Czech fare from the Wihan Quartet at Bradfield Festival

Star performers and a smart program offer an insightful look at a neglected composer.

The Wihan Quartet was formed in 1985 in Czechoslovakia. Since then they have developed an impressive international career, often visiting the UK and being broadcast on its airwaves. Among their achievements is a published recording of Dvořák’s String Quartet no. 11, and it was this recording, not their continued and celebrated presence in the UK, that first brought them to my attention.

This was one of two concerts to celebrate the Wihan Quartet's 25th anniversary. Both were at London’s Wigmore Hall which has become the ideal venue for young and established groups on the International scene playing chamber music for all sorts of combinations.

For the first of their pair of 25th Anniversary concerts at the Wigmore Hall, the Wihan Quartet chose a programme of three quartets from their native Czech, from Martinů, Dvořák and Smetana. You might have expected four musicians from Czech to have an affinity for this work, and you would not have been disappointed.

Malgré le choix étonnant de l'amplification des voix qui restera une énigme pendant toute la soirée, le programme révèle les charmes d'une musique rarement donnée avenue Montaigne.

Une formidable équipe de jeunes musiciens a livré un passionnant concert russe (Rachmaninov-Schnittke-Tchaïkovski) dont le point d'orgue fut le lumineux Sextuor « Souvenir de Florence » de Tchaïkovski.