Skampa Quartet

Like so many upstart ensembles to come out of Eastern Europe, the Skampa Quartet found its beginnings while the members were students – in this case, at the Prague Academy in 1989. Only four short years later, the group gave its debut performance at London's Wigmore Hall and became the hall's artists-in-residence for the following five years. Its captivating energy and rapport with audience is frequently cited among its strengths. Whether this particular performance represents an off night for the quartet, or whether the performance really loses something when not viewed live is anyone's guess, but this live 2006 recording does not live up to its Wigmore Hall accolades.

The Czech Republic's Skampa Quartet is a veteran group that has previously recorded the Dvorák String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 ("American"), as well as other major Czech and Western works. But in this version for England's Champs Hill label, everything comes together for an exceptional chamber music performance. For one thing, the work is paired not with another quartet but with the String Quintet No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 97 (played here with Belcea Quartet violist Krzysztof Chorzelski), another work written during the composer's American sojourn.

Few chamber music groups have as proud a history as the Smetana Quartet, or a history that evokes as much nationalistic passion. Founded during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, the group's very existence was an anomaly during an era when any manifestation of Czech nationalism was outlawed. They survived into the post-Nazi era, and went on to an acclaimed international performing career, making some of the finest chamber music recordings of the 1950s and 1960s…

The Jubilee Quartet, formed in 2006 and named so as all the members lived along the route London’s Jubilee underground line, have studied with such illustrious figures from the world of chamber music as Gunter Pichler, Thomas Brandis, Garfield Jackson and the Belcea String Quartet. They have participated in masterclasses with the Skampa, Wihan and Chilingirian Quartets. They have an impressive tally of prizes from international chamber music competitions and have a busy international schedule. Their debut album features three Haydn quartets which, as ever with this composer are brim-full of innovation, drama and wide-ranging emotions.