The Wihan Quartet, formed in 1985, are heirs to the great Czech musical tradition. The Quartet’s outstanding reputation for the interpretation of its native Czech heritage and of the many classical, romantic and modern masterpieces of the string quartet repertoire is widely acknowledged.
August 2012
****
“the Wihan Quartet can sound modest, even retiring. But their more introverted approach also has a ring of authenticity. This is not so much a Schubert of grandeur and extremes, but of subtle shades of mood and confidential asides...Not an outright winner, perhaps, but a disc that's worth hearing more than once”
August 2012
“The remastering of the concert has inevitably deadened the sound somewhat...This isn't ultimately necessarily a bad thing - it brings an immediacy to the recording that makes it feel like a live performance at home.”
June 2012
“these are two of the finest accounts of this music that I have ever encountered: virtuosic, eminently stylish and exceptionally sensitive to the blend of haunting lyricism and sweeping intensity that stamps the music. Most striking in the Wihan Quartet's playing is its rhythmic flexibility...From the opening of 'Death and the Maiden', one's attention becomes riveted...Exceptionally commanding performances.”
April 2013
“One can only imagine the amount of hard work and preparation that has gone into these assured performances...the Wihan demonstrate fiercely committed playing. There is a ferocity, near violence, about the writing; something not usually associated with Schubert.”
13th May 2012
“There have been fine recordings of these two haunting quartets...but none that I have enjoyed more than these beautiful performances...The Wihan take their time with the D minor, Death and the Maiden — even the demonic presto finale is given more space than usual — but this allows Schubert’s marvellous harmonies and expressive part-writing to register fully”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
