Kucharsky String Quartet

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)

String Quartet in F Major Op. 96 “American” (Dvořák)

i Allegro ma non troppo, ii Lento, iii Molto Vivace, iv Vivace ma non troppo

Often considered the greatest Czech composer of classical music, Antonin Dvorak took over from his compatriot Bedrich Smetana (1824-84,) as the music voice of a region struggling for national identity in the face of prolongued rule by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Mentored by Brahms, he was reportedly such a fanatic for newly developing train travel that he once declared that he would “gladly trade all his symphonies in order to have been the inventory of the locomotiv steam engine.”

Alexander Borodin (1833-1887)

String Quartet No. 2 in D major (Borodin)

i Allegro moderato
ii Scherzo Andante
iii Notturno Andante
iv Finale, Vivace

Musically speaking, the Quartet in D Major was the beginning of the end for Borodin. It was written when he was in his late forties and at exactly the period when finding time for music was becoming nigh on impossible. As a successful chemist (in Russia, they refer to one particular reaction – that of silver salts with carboxylic acids and halogens – as the ‘Borodin Reaction’) he felt compelled to devote more and more of his time to his important scientific work, at the expense of his music.

Performers

Kucharsky String Quartet (String ensemble)

• Valeria Kucharsky - Violin
• Julia Clare - Violin
• Ursula John - Viola
• Nicola Tait Baxter - Cello

Firmly established as a quartet with a genuinely unique and fresh voice, the newly formed Kucharsky Quartet are performing and enchanting audiences with their luxurious sound, imagination and polish. Their performances have been described as “impressive, deeply moving and electrifying, their fresh and inspiring performances leaving no dust on well-known string quartet music.” It is no wonder that they are gaining a reputation as an exciting ensemble to hear.

The quartet have twice performed at Buckingham Palace, for private events hosted by members of the Royal Family and in music societies in and around London. Individually the players have performed in most of the top London ensembles and orchestras as well as performing as soloists worldwide.