Smetana Quartet

views updated

Smetana Quartet. Cz. string quartet formed in 1945 by students of J. Micka at Prague Cons. Début Prague, Nov. 1945. First va. player was Václav Neumann, who left in 1946 to pursue cond. career. First tour abroad (Poland) 1950. London début 1955, Salzburg 1955, NY 1957. Quartets by Dvořák, Janáček and Smetana were basis of repertory. Many recordings. Disbanded 1989.