THE TALICH QUARTET

Jan Talich, violin
Petr Macacek, violin
Vladimir Bukac, viola
Petr Prause, cello

THE TALICH QUARTET, internation-ally recognized as one of Europe's finest ensembles, was founded in 1964 by Jan Talich, Sr., who named it for his uncle Vaclav Talich, conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. During the 90's, a new generation replaced the founding members. The Talich continues in the tradition of its predecessors through its involvement in a wide range of performance and recording activities.

The Talich Quartet's active touring schedule includes performances in 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. It frequently appears at New York's Carnegie Hall, le Theatre des Champs-Elysees and Salle Gaveau in Paris, and London's Wigmore Hall. It toured Japan with French pianist Jean-March Luisada, and recently performed to enthusiastic audiences in South Korea. In 2001 the Talich Quartet recorded works for Hell on Earth, a documentary on the holocaust produced by Steven Spielberg. Recording projects also include the complete string quartets and other chamber works of Mendelssohn to be followed by a similar project of Schubert chamber works, and the Janacek Quartets.

Jan Talich, the son of the quartet's founder, is founder and director of the Talich Chamber Orchestra and is particularly noted for his recordings of Czeck music. His violin: an 1845 Vuillaume. Peter Macecek served as concertmaster of the Prague, the Slovak, and the Suk Chamber orchestras. He records for Naxos, Vox Classics and Koch. He plays a 1694 Ruuggieri. Vladimir Bukac, served as first violin of the Czeck Philharmonic, and as concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra of the Music University of Prague. Recordings include the complete Suites for Solo Viola by Reger. His viola: a 1740 Guadagnini. Petr Prause has performed as soloist with orchestras in France, Germany, Denmark, England and throughout eastern Europe. He plays a 1795 Gagliano.