In one box only, main part of the Schubert spirit legacy (1934-1962) of the Budapest’s: four last string quartets (three played on the Stradivari instruments from the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Collection and recorded live at the Library of Congress, Washington DC) and Trout Quintet. These new CD transfers throughout are the best as possible.

En un simple boîtier, une part du testament ‘schubertien’ (1934-62) du Quatuor de Budapest: cet ensemble formé de russes émigrés qui révéla au public du Nouveau Monde la philosophie profonde des Quatuors de Beethoven de même que ceux de Schubert, à l’humeur parfois sombre, contrastant avec l’hymne à la joie et à l’amitié qu’est le Quintette La Truite, exploitant un Lied aussi libre, brillant et ondoyant que l’amitié partagée qu’il illustre. La résurrection d’un corpus enivrant par son humanité profonde.

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PRD 250 386

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This last album is completing all the Brahms collection as performed by the Budapest Quartet, They succeeded in imposing chamber music by the composer of Ein deutsches Requiem on a musical world (USA) which only had ears for Beethoven. It served as a model for a whole generation of musicians such as Berg, Pražák and Kocian, who in turn followed on from the likes of Julliard and Vegh. This is a tribute to Rudolf Serkin (1903-91), the great American pianist born Hungarian and educated in Vienna.

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PRD 250 390

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On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, Praga Digitals presents a box-set of 30 key discs that retrace the history of the label. These include rereleases of some of the house’s great names, such as the Pražák, the Kocian, the Zemlinsky and the Párkányí, but also the magnificent restorations of the historic recordings of Mravinsky, Furtwängler, Oistrakh and Richter.
The selection draws from the label’s preferred repertory, from Czech music to the Second Viennese School, via Brahms, Schubert, Janáček, but also Debussy, Ravel, Mahler, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, without forgetting the composer who was perhaps most championed by the catalogue, Bartók. This box-set is thus an opportunity to reinstate some of the finest discs in the catalogue, from among those that contributed to making Praga Digitals one of the greatest catalogues of chamber music and one of the references as regards aural beauty, in a limited and remastered edition

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PRD 250 421

==> CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS BOXSET ON THE PRAGA DIGITALS ONLINE STORE

The first great French piano quintet, the Quintet in F minor by César Franck was completed in 1879 and premiered in January 1880. Of until then unparalleled intensity and lyricism in the French chamber repertory, it would act as a renewal of the latter, opening the way to Chausson, d’Indy and Fauré, and it also renewed the style of Franck himself, inaugurating a rich period of great masterpieces. The Pražák Quartet and François Dumont celebrate the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth with this masterpiece of expressive power.

The Pražák complete the programme with the last of Dvořák’s string quartets, composed on his return home after three years in the USA. Among the myriad subtleties of expression and colour we find the same lyrical inspiration that animates Franck’s Quintet. Both works are performed with fervour, magnificence and beauty of sound by the players.

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250 422

The PRAŽÁK Quartet, one of the most eminent modern quartets and a major heir to the Czech tradition, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022! 
On this occasion, Praga Digitals is presenting a limited edition anniversary box set of 50 CDs featuring all the recordings made between 1992 and 2018 under the guidance of the late Pierre Émile Barbier, founder of the label. 
This exceptional box set traces the ensemble's journey in its "historic" formation, comprising Václav Remeš (followed by Pavel Hůla from 2010 onwards) on first violin, Vlastimil Holek on second, Josef Klusoň on viola, and Michal Kaňka on 'cello - prior to its near-complete re-configuration in 2020. 
At the heart of the programme are the complete quartets of Beethoven and the very first complete recording of the works of the Second Viennese School (Schoenberg, Berg, Webern), Czech repertoire (Dvořák, Smetana, Janáček, Martinů) and Viennese Classicism (Haydn, Mozart), as well as German Romanticism (Schubert, Brahms, Schumann, Mendelssohn), the Russians (Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich), but also Strauss, Mahler, Zemlinsky, Schulhoff...  
Their partners include Vanda Tabery and Christine Whittlesey (soprano), Pascal Moraguès (clarinet), Jan Talich and Hatto Beyerle (viola), Jaroslav Tůma (harmonium), Ivan Klánský & Evgeni Koroliov (piano)...
The collaboration between the Pražák Quartet and Praga Digitals marks one of the most important epic ventures of modern recording, reminiscent of the golden age of the Amadeus, Juilliard or Alban Berg Quartets - a priceless legacy as much in terms of its scope as its artistry and sound quality, as well as its multiple awards: Diapason d'or, "Choc" (Classica), "10" (Répertoire), the Grand Prix of the Académie Charles Cros, Gramophone, The Strad... 
50 CDs for 50 years : Happy birthday and long live the PRAŽÁKS!

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PRD 250 425

==> CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS ALBUM ON OUR ONLINE STORE