The Skampa Quartet has earned its place in the great Czech tradition of chamber music. With a long list of successful recordings, major prizes, and a presentation exploring the relationship between concert and folk music in Czech works, the group has found a strong following in England and beyond as well as in Eastern Europe. The Skampa Quartet was formed in 1989 and was named for Milan Skampa, violist of the famed Smetana Quartet, which exerted a strong influence over the quartet's members. The Skampa Quartet made its debut on disc in 1995 with a recording of music by Beethoven, Smetana, and Dvorak. The mix of Czech and mainstream Western European music has been characteristic of its output. ~ James Manheim