TRIO MARTINŮ
Trio Martinů was formed at the Prague Conservatoire in 1990. Its current line-up Jaroslav Matějka – cello, Pavel Šafařík – violin, Petr Jiříkovský – piano have remained unchanged since 1993.
Under Professor Antonín Kohout (a member of the Smetana Quartet) at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, the ensemble developed and embarked on a trajectory paved with success and awards. These have included being semi-finalists in the international competition at Trapani, Italy; third price in the international contest of chamber ensembles at Heerlen, The Netherlands in 1992, which was followed by winning this competition three years later, in 1995.
Trio Martinů has taken part in several series of master classes: at Villecroze, France, conducted by Prague Trio (1992 and 1994), and at the Orlando Festival in Kerkade, the Netherlands, under Sandor Devich and Menahem Pressler, a member of the Beaux Arts Trio (1995 and 1997). From 1996, the ensemble studied for two years at the Vienna Hochschule für Musik under Professor Michael Schnitzler, a member of the Haydn Trio.
In 1995 the ensemble received the annual Award of the Czech Chamber Music Society attached to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.
Since then Trio Martinu has toured Japan, Korea, Spain, the Netherlands, England and other countries in Europe and has appeared at major international festivals and venues, such as Musashi Hall in Tokyo, Seoul Arts Center, Grand Hall in Daegu, the Rudolfinum in Prague, or the Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.
In recent years the ensemble has been a regular guest mainly in England and Holland.
The Trio’s discography encompasses 7 CDs recorded under the labels of the Czech, German and Belgian recording companies. In June 2014 they released a live CD with Beethoven’s Triple Concerto which was performed with the Prague Symphony Orchestra under the Chinese conductor Muhai Tang; and in March 2017 it was their last studio recording of the Complete Bohuslav Martinu piano trios for the German label Musicaphon.
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, except his solo performances, teaches piano at the Prague Conservatoire.
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