The Pavel Haas Quartet, one of today’s most critically acclaimed chamber music ensembles, makes its UGA Presents debut March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Hodgson Concert Hall.
The group, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022, was named in that year by BBC Music Magazine to its list of the 10 greatest string quartets of all time—alongside the Emerson String Quartet, which appeared in Hodgson Concert Hall in January 2023.
The Pavel Haas Quartet will play lush, Romantic music by two composers from its native Czech Republic, Antonin Dvořák and Josef Suk. They will also perform a quartet by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, creator of scores for such Hollywood classics as “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” “Captain Blood” and “The Sea Hawk.”
The quartet is known across the globe for its richness of timbre, infectious passion and intuitive rapport. Their most recent recording of Brahms Quintets Opp. 34 & 111, featuring violist Pavel Nikl—a founding member of the ensemble—and pianist Boris Giltburg, was released in 2022 and garnered instant critical acclaim, including from BBC Music, which stated, “the String Quintet is sharing the undoubtedly thrilling qualities of innate ensemble playing, strong instinct for tempo and the sense of sheer love for the music.”
The quartet received Gramophone Awards for their recordings of Smetana, Schubert, Janáček and Haas, as well as Dvořák’s String Quartets No.12 “American” and No.13 (to be performed in Athens), for which they were awarded the most coveted prize, Gramophone Recording of the Year in 2011. The Sunday Times commented: “their account of the ‘American’ Quartet belongs alongside the greatest performances on disc.” Further accolades include BBC Music Magazine Awards and the Diapason d’Or de l’Année in 2010 for their recording of Prokofiev String Quartets Nos 1 & 2.
The quartet is based in Prague and studied with the late Milan Skampa, the legendary violist of the Smetana Quartet. They take their name from the Czech composer Pavel Haas (1899-1944), who was imprisoned at Theresienstadt in 1941 and tragically died at Auschwitz three years later. His legacy includes three wonderful string quartets.
This performance is supported by Jed Rasula and Suzi Wong, and by Dr. Janice Simon. There is a pre-performance talk in Ramsey Concert Hall at 6:45 p.m. Admission is free.
Three ways to get tickets
- Purchase tickets online at pac.uga.edu.
- Call the Performing Arts Center box office at 706-542-4400, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center box office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (five-minute parking is available in the drop off circle at the Performing Arts Center for purchasing or picking up tickets.)
Ticket buyers can create a series of three performances for 20% off. Single tickets begin at $25, and UGA student tickets are just $10. Parking is free.
To learn more about all UGA Performing Arts Center events, visit pac.uga.edu.