MARTINŮ Trio No. 2 in D minor, H. 327
SMETANA Trio in G minor, Op. 15
BEETHOVEN Trio in B-flat, Op. 97 ‘Archduke’
The Martinů Piano Trio was formed at the Prague Conservatoire in 1990 and since then their career has been paved with success and awards.
It has toured worldwide to Japan, Korea, Spain, the Netherlands, England and many other countries in Europe and has appeared at major international festivals and venues, such as Musashi Hall in Tokyo, Seoul Arts Center, the Rudolfinum in Prague and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. In 2017 the trio made their Canadian debut in Toronto, which was followed by a tour of the USA in the 2018/2019 season.
All the three members are outstanding soloists and record regularly for the Czech Radio. Pavel Safarik and Jaroslav Matejka have been engaged in the Prague Symphony Orchestra as assistant leaders for many years, and Petr Jirikovsky, outside his solo career, teaches piano at the Prague Conservatoire.
Martinů is widely regarded as one of the most influential Czech composers of the 20th century, and yet his fame with the wider public is still unjustly limited. His two late piano trios are incredible works, and the Trio Martinů gave us No. 3 when they last performed here in April 2016, so it is great now to have a chance to hear No. 2. Noble and profound in equal measure, Beethoven’s ‘Archduke’ trio is one of the last works of what has come to be regarded as his middle period.
‘Each player is of the highest quality technically and artistically, and the rapport between them is perfect.’