František Sláma

František Sláma (November 19, 1923, Herálec, Žďár nad Sázavou District, Moravia – May 5, 2004, Říčany near Prague, Czech Republic) was a significant Czech chamber music performer. He was the first Czech cellist who focused on Early music. He was born in Moravian Highlands. Until the age of 18 he worked in the quarry. His meeting with the famous Czech cello pedagogue K. P. Sádlo proved to be a turning point in his life. Sádlo supported him, introd... more

František Sláma (November 19, 1923, Herálec, Žďár nad Sázavou District, Moravia – May 5, 2004, Říčany near Prague, Czech Republic) was a significant Czech chamber music performer. He was the first Czech cellist who focused on Early music. He was born in Moravian Highlands. Until the age of 18 he worked in the quarry. His meeting with the famous Czech cello pedagogue K. P. Sádlo proved to be a turning point in his life. Sádlo supported him, introduced him to the cello (1941) and tutored him for the Conservatoire (1942-1948, cello with K.P.Sádlo, chamber music with Václav Talich). Between 1948-52 Sláma completed his studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. By this time he had already been a member of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (1948 - 1981, since 1962 sub-principal cello and cello section leader). The legendary conductor Václav Talich encouraged Sláma's enthusiasm for chamber music and had, alongside with K.P.Sádlo and later Milan Munclinger, a lasting influence on... less