The Wihan Quartet is one of the leading string quartets to emerge from the great Czech school of performance in recent years. Formed in 1985, the quartet has gained an extraordinary reputation for its interpretation of both the Czech domestic repertoire and many of the foremost works of the quartet repertoire of the Classical and Romantic periods, as well as modern works.
The Quartet is in demand as an exponent of the great traditional quartet repertoire and looks forward returning to the Wigmore Hall in June, following their residency at the Salzburg String Quartet Festival, for Martin Randall Travel, in May. The quartet has won many international competitions including the Prague Spring Festival and Osaka Chamber Festa. They won both the First Prize and the Audience Prize in the 1991 London International String Quartet Competition.
Previous career highlights include being the Czech Chamber Music Society Resident Ensemble at the Rudolfinum Dvorak Hall, Prague, and their years as Richard Carne Quartet in Residence at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Their landmark cycle of the Beethoven Quartets in Prague, subsequently repeated in London, was recorded for release on CD and DVD for Nimbus Alliance and received many accolades.
The Wihan Quartet has a long history of producing world-class recordings and has been described by International Record Review as ‘one of the best quartets in the world today’. Their recent Smetana and Dvořák recording was awarded 5 stars from BBC Music Magazine, while their 2020 collaboration with Mimi Shikimori of Franck and Fauré quintets was hailed by the Sunday Times as a ‘deeply satisfying disc’.
They are great supporters of the work of the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust, regularly giving inspirational concerts and master classes to young people in many parts of the UK.
In 2025 the Wihan Quartet celebrates its fortieth anniversary.