Göteborgs Konserthus Pulse-raising Czech Evening

The Pavel Haas Quartet has celebrated 20 successful years in the spotlight. With a particular focus on Czech and Slovak music, they are one of the world’s leading string quartets. The evening is crowned by Antonin Dvorák’s music.

Bohuslav Martinů wrote his third string quartet in 1929 in Paris. He was strongly influenced by, among others, Stravinsky. Martinů was Vítězslava Kaprálová’s teacher in Paris and they later became good friends. She was a conductor and composer and during her short life wrote very personal music. One second it feels like an exciting thriller, the next it bursts with joy like a calf on green pasture. Recently, her piano and chamber music in particular has gained attention thanks to newly made disc recordings.

The Hellmesberger Quartet was an important part of musical life in Vienna during the 19th century and performed early string quartets by Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert. They commissioned the String Quartet in C major by Dvořák, which was to be premiered just before Christmas 1881 at the Ringtheater in Vienna. But a catastrophic fire caused the premiere to be postponed.

Through its name, the Pavel Haas Quartet honors compatriot Pavel Haas, another of the foremost Czech composers. He lost his life in Auschwitz in 1944.

Listen

Get to know the Pavel Haas Quartet.