Trávníčkovo kvarteto

The Trávníček Quartet was founded in 1972 at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts on the initiative of violist Jan Juřík. The quartet built upon the artistic legacy of the Janáček Quartet — all members of the Trávníček Quartet had studied solo performance under members of the Janáček Quartet, while their chamber music training was guided by the Janáček Quartet’s second violinist, Associate Professor Adolf Sýkora. Even the ensemble’s name paid tribute to the artistic legacy of the prematurely deceased first violinist of the Janáček Quartet, Associate Professor Jiří Trávníček. From its founding and throughout its most successful era, the quartet performed in the following lineup: Vladimír Kovář (first violin), Víťezslav Zavadilík (second violin), Jan Juřík (viola), and Antonín Gál (cello). Between 1988 and 1994, the quartet’s first violinist was Alexander Jablokov. Since 1977, the Trávníček Quartet had been active as a professional ensemble in Banská Bystrica. Following the example of their teachers, the quartet members performed their concerts entirely from memory. Just one year after its establishment, the quartet became a laureate of the performance competition in Kroměříž, and later received further awards at competitions both at home and abroad. The ensemble performed in almost every European country, as well as in Africa, the United States, Mexico, and Japan. The ensemble collaborated with Slovak Radio and Slovak Television, producing numerous recordings for domestic and international music publishers. The quartet also collaborated with many Slovak and international performers and ensembles, including Marián Lapšanský, Ema Schmidt, Christian Elsas, Maria Morais, Valentína Kameníková, Jose Luis Lopategui, Rudolf Rokl, Ken Arra, and the Janáček Quartet. In 1994, the ensemble temporarily suspended its artistic activities. Later, the quartet continued under the artistic direction of its founder, violist Jan Juřík — a teacher and founder of the viola class at the Ján Levoslav Bella Conservatory and the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica. Alongside classical chamber music, the quartet also included works from the field of popular music in its repertoire, performing not only on classical concert stages but also at various social events.