Dvorak: Drobnosti (Miniatures) for two violins and viola.

Dvorak Drobnosti (Miniatures) for two violins and viola op. 75a Malickosti (Bagatelles) for two violins, cello and harmonium op. 47 Tercet (Terzetto) in C major for two violins and viola op. 74 Josef Suk Quartet for piano, violin, viola and cello, op. 1 Josef Suk, Miroslav Ambrog--violin, Karel Untermuller--viola, Jiri Barta--cello, Jan Simon--harmonium, piano. Production: Matous Vlcinsky. Text: Eng., Ger., Fr., Cz. Recorded: 10-11/2008, studio Bohemia Music, Prague. Published: 2009. TT: 73:24. DDD. 1 CD Supraphon SU 3976 2.

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If you remember the violinist Josef Suk's year of birth (1929), then this recording will strike you as quite phenomenal. Suk is playing in excellent condition, showing his crystalline intonation and typical expressive form on ever/recording. In a nutshell, this is a CD full of light, wisdom, playfulness and joy in music-making. The last is especially important, because all the pieces here are part of the repertoire known as Hausmusik. Many of you have must have had the same experience with this kind of music as I have; as amateurs or students at music schools you must have played kilogrammes of quartet or trio Haydns, Stamics, Mozarts ... and perhaps also Dvoraks. There are few pieces of music that speak to us as intimately and touch our hearts so surely as Dvorak's Bagatelles, which Josef Suk has happily decided to record in the original version with harmonium, or Miniatures, which are better known in the version for violin and piano as Romantic Pieces. The first quartet by the violinist's grandfather is music of a slightly different calibre. Nonetheless it is a work from the period of the composer's studies, is interesting and contains some melodically superb passages. Under Dvorak's influence, it has a firm structure, is not entirely easy, but still speaks to the Czech soul in a familiar tone and will immediately appeal.

To work with him Josef Suk has invited musicians who are kindred in spirit and approach. Miroslav Ambros is the symbol of the future here, while Jiri Barta, Jan Simon and Karel Untermuller, are all--each in his own way--a mirror of a mature present. Suk has abundant experience with them, and so this CD is a kind of high point in their common music-making and corner stone of a generation. It is possible that you too will final this CD balm to the soul My only criticism is the quality of the Petrof piano in the studio. Even though Jan Simon is a brilliant pianist, be can't turn it into the Steinway or Bosendorfer that would probably suit this music better.