The Wihan, Fitzwilliam String and Auryn Quartets
The Wihan Quartet
Leoš Čepický violin Jan Schulmeister violin Jiří Žigmund viola Aleš Kaspřík cello
The Wihan Quartet is one of the major ensembles to have emerged from the great school of Czech playing in recent years. Founded in 1985, it is still made up of the original four members. Regular performers at Music at the Castle, the Wihan has developed an outstanding reputation for the interpretation of its native Czech repertoire as well as classical, romantic and modern masterpieces.
The Fitzwilliam String Quartet
Founded in 1968 by four Cambridge undergraduates, the Fitzwilliam was one of the first of a long line of distinguished quartets to have emerged under the guidance of Sidney Griller at the Royal Academy of Music. The quartet has performed and recorded extensively – their recordings of Shostakovich’s quartets were included in Gramophone magazine’s “Hundred Greatest-ever Recordings” in November 2005.
The Auryn Quartet
Matthias Lingenfelder violin Jens Oppermann violin Stewart Eaton viola Andreas Arndt cello
Founded in 1981, the spirit of friendship has been the driving force behind the Auryn Quartet: ‘…its members interact with a sensitivity that seems almost telepathic.’(The Washington Post). Having studied with the Amadeus and Guarneri Quartets, the ensemble has developed into one of the most important quartets of its generation, performing regularly in the world’s major concert halls.
5–7 April 2009
(MV 262)
3 days •
from £690