Jan Talich, Jr., violin
Petr Macecek, violin
Vladimir Bukac, viola
Petr Prause, cello
For several decades, the Talich Quartet has been recognized internationally as one of Europe’s finest chamber ensembles, and as the embodiment of the great Czech musical tradition. The Quartet was founded in 1964 by Jan Talich, during his studies at the Prague Conservatory, and named for his uncle Vaclav Talich, the renowned chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. Over the decade of the 1990s, there was a gradual and complete change in personnel, rejuvenating the Quartet while continuing the tradition of its predecessors through involvement in a wide spectrum of musical engagements and recording activities. Jan Talich Jr., the current first violinist, is the son of the Quartet’s founder.
The Talich Quartet is regularly invited to 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; and frequently visits such venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall, le Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, and London’s Wigmore Hall. Highlights of the 2005-2006 concert season include appearances in Rome, Boogna, Paris, Prague, Dresden and Rotterdam; extensive tours of the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico and Japan, and the Quartet’s 13th tour of North America.
The Talich’s recordings of the complete string quartets by Felix Mendelssohn, released on the Calliope label between 2001and 2004, have been widely praised. Other recent recording projects include, also for Calliope, Dvorak’s “American” quartet and viola quintet (2003), Smetana’s two string quartets (2003), and the soon-to-be-released Janacek Quartets in celebration of the Year of Czech Music.
Jan Talich - violin (Joseph Gagliano, 1780)
Petr Macecek - violin (Francesco Ruggieri, 1694)
Vladimir Bukac - viola (family Guadagnini, c.1740)
Petr Prause - cello (Januarius Gagliano, 1795)
Individual Biographies
JAN TALICH , violin, is a member of the Czech Republic's premier musical family and son of the founder of the Talich Quartet. He has been honored throughout Europe as both a soloist and chamber musician, winning numerous distinctions and prizes. He is the founder and director of the Talich Chamber Orchestra, and is particularly noted for his recordings of Czech music. He studied at the Prague Conservatory and in the United States and England.
PETR MACECEK , violin, has served as concertmaster of the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the Slovak Chamber Orchestra and the Suk Chamber Orchestra, of which he was also artistic director. A graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, his numerous awards include the Special Prize at the Henryk Wieniawski Competition in Poland. He has recorded for Naxos, Vox Classics, and Koch.
VLADIMIR BUKAC , viola, has served as first violin of the Czech Philharmonic, as concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra of the Music University Prague, and as a member of the Prague Chamber Orchestra and the Suk Chamber Orchestra. He has had solo engagements in Australia and New Zealand, and from 1990 to 1993 he lived in Japan, where he performed and toured as a soloist and chamber musician. his recordings include the complete Suites for Solo Viola by Max Reger (Calliope). He is a graduate of the Prague Conservatory, and also studied in Freiburg.
PETR PRAUSE , cello, has served as first cello in the Prague Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, been a member of numerous orchestras including the Beethoven Chamber Orchestra and Czech National Symphony, and performed as soloist with orchestras in France, Germany, Denmark, England, and throughout eastern Europe. A graduate of the Prague Academy of Performing Arts, he also attended the Menuhin Academy in Swtizerland, and won top honors at the Guildhall School of Music in London.
