Reviews
Triumphant Pražák Quartet with Jiří Vodička and François Dumont
Klasika Plus, 16th April 2025
"The very first movement, simply titled Rhythmically, captivated with the remarkable esprit of Milhaud's invention, excited interpretation, and marvelous transformation of dynamics."
CD: the Pražák Quartet plays Franck and Dvořák
ON Mag, June 8th 2022
"In their new album, Pražák brings together Franck and Dvořák, a singular rapprochement between two musicians who have everything in common but who perhaps find themselves in the in-depth work on the theme. The motivic concentration of the former, where everything stems from the same theme, is echoed in the latter by an abundant melodic vein. They also share a concern to preserve the music's "national" character. This is illustrated by the spontaneity of the playing of the present performers."
CD: the Pražák Quartet plays Franck and Dvořák
ON Mag, June 8th 2022
"In their new album, Pražák brings together Franck and Dvořák, a singular rapprochement between two musicians who have everything in common but who perhaps find themselves in the in-depth work on the theme. The motivic concentration of the former, where everything stems from the same theme, is echoed in the latter by an abundant melodic vein. They also share a concern to preserve the music's "national" character. This is illustrated by the spontaneity of the playing of the present performers."
The audience received the musically powerful performance of Jiří Vodička and the Pražák Quartet with enthusiastic applause.
Opera Plus, 18th April 2025
“The Pražák Quartet is a brand of the highest quality, which guarantees a top level of interpretation since the late 1970s, i.e. for almost fifty years. The ensemble changed three-quarters of its personnel in the period 2015–2021. Only violist Josef Klusoň , the leader of the ensemble, remained from the original line-up. The artistic ensemble has proven artistic values worthy of its name in the pieces it has performed, which has also confirmed that the level of the Czech quartet school has long reached the highest international standards.”
Outstanding late Haydn from a re-energised quartet
The Strad, June 2022
"The recordings, from Prague’s familiar Domovina Studio are superb. Enthusiastically recommended."
Full and transparent tones: the new Prazak Quartet asserts itself in Haydn
Musikzen, October 15 2021
“In the quartet in G, Op. 77 No. 1, one of Haydn's most recorded, the Prazaks are among those who rise to the top, with sounds that are both full and transparent and a beautiful rhythmic scansion at the beginning.”
Bittersweet farewell
ORF, October 15 2021
“The Prazák Quartet rises to its full potential once again: virtuosic and versatile, with tremendous discipline and technical perfection, the musicians approach the final works of the classic composer. Lively, colorful and expressive, they demonstrate a perfectly balanced sound mix, skillfully balancing understatement and exuberance.”
Prazak Quartet with gripping interpretations
Pizzicato, 4th June 2022
“Since the 2003 recording with Dora Schwarzberg, Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Lida Chen and Alexander Gurning I have not heard César Franck’s much underplayed Piano Quintet in such a passionate and intense interpretation as in this new recording by the Prazak Quartet and François Dumont at the piano. They offer an electrifying interpretation of this composition.
The Prazak Quartet then returns once again to Dvorak’s 14th Quartet, Op. 105, which they play with great energy while emphasizing its pure musicality. Poetry, lyricism, enchanting dialogue, frenetic dance whirls, all give Dvorak’s music the heartiness from which it draws its power. Thus Dvorak’s music gains much in relief and depth, transcends the purely descriptive-folk and becomes great music.”
CD Review
“In these three mature works which are surprising in their freshness, daring and humor, the Pražák Quartet captivates with its sumptuous sound. What a core, and what a rush under these nourished, long lines, vibrant and soft! Far from the dry heights of the Mosaïques (Naïve), the Czech ensemble asserts its sensuality, which it compensates, however, with its semper moderato e grazioso character. The elegant tempos (Allegro Moderato from the Quartet No. 1 op. 77), the subtle play of lighting, colors and dynamics (breathtaking pianissimos in the Minuet of the Quartet No. 2 op. 77) bring a great deal of modesty and restraint to this reading, even when the time of relaxation arrives (more than playful panache in the Minuet of the Quartet No. 1)!”
A Resonant Rebirth
Coburg, October 3 2022
“Pražák Quartet combines technical perfection with a sense of beautiful sound. Coburg's music lovers are thrilled.
The start of the Society of Music Lovers' Yellow Series couldn't have been more successful. It was a sensational and intellectually as well as musically challenging concert evening, celebrated by the resurrected Pražák Quartet. The ensemble's rebirth didn't occur in the manner of a phoenix rising from the ashes, i.e. by remaining as before, but rather in a clever rejuvenation by players who are both highly talented and interactive.”