Janacek’s String Quartet; No. 1 was inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s The

Kreutzer Sonata, a novel that deals passionately with the subjects of

infidelity and betrayal. Tolstoy’s novel was in turn inspired by

Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 41 (“Kreutzer”). The

quartet presents a unique sonority in the world ofstring quartets

by combining harmonic freedom, complex rhythms, and astounding expressive intensity with constant references to Moravian folk 

music.

Beethoven is purported to have said to his friend, Karl Holz, that

his Quartet, Opus 131 was his favorite. Holz was present when

Schubert heard the quartet for the first time, and reported that the

latter “fell into such a state of excitement and enthusiasm that we

were all frightened for him.” The quartet is unprecedented in

length, with seven movements that are played without pause, yet

its musical structure is highly organized and tightly packed. Richard Wagner, especially moved by the last movement, wrote: “This

is the fury of the world’s dance: fierce pleasure, agony, ecstasy of

love, joy, anger, passion, and suffering; lightning flashes and thunder rolls; and above the tumult the indomitable fiddler whirls us on

to the abyss.”

-Program notes by Melvin Berger,

edited by Alain Fancal, Ida Levin, and Elmer Booze

March 1998

1 National Gallery Orchestra

George Manos, conductor

Delius:

Dvorak:

Schumann:

On Hearing the

First Cuckoo in

Spring

Scherzo capriccioso

Symphony No. 1

8 Christian Tetzlaff, violinist J. S. Bach: Partita No. 2

Sonata No. 3

Partita No. 3

The use ofcameras or recording equipment

during theperformance is not allowed.

Forthe convenience ofconcertgoers

the Garden Cafe remains open until 6:30pm.

The Fifty-sixth Season of

THE WILLIAM NELSON CROMWELL and

E LAMMOT BELIN CONCERTS

National Gallery of Art

2260th Concert

THE TALIGH STRING QUARTET

Jan Talich Jr., violin Vladimir Bukac, violin

Jan Talich Sr., viola Petr Prause, cello

Sunday Evening, February 22, 1998

at Seven O’Clock

West Building, West Garden Court

Admission Free
PROGRAM

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Quartet in D Major, K. 575

(1756-1791) (1789)

Allegretto

Andante

Menuetto: Allegretto

Allegretto

Leos Janacek String Quartet No. 1

(1854-1928) (After Tolstoy: “The Kreutzer Sonata”)

(1923)

Adagio con moto

Vivace

Andante; con moto

Adagio

INTERMISSION

Ludwig van Beethoven Quartet in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131

(1770-1827) (1826)

Adagio, ma non troppo e molto espressivo

Allegro molto vivace

Allegro moderato

Andante, ma non troppo e molto cantabile

Presto

Adagio quasi un poco andante

Allegro

The TALICH QUARTET takes its name from the noted conductor and founder of the Czech Philharmonic, Vaclav Talich, to

whom two of the current members of the quartet are related.

Formed at the Prague Conservatory in 1964, the quartet is recognized as one ofEurope’s finest and performs regularly in major cities throughout the world. During its 1987 North American debut

and its seven subsequent American tours, the Talich has won accolades for its subtle and elegant interpretations ofthe string quartet

repertoire. The quartet is particularly noted for its interpretations

of the great Czech composers Smetana, Dvorak, Martinu, and

Janacek, and it has recorded many of their works on the Calliope

label. The Talich’s many other recordings have garnered numerous

awards, including a Golden Disc from Supraphon and several Grands

prix du disque and Diapasons d’or. The ensemble appears at the National Gallery by arrangement with Melvin Kaplan, Incorporated, of

Burlington, Vermont.

First violinist JAN TALICH Jr. and violist JAN TALICH Sr. are

both members ofa family ofCzech musicians who have been prominentsince the eighteenth century. Jan Talich Sr. founded the Talich

Quartet in 1964 and has devoted his career to it ever since. He was

its first violinist until 1972, at which time he became its violist. As

a soloist, he is particularly noted for his interpretation of

Shostakovich’s viola sonatas. Jan Talich Jr. has been honored throughout Europe as both a soloist and chamber musician, winning numerous distinctions and prizes. He is founder and director of the

Talich Chamber Orchestra, and his recordings ofCzech music enjoy a wide following. He studied at the Prague Conservatory and in

the United States and England.

Violinist VLADIMIR BUKAC had a varied musical career before

joining the Talich Quartet. As a member and violin soloist of the

Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, he toured throughout Japan. He

served as a first violinist with the Czech Philharmonic, was concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra at the University of Prague, and

was a member ofthe Prague and SukChamber Orchestras. Agraduate of the Prague Conservatory, he also studied in Freiburg, Germany.

PETR PRAUSE has served as first cellist in the Prague Czech

Radio Symphony Orchestra and has been a member of numerous

orchestras, including the Beethoven Chamber Orchestra and the

Czech National Symphony. He has performed as soloist with orchestras in France, Denmark, England, and eastern Europe. He

completed his undergraduate music training in Prague, after which

he won top honors at the Guildhall School of Music in London.

Published in Vienna in 1789, Mozart’s Quartet in D Major, K 575

was written at the request of King Frederick of Prussia, who was an 

excellent cellist. The principal subject of the first movement is

stated by the first violin and cello, followed by the second theme,

which is introduced by the cello alone. The movement proceeds

with a spirit that is animated and optimistic. The second movement features an imitative dialogue among the four instruments,

while the third presents muscular sforzati, presaging the quartets

of Beethoven. The trio of this menuetto features a lyrical melody, 

entrusted to the cello as it sings high above its normal range. The

Finale is a rondo, with the principal subject quoted from the first

movement.