Dvořák American Quartet, 8 Waltzes Talich Quartet

• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): 8 Waltzes, Op. 54, B. 101:
• 1 Dvořák: 8 Waltzes, Op. 54, B. 101: I. Waltz No. 1 (Transcribed by Antonín Dvořák) 03:32
• 2 Dvořák: 8 Waltzes, Op. 54, B. 101: II. Waltz No. 2 (Transcribed by Antonín Dvořák) 03:30
• 3 Dvořák: 8 Waltzes, Op. 54, B. 101: III. Waltz No. 3 (Transcribed by Jiří Kabát) 03:03
• 4 Dvořák: 8 Waltzes, Op. 54, B. 101: IV. Waltz No. 4 (Transcribed by Jiří Kabát) 03:00
• 5 Dvořák: 8 Waltzes, Op. 54, B. 101: V. Waltz No. 5 (Transcribed by Jiří Kabát) 03:08
• 6 Dvořák: 8 Waltzes, Op. 54, B. 101: VI. Waltz No. 6 (Transcribed by Jiří Kabát) 04:16
• 7 Dvořák: 8 Waltzes, Op. 54, B. 101: VII. Waltz No. 7 (Transcribed by Jiří Kabát) 03:10
• 8 Dvořák: 8 Waltzes, Op. 54, B. 101: VIII. Waltz No. 8 (Transcribed by Jiří Kabát) 02:52
• Quartet Movement in F Major, B. 120:
• 9 Dvořák: Quartet Movement in F Major, B. 120: 09:46
• String Quartet in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179 "American":
• 10 Dvořák: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179 "American": I. Allegro ma non troppo 09:39
• 11 Dvořák: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179 "American": II. Lento 07:24
• 12 Dvořák: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179 "American": III. Molto vivace 03:53
• 13 Dvořák: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179 "American": IV. Finale. Vivace ma non troppo 05:32
• Total Runtime 01:02:45

Info for Dvořák American Quartet, 8 Waltzes

Fascinated by the folklore of his native Bohemia, and gifted with inexhaustible melodic inventiveness, Antonin Dvorak went through several creative periods as he gradually broke out of the Classical mold; the last of these was deeply influenced by the years he spent in the United States. His kindness and optimism set him apart from the other great Romantics, darker and more tormented in character, and contributed to the unique charm and accessible character of his music, which have earned him justified popularity.

How is it possible to survive for sixty years while maintaining the highest artistic standards both on the concert platform and in the studio?

The Talich Quartet demonstrates con brio that it is vital for a string quartet to regenerate itself with the arrival of new members who share the same urge to enhance the radiant tradition of the great Czech quartet school.

Thus Jan Talich Jr. perpetuates the tradition with a ‘new’ Talich Quartet alongside the violinist Roman Patočka, the eminent former cellist of the Pražák Quartet, Michal Kaňka, and the violist Radim Sedmidubský, previously with the Škampa Quartet.

The new line-up began giving concerts in 2021 and immediately won over audiences with the lightness of tone, spontaneous expression, unpredictable accents and innate feeling for folk elements so characteristic of the founding members.

Talich Quartet

The Talich Quartet
a group of musicians who are held in high regard and are considered to be one of the best string quartets, has been an emblem of the finest Czech musical tradition for numerous decades. Founded back in 1964 by none other than Jan Talich Sr. during his spell at the prestigious Prague Conservatory, the quartet was given the name of his uncle, the world-renowned chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic from 1919 to 1939, Václav Talich.

In the 1990s, a gradual and total shift in generations occurred in the quartet, which brought in a fresh lease of life to the ensemble while maintaining its rich heritage in concert and recording activities. It was then that Jan Talich Jr., the son of the founder, took up the mantle of the first violin.

The Talich Quartet has been a regular on the world stage, performing on many of the biggest podiums and taking part in global festivals. Their performance at prominent venues like the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York, le Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, the illustrious Salle Gaveau in Paris, London’s famous Wigmore Hall, and Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam have garnered significant acclaim.

The quartet has an awe-inspiring collection of studio recordings and CDs. Even in the current formation, the Talich Quartet has made a mark by recording most of the repertoire of Smetana, Dvořák, and Janáček. Their recording of Janáček’s two quartets was extolled by the authoritative Gramophone magazine and even received a nomination for the Best Chamber Music Recording in 2006. The complete recording of Felix Mendelssohn’s quartet works, which was made available on the Calliope label from 2001 to 2004, was bestowed with immense recognition.

In the year 2022, the quartet launched a CD which contained a fresh recording of Dvořák’s American Quartet, paired with his rarely performed Quartet Movement in F Major and eight waltzes, Op. 54. Dvořák originally composed these waltzes for the piano, but the composer himself arranged two of them for strings. The Talich Quartet has now come forward with a refreshing interpretation and the first-ever recording of the complete work for string quartet, which has been arranged by the distinguished composer Jiří Kabát.

Booklet for Dvořák American Quartet, 8 Waltzes