Krása, Ančerl, Schulhoff：Youth

Krása Quartet, a young ensemble specializing in music by Jewish authors from the Terezín Ghetto, are releasing their debut album, with compositions by Hans Krása, Ervín Schulhoff and Karel Ančerl. Krása’s Theme with Variations and his String Quartet, Schulhoff’s Divertimento for String Quartet and Ančerl’s Two Student Fugues all come from early stages of these composers’ careers, before the political events in the aftermath of the First World War drastically affected their lives. In 2012, four young musicians who met during their studies at the Prague Conservatory decided to found their own ensemble. The members of Krása Quartet – Marie Forestová (cello), Šárka Petříková (first violin), Jan Palouček (second violin) and Daniel Menhart (viola) – were then of similar age as these authors would have been while working on their early compositions. Now, having gained experience performing at festivals in Czechia and abroad and participating in master classes (Pavel Haas Quartet, Hagen Quartet), the quartet are relaesing their debut album. Besides quartet classics, such as, for example, works by Ludwig van Beethoven, the ensemble’s repertoire encompasses 20th-century music, with special emphasis on works of Hans Krása and other Terezín authors. Krása Quartet regularly collaborate with foremost instrumentalists, including pianists Jan Bartoš and Marek Kozák, as well as with choirs and dance ensembles. For several years, the ensemble performed as part of the ballet production Vertigo at the National Theatre in Prague.

01. Krása Quartet – Theme with Variations for String Quartet
02. Krása Quartet – String Quartet, Op. 2 I. Moderato
03. Krása Quartet – Krása String Quartet, Op. 2 – II. Prestissimo, Op. 2 II. Prestissimo-Molto calmo-Volgare
04. Krása Quartet – String Quartet, Op. 2 III. Molto lento e tranquillo
05. Krása Quartet – Two Fugues, Op. 2 I. Andante
06. Krása Quartet – Two Fugues, Op. 2 II. Allegro
07. Krása Quartet – Divertimento for String Quartet, Op. 14 I. Lebhaft
08. Krása Quartet – Divertimento for String Quartet, Op. 14 II. Cavatine. Ruhig fliessend
09. Krása Quartet – Divertimento for String Quartet, Op. 14 III. Intermezzo. Nicht zu schnell
10. Krása Quartet – Divertimento for String Quartet, Op. 14 IV. Romanze. Ruhig fliessend
11. Krása Quartet – Divertimento for String Quartet, Op. 14 V. Rondo. Lebhaft