[SACD-R][OF] Pražák Quartet (Prazak Quartet) - Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartets, Vol. 1 (Op.18 Nos 4,5 & 1) - 2003 (Chamber)

Vaclav Remes, Vlastimil Holek, violin
Josef Kluson, viola
Michal Kanka, cello

The Prazak Quartet—one of today´s leading international chamber music ensembles—was established in 1972 while its members were students at the Prague Conservatory. Since then, the quartet has gained attention for its place in the unique Czech quartet tradition, and for its musical virtuosity.
The 1974 Czech Music Year saw the Prazak Quartet receive the first prize at the Prague Conservatory Chamber Music Competition. Within twelve months their international career had been launched with a performance at the 1975 Prague Spring Music Festival. In 1978 the quartet took the first prize at the Evian String Quartet Competition as well as a special prize awarded by Radio France for the best recording during the competition. Further prizes were awarded at various other Czech competitions.
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—Prague, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Milan, Madrid, London, Berlin, Munich, etc.—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 extensively in North America, having performed in New York (Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, 92nd St. Y), Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Washington, Philadelphia, Miami, St. Louis, New Orleans, Berkeley, Cleveland, Tucson, Denver, Buffalo, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. They will return to the US and Canada in the 2016-17 season.
The Prazak Quartet records exclusively for Praga/Harmonia Mundi which, to date, has released more than 30 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.
In 2015, Jana Vonášková joined the group as first violinist, succeeding Pavel Hula. She is a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London, and was a member of the Smetana Trio for nine years. She appears often as a soloist and in recital throughout Europe. Second violinist Vlastimil Holek has been with the Prazak Quartet for nearly four decades, and also performs independently. Violist Josef Kluson is a founding member of the quartet, and gives masterclasses worldwide. Cellist Michal Kanka joined the group in 1986. He performs and records as a soloist in addition to his work with the quartet. Messrs Holek, Kluson, and Kanka are graduates of the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Fine Arts.

Maybe it’s the water (or the beer), but Czech string quartets always seem to be disproportionately represented among the world’s leading ensembles. The Pražák, in concert & on disc, has amply merited its strong reputation, further solidified by its Beethoven series, of which this disc of 3 Op. 18 quartets is the latest. Although this is labeled Volume 1, Volume 2, which includes Op. 18 Nos. 2, 3, & 6, has been out for a while & received a glowing 10/10 review from my colleague, Victor Carr Jr (to read that review, please type Q5714 in Search Reviews). Well, here’s another enthusiastic recommendation.
Throughout, the Pražáks project genuine Beethovenian dramatic tension, well-balanced, rich-toned ensemble sound, alert rhythmic sense, & driving, forward-moving energy effectively leavened when necessary, as in the Adagio of #1, with tenderness shadowed by hints of the tragic. Every so often I wondered whether the Pražáks were slamming a bit too hard on the gas pedal, à la the Emersons, but 1 or 2 rehearings convinced me that their stance was appropriate. Also especially winning are the 1st violin in the soloistic 1st movement of #4 & the naturalness with which the ensemble handles the quicksilver mood changes sprinkled throughout these quartets, such as those in the 1st movement of Op. 18 #1, where each episode is clearly delineated. If I were backed against a wall & forced to say something negative, it might be that a bit more geniality & humour should be present in these early quartets so strongly influenced by Mozart & Haydn, but that’s barely a noticeable speck on the Pražák’s accomplishment here.
The sound is 1st-rate, well-balanced, with you-are-there presence. A note on the back of the disc says it is a hybrid SACD, further identified as “Stereo Bi-Channel”. I thought “stereo” meant “bi-channel” but I guess it just drives home the fact that this isn’t a surround-sound recording, which should give no one any pause at all. Be assured that whatever unit you play this disc on, you’ll hear excellent performances in 1st-rate sound.
~Dan Davis, ClassicsToday.com