Kapralova, Martinů and Debussy Pavel Haas Quartet

Beautiful, lyrical music from a forgotten Czech composer 

The highly promising Kaprálová did not live beyond twenty-five, but during her short life, she wrote seventy works. At age twenty, she wrote a string quartet with folk music influences and neo-romantic traits but also a unique lyrical atmosphere. Her teacher, Bohuslav Martinů, whom she followed to Paris, wrote his Fifth String Quartet in response to that of Kaprálová and dedicated it to her. In 1893, in Paris, Debussy wrote his only string quartet, opening up a new world of sound and ending entrenched structures.