Conference  Chamber Concert

by  the Antonín Dvořák Trio

on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the death of  Antonín Dvořák

 

 

The Antonín Dvořák Trio:   Čeňek Pavlík – violin Evžen Rattay – violoncello František Malý – piano   Program of the concert:   L. van Beethoven - The Piano Trio in D major "Ghost", op. 70 No.1 A. Dvořák: The Piano Trio "Dumky", op. 90 - digest   The chamber concert takes place on the 11th of September in the Bohuslav Martinů Hall in the Lichtenstein Palace located in the Prague Lesser Town in underneath The Prague Castle.

 

The Antonín Dvořák Trio

 

The Antonín Dvořák Trio has been founded in 1988 by three soloists mentioned above. In the last 15 years, there were some personal changes. They have become artists with rich international experience both in solo and chamber music. Apart from the rich concert activities at home as well as abroad (Austria, Germany, Spain, etc.), the Antonín Dvořák Trio is often seen in recording studios. Its wide repertoire includes all important works of trio literature starting with Vienna classic and ending with the music of the 20^th century, but the entire musical work by Antonín Dvořák, and Czech music in general, have a special place in it. The ensemble is trying to continue in its work the special tradition of Czech chamber music and to cultivate the high quality of Czech interpretation art certified in the past. And the trio carries the inspiring name of a towering genius of Czech music whose chamber music is famous all over the world.

 

The pianist, František Malý, graduate of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, has won the international contests of F. Busoni in Bolzano (Italy), Marguerite Long in Paris (1969 and 1973) and Ettore Pozzoli in Seregno (Italy). Apart from soloist activities he is also actively interested in chamber music in co-operation with renowned interprets. As a soloist and chamber player he visited a number of European countries and USA, Canada, Japan. He records for the radio and co-operates with recording companies. He is also a teacher at The Music Faculty of The Academy of Performing Arts.

 

Evžen Rattay is a graduate of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. He toured over the world with The Talich Quartet, performed on more than 3000 concerts and recorded many music master pieces, including Beethoven, Mozart, Janáček, Smetana and Bartók complete string quartets.  In recent years Evžen has been devoting more time to his soloist career. He performed through Europe (including London Wigmore Hall) and Japan (Suntory Hall). For French Company Calliope Evžen recorded the complete Beethoven sonatas and variations, and the complete suites by J. S. Bach. He also recorded complete Vivaldi sonatas. Beside the common cello repertoire Evžen has also be accompanied by non-traditional instruments and arranged some famous pieces for such music ensembles. Some of these works are available on CDs, Best of Cello and Cello Party.

 

Čeňek Pavlík is one of the leading soloists of his generation of Czech violinists. He studied at The Academy of Performing Arts and in Zurich under Nathan Milstein. He was the first prize winner at international competitions in London and in Prague and at the age of 20 he performed the Bach Double Violin Concerto with Henryk Szeryng.

 

Antonín Dvořák, born in a Bohemian village, where his father was an inn-keeper and butcher, followed Smetana as the leading exponent of Czech musical nationalism, firmly within the classical traditions of Central Europe. His early musical training was followed by employment for some years as a violist, for a time under Smetana, and then, with the positive encouragement of Brahms, by a life primarily devoted to composition. Dvořák won recognition abroad and rather more grudging acceptance in Vienna. Between 1892 and 1895 he spent some time in the United States of America as director of the new National Conservatory, a period that brought compositions that combine American and Bohemian influence. At home again he was much honoured, resisting invitations from Brahms to move to Vienna in favour of a simple life in his own country. He died in 1904, shortly after the first performances of his last opera, Armida.

 Dvořák left fourteen string quartets, of which the best known is the so-called American Quartet, No. 12 in F Major, written in 1893, the year of the Symphony from the New World. The composition of Quartets Nos. 13 and 14, in 1895, seems to have taken place over the same period. From the American period comes the G major Sonatina for violin and piano, its second movement sometimes known as Indian Lament. Of the four surviving piano trios the fourth, nick-named the Dumky because of its use of a Bohemian national dance-form is the best known, closely rivaled in popularity by the third. Dvořák's quintets for piano and strings or strings alone offer further pleasure, with the String Sextet and the charming Terzetto for two violins and viola.