The last festival weekend of the 23^rd year of the IMF Český Krumlov started on Wednesday 13^th August with the concert of the Martinů Trio at the Masquerade Hall at the chateau.

The ensemble, which will celebrate twenty-five years next year, paid tribute to Czech composers on the occasion of the Year of Czech Music – the audience heard works by Josef Suk, Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák. “Our concerts this year consist of mainly Czech authors. We also often play works by Bohuslav Martinů – in view of the fact that we are the Martinů Trio – and Petr Eben. Jiří Pazour, our schoolmate from the conservatory, wrote a composition especially for us.” The members of the Trio said about Český Krumlov: “The IMF Český Krumlov is the biggest of the festivals in the Czech Republic, therefore we appreciate the fact that we can play here. Tonight we had a great audience, this is the greatest inspiration. We like Český Krumlov, we have played here several times with an orchestra. And every time we look at the weir under the chateau and remember the times when we passed through the town on canoes. It is one of the most magical towns.” All the three members of the trio – Petr Jiříkovský (piano), Pavel Šafařík (violin) and Jaroslav Matějka (violoncello) – are excellent soloists and are regularly invited to cooperate with other important artists from the world of classical music. Their concert delighted Pavel Šporcl, this time in the role of a viewer: “Petr Jiříkovský is my long-time piano partner, sometimes we even play together with him and with my brother, violoncellist Petr Šporcl. I really liked the concert and so did my daughters. And I am also glad that I was able to show this beautiful hall to my little girls.”