The Talich Quartet -Oct. 19
For several decades, THE TALICH QUARTET has been recognized internationally as one of Europe’s finest chamber ensembles, and as the embodiment of the great Czech musical tradition. The Quartet was founded in 1964 by Jan Talich, during his studies at the Prague Conservatory, and named for his uncle Vaclav Talich, the renowned chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. Over the decade of the 1990s, there was a gradual and complete change in personnel, rejuvenating the Quartet while continuing the tradition of its predecessors through involvement in a wide spectrum of musical engagements and recording activities. Jan Talich Jr., the current first violinist, is the son of the Quartet’s founder.
The Talich Quartet is regularly invited to prestigious chamber music festivals such as the Pablo Casals Festival in Prades, Prague Spring Music Festival, Europalia Festival, Printemps des Arts in Monte Carlo, Tibor Varga Festival of Music, and the International String Quartet Festival in Ottawa; and frequently visits such venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall, le Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, and London’s Wigmore Hall. Highlights of the 2005-2006 concert season include appearances in Rome, Boogna, Paris, Prague, Dresden and Rotterdam; extensive tours of the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico and Japan, and the Quartet’s 13th tour of North America.
The Talich’s recordings of the complete string quartets by Felix Mendelssohn, released on the Calliope label between 2001and 2004, have been widely praised. Other recent recording projects include, also for Calliope, Dvorak’s “American” quartet and viola quintet (2003), Smetana’s two string quartets (2003), and the soon-to-be-released Janacek Quartets in celebration of the Year of Czech Music. On the Boise Chamber Music Series, we look forward to a program of Mozart (K. 387), Czech composer Janacek’s String Quartet No. 1, “Kreutzer Sonata,” (a Boise premiere of a 1923 piece), and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in E-Flat Major, op. 44, no. 3, also a first for our Series.
The Talich Quartet will present a masterclass with BSU participating sttudent string quartets Friday. October 19, C200, at 3:30 pm. Admission is free to the public