Czech Slovak Cello Quartet

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The program of this evening presents a rich mosaic of music across the centuries, blending Baroque elegance, Romantic lyricism, and contemporary composition. The Czech Slovak Cello Quartet demonstrates the extraordinary expressive possibilities of the cello – an instrument capable of both deep meditation and thrilling virtuosity.

The concert opens with Tack (Díky) by the contemporary Slovak composer Pavol Šimaj, a piece of delicate musical poetry that exploits the full spectrum of colors of four cellos. This is followed by a return to the Baroque with Bach’s Sarabande and Gavotte in D Major, where the pure musical language of the master of polyphony combines dance-like grace with spiritual depth. The Baroque theme is further enriched by Joseph Bodin de Boismortier’s Sonata in A minor, whose elegant melodies and stylistic lightness beautifully evoke the aesthetics of the French court.

The Romantic part of the program features Goltermann’s Serenade, Op. 119/2, a gentle and lyrical work reflecting the serene nobility of the late 19th century. A similar atmosphere is created by Fitzenhagen’s Ave Maria, Op. 41, a spiritually contemplative miniature that uses the cello’s velvety tone to express profound intimacy. Popper’s virtuosic Polonaise in D minor, Op. 14 provides a brilliant contrast, full of energy, dance-like flair, and technical demands typical of one of the greatest cello masters of the Romantic era.

The Slovak composer Ilja Zeljenka enriches the program with Música Eslovaca, in which folk inspiration blends with modern harmonic language and rhythmic vitality. The highlight of the evening is Roman Haas’s Visegrád Quartet, a contemporary composition reflecting the shared cultural roots of Central European countries. The work merges tradition with new sonic possibilities and showcases the rich sonority of four cellos.

The performance by Jiří Hanousek, Eugen Prochác, Ján Slávik, and Aleš Kaspřík promises an exceptional experience – a combination of masterful technique, extensive chamber music expertise, and deep understanding of musical styles, creating a fascinating world of the cello quartet.

Pavol Šimaj
Tack (Díky)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Sarabanda a Gavotta D dur
Joseph Bodin de Boismortier
Sonáta a moll
Georg Goltermann
Serenáda op. 119/2
Ilja Zeljenka
Música Eslovaca
Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Fitzenhagen
Ave Maria op. 41
David Popper
Polonéza d moll op. 14
Roman Haas
Visegrádský kvartet

Jiří Hanousek, Eugen Prochác, Ján Slávik, Aleš Kaspřík: violoncello