Role

:

Ensemble

Country

:

Czech Republic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

The Smetana Trio is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1934 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The trio is named after the famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, who is considered one of the founders of Czech national music. The ensemble has been praised for its exceptional musicianship and has won numerous awards for its performances. The founding members of the Smetana Trio were pianist Josef Páleníček, violinist Alexandr Plocek, and cellist František Smetana. The trio quickly gained recognition for their performances of Czech music, particularly the works of Bedřich Smetana. They also performed works by other Czech composers such as Antonín Dvořák and Leoš Janáček. During World War II, the Smetana Trio was forced to disband due to the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. However, after the war, the trio was reformed with new members. The current members of the Smetana Trio are pianist Jitka Čechová, violinist Jiří Vodička, and cellist Jan Páleníček, the son of the trio's original pianist Josef Páleníček. Since its reformation, the Smetana Trio has continued to perform and record extensively. The ensemble has toured throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States, and has performed at major music festivals such as the Salzburg Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival. One of the highlights of the Smetana Trio's career was their performance at the 1988 Prague Spring International Music Festival. The trio performed a program of Czech music, including works by Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák, to great acclaim. The performance was broadcast on Czech television and was later released on CD. The Smetana Trio has also won numerous awards for their recordings. In 2007, the trio won the BBC Music Magazine Award for their recording of Dvořák's Piano Trios. The recording was praised for its "exquisite playing" and "deeply felt interpretations." The trio has also won the Diapason d'Or award and the Choc de Classica award for their recordings. In addition to their performances and recordings, the Smetana Trio is also committed to promoting Czech music and supporting young musicians. The trio has established the Smetana Trio Foundation, which provides scholarships and support to young musicians in the Czech Republic. The trio also regularly performs benefit concerts for various charitable organizations. Overall, the Smetana Trio is a highly respected classical music ensemble that has made significant contributions to the promotion and preservation of Czech music. With their exceptional musicianship and commitment to supporting young musicians, the trio continues to inspire audiences around the world.

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