The Janáček Quartet was founded in 1947 and is still playing. All of the positions are now occupied by the second or third generation, but this period makes the quartet one of the oldest quartets in the world. They were founded by students of the conservatory in Brno with the intention of playing works by their countryman Leoš Janáček. And here they are, presenting us with a beautiful performance of Dvořák’s most famous chamber work, the American quartet, along with the 9th, composed 16 years earlier.
I have many recordings of the American quartet because I really like the work. When I see it, I want to compare performances. So far I’m still tending to the first one I’ve heard the first time, and it is not this one. It is the best performance I’ve written about so far though, so I guess I’m getting better at finding the right ones. I’m a slow learner.