Violinist part of family tradition

JOSEF Suk, artist in residence at this year's Arts Festival, is the great-grandson of Antoin Dvorak and grandson of the composer Josef Suk, and also the leading representative of the great Czech violin school.

He is a world-class soloist, as well as a fine chamber musician.

In 1964, Suk received a Czech state prize, in 1970 he was made an Artist of Merit, and in 1977 was named a National Artist of Czechoslovakia.

His many awards include prizes for his recordings of violin concertos by Berg, Mozart and Martinu.

Altogether he has made more than 200 recordings.

Critics have noted that Suk has never tried to dazzle audiences with his technical virtuosity, but is more interested in the refinement of interpretation and the attainment of stylistic purity.