About us

Kubin Quartet was established at Ostrava´s Conservatory in 1972 and it already celebrates 35 years of its artistic work in the season 2007-2008. Its artistic growth was strongly influenced by studies at Ostrava, Janacek and Smetana Quartets during years 1975-1985, when the quartet became a laureate of many national and international competition prices (Colmar, Portsmouth, Prague Spring). In years 1987-1992 the quartet was a chamber ensemble of Janáček Philharmony and the quartet members have been pedagogic employees of Janáček conservatory since 1982 and since 1990 also members of The University of Ostrava. Since the year 2006 Kubin Quartet has again been the chamber ensemble of Janáček Philharmony. In 2002 the ensemble was awarded the Price of the City of Ostrava for its longtime representation.

The Quartet has a large repertoire, which includes pieces of composers of all the styles from pre-classicism to contemporary music. The ensemble also cooperates with excellent national interpreters (for ex. I. Klánský, L. Peterková, L. Brabec, D. Foltýn) and international interpreters (Moyzes quartette, M. Lapšanský, J. Ehde, E. Røttingen). During its activity the quartet has performed at many significant festivals both home and abroad and nearly in all the European countries.

A regular cooperation with The Czech broadcast provided a rise of many valuable records. Interesting is also a long line of CDs (for ex. Haydn, Mozart, Nielsen, Janáček, Dvořák, Ditters...). Latest two CDs are: one with Six Quartettes by J. K. Vaňhal and the second with Quartettes by C. Stamitz, V. Novák and The Oboe Quintet by A. Rejcha with an oboist Dušan Foltýn. As a particularly valuable CD we can mention the record of String quartet II. by L. Janáček – Intimate letters, which was worked up in original composers version with a viola d´amore for fy SUPRAPHON. The viola d´amore part undertook an american interpreter J. A. Calabrese.

Since 2011 the Quartet has been joined by a violoncellist Jiří Hanousek when Jiří Zedníček because of health reasons ended his activity in the Quartet.