Jean-Marc Luisada (piano, France) and Talich Quartet (string quartet, Czech Republic)

On August 12, we invite all music lovers to Paliesius Manor for a concert by the French pianist Jean-Marc Luisada and the Talich Quartet from the Czech Republic. The Talich Quartet is renowned as one of the finest string quartets in the world, beautifully representing Czech musical art and traditions, while the charming J. M. Luisada is celebrated as a poet of the piano possessing exceptional grace. Do not miss this unique union!

Jean-Marc Luisada considers himself a man of the 19th century and often emphasizes his love for the past that lies hidden within music. The pianist is renowned as a poet of the piano, distinguished by his exceptional grace and unexpected interpretations. The charming J.M. Luisada plays directly to the audience’s soul. Occasionally, he enjoys sharing a joke on stage.

The pianist attended his first piano lesson in Paris at the age of six—taught by Denyse Riviere and Marcel Ciampi. He later continued his studies in Great Britain at the Yehudi Menuhin School and at the Paris National Superior Conservatory of Music and Dance. The musician learned the secrets of the piano from Dominique Merlet, Geneviève Joy-Dutilleux, Nikita Magaloff, Paul Badura-Skoda, Milosz Magin, and others.

J.M. Luisada is a laureate of the international Dino Ciani (Milan, 1983) and Fryderyk Chopin (Warsaw, 1985) competitions. The musician collaborates with prominent European orchestras, conducted by Charles Dutoit, Adam Fischer, Michael Plasson, and other masters of the baton. In chamber music, the pianist performs alongside the Fine Arts, Sine Nomine, Kocian, and Talich quartets, as well as renowned instrumentalists. His career is accompanied by worldwide tours, albums released with record labels Deutche Grammophon, Sony, RCA Red Seal, and others, along with French Orders of Arts and Letters for his contributions to the arts. Currently, the pianist teaches at the Alfred Cortot music school in Paris.

The Talich Quartet, composed of prestigious musicians, has been growing and evolving for over fifty years, representing Czech musical art across the globe.

For decades, the Talich Quartet has been internationally recognized as one of the best string quartets in the world, embodying the magnificent musical traditions of the Czech Republic. The quartet was founded in 1964 by Jan Talich Sr. during his studies at the Prague Conservatory, who named the ensemble in honor of his uncle, Václav Talich, the renowned chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic from 1919 to 1939. During the 1990s, the quartet’s lineup gradually underwent a complete transformation—renewing the ensemble while maintaining the tradition of its predecessors, continuing its involvement in various musical projects and recording activities. Jan Talich Jr., the current first violinist, is the son of the founder.

The Talich Quartet is continually invited to prestigious chamber music events such as the Pablo Casals Festival in Prades, the Prague Spring music festival, the Europalia festival, the Printemps des Arts festival in Monte Carlo, the Tibor Varga music festival, and the International String Festival in Ottawa. In 2015, the quartet made its first appearance at the Malta Arts Festival and the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland.

The Talich Quartet is a frequent guest at legendary venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Le Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Salle Gaveau in Paris, Wigmore Hall in London, and Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

The Talich Quartet’s recordings of F. Mendelssohn’s string quartets, released by the Calliope record label from 2001 to 2004, were highly praised. In 2003, they also released recordings of A. Dvorak’s “American” quartet and viola quintet, and two string quartets by B. Smetana, followed in 2004 by a live recording of F. Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden” and an A. Dvorak quintet. The quartet’s recording of an L. Janáček work earned a Gramophone nomination for the best chamber music recording in 2006—making it the only string quartet selected by Gramophone.

In May 2015, BBC Music Magazine awarded the Talich Quartet’s latest recording, “Dvorak: String Quartets No. 10 &11,” five stars, and in the December 2014 issue of Forbes magazine, the Talich Quartet’s recording of L. Janáček and E. Schulhoff’s string quartets was listed as the second-best classical recording (reissue) of 2014. More recently, the quartet has recorded works by B. Smetana, A. Dvorak, L. Janáček, J. Kalivoda, Z. Fibich, E. Schulhoff, F. Schubert, J. Brahms, Cl. Debussy, M. Ravel, and D. Shostakovich.

Last season, violist Vladimír Bukač left the quartet. The position was taken up by Radim Sedmidubský, a former member of the Skampa Quartet and the Pavel Haas Quartet. The Talich Quartet has performed in Los Angeles, USA, Montreal, Canada (at the Misqua quartet festival), and numerous times across France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland.

Concert Partner – Embassy of the Czech Republic

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