ROBERT KRETTLY

Robert Krettly (full name Robert  Pierre  Jules  Krettly) was a French violinist born in 1891 and active in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known as the leader and first violinist of the Krettly Quartet, a distinguished French string quartet that played an important role in chamber music in the 1920s and 1930s.

Krettly studied music at the Paris Conservatory, graduating in 1909 and was a pupil of Henri Berthelier. He performed both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, but he became particularly respected for his work in ensembles. Early in his career he also served as a concertmaster (leader) of the Orchestre Colonne, one of Paris’s leading orchestras.

In 1918 Krettly formed the string quartet which later became known by his name. Under his leadership the Krettly Quartet became known for its performances and recordings of both classical repertoire and modern works by composers such as Maurice Ravel, Gabriel Fauré, Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud, and Igor Stravinsky. The group’s recordings from the late 1920s and early 1930s helped spread French chamber music to broader audiences.

Krettly also collaborated with other prominent musicians of his time and participated in premiere performances of works like Gabriel Fauré’s piano trio in D minor, showing his versatility as a chamber player.

Beyond his musical activities, during the difficult years of World War II Krettly had to publicly clarify his non‑Jewish heritage after being mistakenly listed among composers and performers of Jewish descent by a French publication—a reminder of the tense cultural politics of the era.

He was the father of composer Gérard Calvi (born Grégoire Élie Krettly), who became known under his professional name in mid‑20th‑century French music.

Krettly Quartet

The Krettly Quartet was a French string quartet musical ensemble active during the 1920s and 1930s. Its repertoire included avant-garde and modern works, and the group made early recordings of some of these.

1st violin

Robert Krettly

2nd violin

René Costard (retired 1935)

viola

Georges Taine (active 1925)

François Broos (active 1931-35)

‘cello

Pierre Fournier (before 1929)

André Navarra (1929–1935)

The quartet took its name from the leader, the violinist Robert Krettly (b. 1891), who was the brother of the cellist Odette Krettly (one of the teachers of Pierre Fournier (1906–1986)).

TRACKLIST

3 Pieces for String Quartet No. 1, Quarter Note = 126 (Stravinsky)

3 Pieces for String Quartet No. 2, Quarter Note = 76 (Stravinsky)

3 Pieces for String Quartet No. 3, Half Note = 40 (Stravinsky)

The Krettly String Quartet

Robert Kretty (1st violin)

René Costard (viola)

François Broos (cello)

André Navarra (cello)

Columbia D 15182 11016 & 10995, 1928

String Quartet in E Minor, Op. 121 I. Allegro moderato (Fauré)

String Quartet in E Minor, Op. 121 II. Andante (Fauré)

String Quartet in E Minor, Op. 121 III. Allegro (Fauré)

The Krettly String Quartet

Robert Kretty (1st violin)

René Costard (viola)

François Broos (cello)

André Navarra (cello)

Columbia D 15218, D 15219, D 15219, D15220, D15220, WLX665, WLX666, WLX667, WLX668, WLX669, WLX670 1928

Chant du printemps (Mendelssohn-Salabert)

The Krettly String Quartet

Salabert 1115 3242

1933

Andante Cantabile (Tchaikovsky)

The Krettly String Quartet

Salabert 1202 3242

1933

Salabert

FRENCH BARITONE ANDRÉ GAUDIN (1902-1986) CDR

FRENCH SOPRANO LEILA BEN SEDIRA (1902-1982) CDR

THE ART OF THE KRETTLY QUARTET CDR