Dvořák A. Chamber Works (Piano Quartets and Quintets, String Quintets and Sextet) (4CD)

CD 1

Antonín Dvořák - String Quintet No. 1 in A minor for two violins, two violas and cello, Op. 1 (B 7, 1861, rev. 1887?) 26:18

1 I. Adagio. Allegro, ma non troppo 9:41

2 II. Lento 7:13

3 III. Allegro scherzando 9:17

Antonín Dvořák - String Quintet No. 3 in E flat major for two violins, two violas and cello, Op. 97 (B 180, 1893) 32:02

4 I. Allegro non tanto 8:37

5 II. Allegro vivo 5:44

6 III. Larghetto 9:59

7 IV. Finale. Allegro giusto 7:31

Josef Klusoň - viola, Panocha Quartet

CD 2

Antonín Dvořák - String Quintet No. 2 in G major for two violins, viola, cello and double-bass, Op. 77 (B 49, 1875, rev. 1888) 33:29

1 I. Allegro con fuoco 10:52

2 II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace 7:55

3 III. Poco andante 7:45

4 IV. Finale. Allegro assai 6:46

5 Antonín Dvořák - Intermezzo (Nocturne) for two violins, viola, cello and double-bass (Andante religioso) 4:22

Antonín Dvořák - Sextet in A major for two violins, two violas and two cellos, Op. 48 (B 80, 1878) 32:46

6 I. Allegro moderato 13:47

7 II. Dumka. Poco allegretto 6:11

8 III. Furiant. Presto 4:13

9 IV. Finale. Tema con variazioni. Allegretto grazioso, quasi andantino 8:24

Pavel Nejtek - double-bass (1-5), Josef Klusoň - viola (6-9), Michal Kaňka - cello (6-9), Panocha Quartet

CD 3

Antonín Dvořák - Quintet No. 1 in A major for piano, two violins, viola and cello, Op. 5 (B 28, 1872, rev. 1887) 28:40

1 I. Allegro ma non troppo 8:39

2 II. Andante sostenuto 10:05

3 III. Finale. Allegro con brio 9:49

Antonín Dvořák - Quintet No. 2 in A major for piano, two violins, viola and cello, Op. 81 (B 155, 1887) 41:22

4 I. Allegro ma non tanto 15:05

5 II. Dumka. Andante con moto 13:48

6 III. Scherzo (Furiant). Molto vivace 4:40

7 IV. Finale. Allegro 7:40

Jan Panenka - piano, Panocha Quartet

CD 4

Antonín Dvořák - Quartet No. 1 in D major for piano, violin, viola and cello, Op. 23 (B 53, 1875) 34:24

1 I. Allegro moderato 16:09

2 II. Andantino, con variazioni 10:55

3 III. Finale. Allegretto scherzando 7:10

Antonín Dvořák - Quartet No. 2 in E flat major for piano, violin, viola and cello, Op. 87 (B 162, 1889) 36:22

4 I. Allegro con fuoco 8:16

5 II.Lento 10:31

6 III. Allegro moderato, grazioso 7:35

7 IV. Finale. Allegro, ma non troppo 9:49

Josef Koďousek - viola, Suk Trio

Panocha Quartet: Jiří Panocha - 1st violin, Pavel Zejfart - 2nd violin, Miroslav Sehnoutka - viola, Jaroslav Kulhan - cello

Suk Trio: Josef Hála - piano, Josef Suk - violin, Josef Chuchro - cello

Following the extremely successful Dvorak string quartets set (SU38152138), the internationally renowned Panocha Quartet - celebrating this year its incredible 40th anniversary of performing in the original line-up - plays the main role in this set too.

The four CDs comprise piano quartets and quintets, string quintets and a string sextet. In terms of Dvorak's oeuvre, this selection virtually spans his entire creative lifetime, from the composition the author designated with the opus number 1 (String Quintet in A minor, B 7) to pieces from the composer's late period. On these recordings, which we can safely say are truly timeless, the Panocha Quartet is supported by artists of the calibre of Josef Suk, Jan Panenka, Josef Hala and Josef Chuchro. This is chamber Dvorak as he is well known at home, in America and Japan.

(Supraphon 2008)