The Guarneri Trio Prague, belongs to the most renowned piano trios in the world of classical music. Founded by Ivan Klanský, ÄŒenÄ›k Pavlík and Marek Jerie, the Trio drew with its artistically spectacluar performances the attention of the international press early in its carreer. The Trio has been playing since 1986 in in the same line-up and in 2023 they celebrate 37 years playing together.
Monday June 26th / 9:00 p.m. / Auditorio Municipal
At the age of just twenty-eight, the piano virtuoso Marek Kozák has achieved a series of impressive results in a wide range of prestigous competitions. His most recent honour in 2021 is the laureate title in the highly demanding Councours Geza Anda Zurich.
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In 2015, Marek was a semifinalist in one of the world leading contest, The Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw. The following year, he gained further success in Prague Spring Competition, taking 2nd prize and special award for his performance of the contemporary composition “The Jongleur“ by Adam Skoumal. In 2018, he won both first prize and the audience prize at the European Piano Competition in Bremen and, in 2019, he also was a finalist at the Busoni competition in Bolzano.
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Critics consistently praise his flawless technique, his sense of proportion and gradation, the wide range of expression and also his deep musicality and faithfulness to musical notation.
Tuesday June 27th / 9:00 p.m. / Auditorio Municipal
After winning 2nd prize and the Audience Award of the 63rd ARD International Music Competition in Munich (1st prize was declared void), Azahar Ensemble started an international career that has taken them to perform in many prestigious concert halls, such as Musikverein in Vienna, Philharmonie in Berlin, Prinzregententeather in Munich, Philharmonaie in Essen, Mozarteum in Salzburg, and festivals like Mozartfest in Würzburg, International Festival in Santander and Festpielhaus in Baden-Baden, among others.
Wednesday June 28th / 9:00 p.m. / Pazo da Golpelleira
Founded by Josetxu Obregón when he was based in The Netherlands, the ensemble La Ritirata takes its name from the final movement of the famous quintet composed by Luigi Boccherini in Spain, entitled “La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid”.
Dedicated to combining accurate historical awareness (through a knowledge of the instruments and aesthetics of a composer’s time) with the highest levels of artistic quality, La Ritirata is at home in Baroque musical traditions from all across Europe; Bach and Handel figure in the ensemble’s programmes as much as Italian and Spanish composers from the courtly traditions of Early Baroque who feature on the Glossa album Il Spiritillo Brando. And naturally, given the Boccherinian reference in its name, La Ritirata holds a special place in its heart for the Classical era composer from Lucca who settled in Spain: programmes of cello sonatas, string trios and other chamber works feature in the group’s repertory.
Thursday June 29th / 9:00 p.m. / Auditorio Municipal
Cuarteto Quiroga, recent winner of Spain’s National Music Prize and appointed first quartet-in-residence in charge of the Royal Collection of decorated Stradivarius at Madrid’s Royal Palace, has established itself as one of the most dynamic and unique quartets of its generation, winning international acclaim from critics and audiences alike for its distinctive personality as well as its bold and original approach to the string quartet repertoire.
The quartet honours the memory of galician violinist Manuel Quiroga, one of the most outstanding instrumentalist of spanish music history. The group studied at Madrid’s Escuela Reina Sofia with Professor Rainer Schmidt, at the Musikhochschule Basel with Walter Levin, and at the ECMA with Prof. Hatto Beyerle. Other important influences are Johannes Meissl, György Kurtág, András Keller, Eberhard Feltz and Ferenc Rados.
Friday June 30th / 9:00 p.m. / Auditorio Municipal
Winners of cello competitions, soloists and entertainers who keep the highest musical standard along their concerts. These guys has gained fame at concerts as well as on YouTube all around the world. They leave behind sold-out halls, original concert experiences and millions of views.
Despite the fall apart of the original line up of the Prague Cello Quartet, they continue with their artistic vision to make music at the highest level, with originally elaborated arrangements and a proper dose of humor.
Saturday July 1st / 9:00 p.m. / Auditorio Municipal