Dvořák Piano Quartet

The Dvořák Piano Quartet is one of the foremost Czech chamber ensembles. It respects the best Czech traditions of interpretation and on this has built its individual musical expression and sound. The members of the quartet have studied under legendary artists (Ivan Moravec, Josef Vlach – Vlach Quartet, Petr Messiereur – Talich Quartet, Milan Škampa – Smetana Quartet, Miroslav Petráš – Czech Trio), and this has instilled in them a loving and thorough approach to chamber music. That is what has drawn together these accomplished and strong personalities, with many years of experience from important and world famous chamber ensembles. Slávka Vernerová has devoted herself equally to solo piano works and chamber music. She has often worked with the best Czech string quartets – the Pražák, Pavel Haas, Zemlinsky, Bennewitz and others. The violinist Štěpán Pražák gained valuable experience as the leader of the Czech Philharmonic Quartet. The violist Petr Verner was a member of the Vlach Quartet Praha for 20 years, and the cellist Jan Žďánský was active in the IUNO Trio and Kapr Quartet.

Antonín Dvořák’s descen­dants and the Dvořák Society have kindly permitted the ensemble to use the name Dvořák Piano Quartet. Since their debut at the Prague Spring festival, they have received many invitations to play in renowned concert halls at home and abroad. Important Czech contemporary composers including Karel Janovický, Martin Hybler, Ondřej Kukal, and Jiří Teml have dedicated works to them. The ensemble has appeared repeatedly in Canada, Austria, Germany, England, France, and elsewhere.

For both their Dvořák and Schumann albums they earned the prestigious CHOC DE CLASSICA rating from the French music journal Classica.

www.dvorakpianoquartet.cz