartet was awarded the 1st Grand Prize in the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition (2010).

Along with many other prestigious awards, the quartet has enjoyed a string of top prizes in the Banff International String Quartet Competition, Prague Spring International Music Competition and London International String Quartet Competition, where it was also awarded the Audience Prize.

The Zemlinsky Quartet has recorded extensively with CDs of Dvořák, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, which have received universal critical acclaim from press such as The Strad, Diapason, Fanfare and Gramophone.

The quartet enjoys teaching and supporting the continuity of the Czech musical tradition and two members teach at Prague Conservatory.

Geoffrey Whitehead, the concert organiser, said: “It would be a terrible waste to have a leading Czech quartet and not to hear them play works from their homeland, as they never fail to infuse their music-making with a special quality which other quartets never quite manage.

“Therefore, I’m delighted that the Zemlinskys are playing Janáček’s haunting second quartet Intimate Letters and then what is without doubt Dvořák’s most popular chamber work, his ‘American’ Quartet.

“If listening to this uplifting and melodic piece doesn’t leave our audience on a musical ‘high’, I will be very surprised.”

The concert will take place tomorrow (Saturday), starting at 7.30pm.

For further information about all the concerts at Vinehall please phone 01580 883092 or visit www.vinehallschool.com.

* There will be a brief break in the concert schedule, with the next event due to take place on February 10.

The concert will feature artists from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Ana James (soprano), Grant Doyle (baritone), Marina Finnamore (clarinet) and Caroline Dowdle (piano).