The Wihan Quartet has been described by International Record Review as: “one of the best quartets in the world today.” In 2015 the Quartet celebrated 30 years since its formation, and over the years it has developed an outstanding reputation for the interpretation of its native Czech heritage, and of the many classical, romantic and modern masterpieces of the string quartet repertoire. The Wihan Quartet has won many International Competitions including The Prague Spring Festival and the Osaka ‘Chamber Festa’. In 1991, they won both the First Prize and the Audience Prize in the London International String Quartet Competition. The Quartet are the ‘Richard Carne Quartet in Residence’ at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London. They are also great supporters of the work of the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust, which gives inspirational concerts and master classes to young people in many parts of the UK. Jirí Zigmund, retired from the Wihan Quartet in 2014. The Quartet was very fortunate to find an excellent viola player in Jakub Cepický, son of Leoš, and his first recording with the Quartet of Suk, Dvorak and Janacek was released on Nimbus Alliance in 2016. In 2017, after 32 years as a member of the Wihan Quartet, cellist Ales Kasprik retired from the Quartet. The Quartet have been very fortunate to find a wonderful cellist to perform with them: the excellent Michal Kanka, cellist with one of the best Czech string quartets, the Prazak Quartet.

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REVIEW:

The most striking attribute of the Wihan's account of the Janacek is its weighty, bass-oriented sonority, which is beneficial in lyrical, romantic passages and adds strength to forceful, explosive ones. The playing is also brilliant and virtuosic, with emphatic stresses, colorful and detailed texture, and clear articulation. Tempos may be faster or more deliberate than average but are consistently well chosen.

With excellent performances of captivating works by the three greatest Czech composers, recorded in vivid, realistic sound, this release deserves a strong recommendation.

– Fanfare