Josef Suk, one of best Czech violin virtuosi, dies aged 81

Suk cooperated with a number of leading musicians and performed all over the world. He was also a teacher.

Suk died in a hospital after a long serious illness. He no longer gave concerts in the past years, after closing his career in 2002.

Suk mainly focused on Classical and Romantic music, but he also played works by composers such as Bela Bartok and Alban Berg.

Josef Suk was born in Prague on August 8, 1929.

In childhood his violin teacher was Jaroslav Kocian. In 1946-51 he studied violin at the Prague Conservatory and in 1952-53 at Prague´s Academy of Performing Arts.

He shortly led the Prague Quartet and in 1953-55 she was deputy leader of the National Theatre´s drama group orchestra. Later he embarked on the path of a soloist and chamber player.

In 1952 he established the Suk Trio.

In 1961-90 he was a soloist of the country´s most prestigious symphonic orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic (CF).

Suk´s international reputation grew from 1959 when he played on three continents within a CF tour.

In 1964, he had debuts in Britain and in the USA. From then on, he performed with the world´s leading orchestras.

In 1992-2000 he was the manager and conductor or the Suk Chamber Orchestra.

The CDs he recorded with domestic and foreings producers won a number of prizes, including six times the French Grand Prix du Disque Academie Charles Cros, the Dutch Edison Prize, the Mozart Society´s Prize in Vienna and others.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz