Video of the Goldner String Quartet, performing Hans Krása's Theme and Variations.

Date	12th August 2017
URL	https://vimeo.com/238400352#t=197
Format	Video

Hans Krása was born in Prague in 1899, and studied piano with Terèse Wallerstein and composition with Alexander von Zemlinsky before moving to Paris. Zemlinsky was Krása’s first mentor and it was through him that he was introduced to Schönberg and Webern. However, the most important sound influences in Krása’s output was that of Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Igor Stravinsky and the various members of Les Six. Added to this was a continuing influence of Leoš Janáček, the major Czech compositional figure at the time of Krása’s studies. Krása integrated satirical and grotesque elements in his work, tempered with a strongly lyrical impetus and an elegant cultivation of sound. These influences are clearly apparent in the Theme and Variations (1935). This video captures the Goldner String Quartet performing the work at the finale concert for the Sydney Out of the Shadows Festival.