Credits:

Pavel Haas Quartet

Description:

Half a century on from the Smetana Quartet’s classic recording, the internationally admired Pavel Haas Quartet turns at last to Smetana.The Pavel Haas Quartet is one of the finest ensembles the Czech Republic has produced. Its disc containing Dvok’s “American” Quartet (SU 4038 / KKC 5170) won Recording of the Year at the Gramophone Awards 2011. The group is tireless in its advocacy of composers from its homeland, above all Janek, Haas and Dvok. Its sixth album for Supraphon is a long-anticipated Smetana coupling.Smetana began the String Quartet No. 1 “From My Life” around October 1876, after he had lost his hearing, completing it towards the end of the same year. Technical difficulties meant that no one could be found to give the premiere, and it was not until 26 March 1879 that it was tried out at the home of his friend Srb-Debrnov, with Dvok playing the viola; the first public performan