The Martinu-Kapralova-Suk CD was produced by Arco Diva, an independent label based in Prague, in partnership with MusicEnterprise, a non-profit organization based in Luxembourg, dedicated to facilitating performing opportunities for professional Czech musicians in Luxembourg and professional development opportunities for international amateur musicians in the Czech Republic.

This project would not have been possible without the generous support of Geoff Piper.

Kapralova Quartet was founded in 1995 in Prague, originally under the name of Venus Quartet Prague. In 2001, the ensemble changed its name to pay a tribute to one of the most remarkable women composers of the 20th century. The lead personality of the Kapralova Quartet is Rita Cepurcenko, a graduate of the Leningrad Conservatory and Academy of Music, who studied violin with Prof. Boris Gutnikov. As an ensemble, the Kapralova Quartet studied quartet performance with Prof. Bretislav Novotny, first violinist of the excellent Quartet of the City of Prague. The unique combination of the celebrated Russian school of string playing and the traditional Czech approach to quartet performance has distinguished the group from other ensembles; and, today, it ranks as one of the foremost Czech quartets.

Click here for complete discography of Kapralova's music.

Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959)
String Quartet No. 5 [26:32]
1/ Allegro ma non troppo [5:50]
2/ Adagio [6:11]
3/ Allegro vivo [5:37]
4/ Lento. Allegro [8:42]

Vitezslava Kapralova (1915-1940)
String Quartet No. 8 [21:10]
5/ Con brio [7:11]
6/ Lento [8:50]
7/ Allegro con variazioni [5:01]

Josef Suk (1874-1935)
8/ Meditation on the old Czech chorale 'St. Wenceslas' [5:49]

KAPRALOVA QUARTET
Rita Cepurcenko, Simona Hurnikova, Svetlana Jahodova, Margit Klepacova

From reviews:

Vital, gripping and relentlessly present music-making counter-balanced by yielding tenderness in the wonderful Martinu and Kapralova.
Rob Barnett, Recordings of the Year 2006, Music Web International

Kapralova's first quartet stands as a monument to her vast talent. It is an assured, masterful, beautiful and joyful work. A truly tremendous CD and one to which I shall frequently return.
Peter Herbert, Bohuslav Martinu Discussion Group

Kvartet se svoji invenci i hloubkou citu vice nez vyrovna kvartetu Martinu. Byl-li Martinu opravdu jednou z "podivnych lasek" Vitky Kapralove, jak o nich pise Jiri Mucha, pak v uskutecneni tohoto projektu oba nalezli blizkost, ktera jim byla za jejich zivota odpirana.
Martin Flasar, Opus Musicum 2-3 (2006): 83.