Vlach Quartet

The Vlach Quartet (Czech: Vlachovo kvarteto) is the name of two consecutive classical string quartet musical ensembles, based in Prague, which are linked by family tradition (father and daughter) in the Vlach family. The original Vlach Quartet was founded in 1949 and wound up in 1975. In 1982 the New Vlach Quartet (Nové Vlachovo kvarteto) was founded with guidance from the original founder, and came to be known as the Vlach Quartet of Prague (Vlachovo kvarteto Praha). It is still active as a highly esteemed musical ensemble.

The personnel of the original Vlach Quartet in the period 1949-1975 were:

Josef Vlach (Ratměřice, 8 June 1923 - 17 October 1988) was a violinist, conductor and teacher in Prague. He shared the principal violin desk of the Czech Chamber Orchestra (as it existed under Václav Talich), with Jiri Novak, leader of the Smetana Quartet. In 1949 he founded the Vlach Quartet with members of the Orchestra. Over the next 25 years they made a significant contribution in the interpretation of classical and Czech literature for string quartet, both in concerts and in recording, for which they had a contract with Supraphon Records. The original quartet was internationally admired for its authentic, powerful and rhythmically solid performances. In 1957 Josef Vlach also re-formed the Czech Chamber Orchestra.

The New Vlach Quartet was founded in 1982 by Jana Vlachová, the daughter of Josef Vlach. She had played in a string quartet from childhood under her father's guidance and won first prize in the Concertino Praga international competition at age 14. She graduated from studies with M. Hlounová at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, chose to concentrate on chamber music, and formed a duo with the Swedish cellist Mikael Ericsson in 1977. He had studied in Copenhagen, attended master-classes by G. Fallot and Gregor Piatigorsky, and studied in Prague with Josef Chuchro. He also has a recording career as a soloist. Karel Stadtherr, violinist, had performed with the Suk Chamber Orchestra (in contact with Josef Vlach) and was Konzertmeister of the Prague Chamber Orchestra Without Conductor. Petr Verner studied solo viola at the Prague Academy under L. Malý, Milan Škampa and J. Pěruška, and chamber music with Josef Vlach.

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