"Jenö Léner was born April 7, 1894. In 1918, he founded and became first violinist of the Léner Quartet, at first called the Lehner Streichquartett, using the German spelling of the name. The other members were second violinist Josef (or Joseph) Smilovits (or Smilovitz or Schmilovits), violist Sandor (or Sándor) Roth (or Röth), and violoncellist Imre (or Jmre) Hartman (or Hartmann). These four played together for twenty-three years, as 'one of the most renowned string quartets of modern times' according to Baker's Biographical Dictionary. Maurice Ravel accidentally heard them play early in their association and was so impressed that he asked them to play an all-Ravel concert. In 1927 the Léner Quartet was chosen to record all the Beethoven Quartets for the Beethoven centenary. In 1939 the ensemble was presented by Columbia Graphophone Co. with a golden record, commemorating the sale of the millionth Léner Quartet record. In 1942, a rift occurred between Jenö Léner and the other three members of the quartet. The other three members quickly found a new first violinist reorganized the quartet under the same name, Léner Quartet (or Cuarteto Lener), registered their association in the Public Register of Mexico City, and began to perform, stating that Mr. 'Lehner' was no longer a member of their organization. Léner, whose name had been spelled without the 'h' for more than 20 years, reserved the right to the name Léner Quartet, and reorganized with three new members in 1943. Léner died in New York, November 4, 1948." Website of the New York Public Library, where the archives of the quartet are housed. Surprisingly little is known about the other three musicians of the quartet; Sándor Roth was born in 1895, but his death date seems lost.
"Jenö Léner was born April 7, 1894. In 1918, he founded and became first violinist of the Léner Quartet, at first called the Lehner Streichquartett, using the German spelling of the name. The other members were second violinist Josef (or Joseph) Smilovits (or Smilovitz or Schmilovits), violist Sandor (or Sándor) Roth (or Röth), and violoncellist Imre (or Jmre) Hartman (or Hartmann). These four played together for twenty-three years, as 'one of the most renowned string quartets of modern times' according to Baker's Biographical Dictionary. Maurice Ravel accidentally heard them play early in their association and was so impressed that he asked them to play an all-Ravel concert. In 1927 the Léner Quartet was chosen to record all the Beethoven Quartets for the Beethoven centenary. In 1939 the ensemble was presented by Columbia Graphophone Co. with a golden record, commemorating the sale of the millionth Léner Quartet record. In 1942, a rift occurred between Jenö Léner and the other three members of the quartet. The other three members quickly found a new first violinist reorganized the quartet under the same name, Léner Quartet (or Cuarteto Lener), registered their association in the Public Register of Mexico City, and began to perform, stating that Mr. 'Lehner' was no longer a member of their organization. Léner, whose name had been spelled without the 'h' for more than 20 years, reserved the right to the name Léner Quartet, and reorganized with three new members in 1943. Léner died in New York, November 4, 1948." Website of the New York Public Library, where the archives of the quartet are housed. Surprisingly little is known about the other three musicians of the quartet; Sándor Roth was born in 1895, but his death date seems lost.