Company newsletter Dear friends, It is my great pleasure to bring you the latest information from our company. First of all, we would like to thank you very much for visiting us at our booth at the Frankfurt Fair Musik Messe 2016 which was held two weeks ago. The PETROF piano company again successfully participated in this Fair, being one of only a very few European piano builders to exhibit at this most important music event. Looking forward to your feedback and comments. With my best regards! Mgr. Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová President of PETROF Group HONOUR TO G. GERSHWIN A concert show by Ondřej Havelka with his group MELODY MAKERS and the piano virtuoso Karel Košárek. The piano for the concert was provided by PETROF. Ondřej Havelka and his Melody Makers play authentic performances of popular swing from the early thirties and forties. Their diverse repertoire includes appealing songs from a wide range of genres, from Hollywood musicals to top swing/big-band numbers. The concert show was presented in the fashions of the times with regard not only to the costumes and hairstyles of the performers, but also to the way the performance was directed. On 10th February, in the great hall of the City Library in Prague, together with the virtuoso pianist Karel Košárek, they performed some of the hottest and most captivating pieces by the American jazz genius George Gershwin, including the original version of his famous Rhapsody in Blue. The atmosphere and success of this splendid concert was clear from the thunderous applause of the appreciative audience. Foto: Archiv Martina Houdek BEST OF BROADWAY
PETROF provided its concert grand for four BEST OF BROADWAY concerts In February, the Czech Philharmonic, led by the American conductor Keith Lockhart, gave four special BEST OF BROADWAY concerts in sport halls in Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Bratislava. Top soloists from Broadway and London theatres took part: Louise Dearman (soprano), Marin Mazzie (mezzosoprano), Jason Danieley (tenor) and Rodney Earl Clarke (bass). The programme comprised some of the best-known, classic songs from worldfamous such a West Side Story, Les Misérables, Cats, The Phantom Of the Opera, Chicago, Hello Dolly!, Evita, A Chorus Line, and Mamma Mia! We bring the very best of the past and present Broadway to The Czech Republic, said conductor Keith Lockhart who has led the renowned Boston Pops Orchestra since 1995. The programme of this two-hour show included original performances of songs such as Maria, The Phantom of The Opera, I Dreamed a Dream, Dancing Queen, and Don t Cry for Me, Argentina, which is well known to Czech theatre audiences. More information at http://www.bestofbroadway.cz/ CHILD S DREAM COMES TRUE On Thursday, 25 March 2016, we helped to fulfil the dream of 10-year-old Lucie Radová. Lucy loves playing the piano, and wanted to see for herself how her beloved instrument is made. She sent her wish to Rodina DNES section of the magazine MF DNES, which got in touch with us and we were thus able to make this child s dream come true. We prepared a morning s event for her, in which she was shown how a piano is made from start to finish. She was even free to select a piano model of her choice and play it in the recording room. Lucy knows quality when she sees it she was most impressed by the model ANT. PETROF 275, our company flagship. The morning concluded with a tour of the PETROF Museum. We are very delighted to be a part of this great project. 2
JAN SIMON S CONCERT IN THE HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ PHILHARMONIA On 24 March, the AP 275 piano resounded in the Hradec Králové Philharmonia. The piano concert, given in the hall of the Hradec Králové Philharmonia on 24 March, began with the overture to Rossini s L'italiana in Algeri. After this came Mozart s Piano Concert no. 27 in B, flawlessly performed by the virtuoso Jan Simon with the brilliant orchestra of the Hradec Králové Philharmonia under the baton of Damian Binetti, a conductor of long experience followed by Mendelssohn s Symphony no. 4 A the Italian. The romantic tones of the ANTONÍN PETROF 275 piano created a remarkable atmosphere and ensured the concert was a great success. DVOŘÁKOVO KLAVÍRNÍ KVARTETO (DVOŘÁK PIANO QUARTET) CONCERT IN PETROF MUSEUM The famous Dvořák Piano Quartet gave a concert in the PETROF Museum last day of March. The audience enjoyed pieces by Gustav Mahler, Ludwig van Beethoven, and of course Antonín Dvořák. The concert included a tour of the PETROF Museum. This event was a great success! 3
MUSIKMESSE FRANKFURT 2016 From 7 to 10 April 2016, the traditional Musikmesse fair took place in Frankfurt am Main, with PETROF taking part once again. A few important exhibitors were missing this year, but according to official data there were still more than 110,000 visitors. The PETROF stall in the ground floor of Hall 9 was one of the most visited in our field. Our stall was made accessible from all sides so as to demonstrate our openness to costumers. PETROF has long been one of the major innovators in the piano manufacturing industry, and here we proved it once again. Professionals in the field had the first opportunity to see for themselves the complete family of ANT.PETROF premium brand pianos. The AP 225 was the most popular, thanks to its sonority and colourful tone. But there was something also for lovers of design. We introduced the P159 Bora Madrona, made with the intarsia technique, and P 125 G1 with a crystal lion on the top frame. This instrument, made in collaboration with PRECIOSA, was without a doubt the most photographed piano of the whole exhibition. Another successful model was the new P125 K1 upright the first manufactured series was sold out immediately. Apart from our traditional visitors we also noticed that about 20 % of our visitors were new dealers and distributors. It is such a positive sign for the future and shows how much interest there is in our pianos. The most appreciated features of our instruments are their finish and their romantic, rounded tone. The same applies to the long tradition of the family compan PETROF and our personal, helpful approach. 4
NEXT INVITATION! Welcome to MUSIC CHINA 2016 in Shanghai the largest fair of its kind in Asia from 26 to 29 October 2016! Celebrating its 15th year, Music China 2016 will be expanded to 10 exhibition halls (up to 113,000 sqm), bringing to you the latest market favorites in a more spacious and specialized setting. Apart from bringing in the up-and-coming products, diversified fringe events will be held to cater for different needs. Renowned speakers will share their insights on a variety of topics as well as their tips on growing your business. From master classes to industry forums, from traditional music appreciation session to continuous live music shows, be sure to stop by at one of these amazing events! We are looking forward to welcoming you at Music China! More information at: http://www.musikmesse-china.com/ THE PIANIST OF 2016 COMPETITION The final stage of THE PIANIST OF 2016 competition has a winner! The fifth and final round of the competition took place on Saturday 3 April at 6pm in Sukova hall of Prague s Rudolfinum. The contestants had to play one song from the repertoire of the Semafor theatre, given to them by the night s guest of honour, Jiří Suchý. They continued with an improvisation using four randomly chosen notes, and concluded with a piece of their own choice. The second half of the night was dedicated to special guests the concert pianist Ivo Kahánek, Jan Smigmator, Dasha with Swing Quartet, and Jiří Suchý with Jitka Molavcová. This year, the competition began with 15 pianists, only four of whom reached the finale. The jury comprised Petr Malásek, the concert pianist and a lecturer Jitka Fowler Fraňková, and the string instrument manufacturer and acoustic concert organiser Rostislav Čapek. The finalists of this year were: Daniel Bulatkin, Jan Horák, Tomáš Jeřábek, and Vít Křišťan. Vít Křišťan became the winner of the 4th annual competition a multitalented Czech pianist, composer, graduate of the Katowice Academy of Music and the Danish Jazz Academy in Odense. He now works as a lecturer at Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory in Prague and at the Jazz Academy in Brno. He also leads his own jazz trio, is a member of many music bands, and works with both Czech and foreign musicians. His breath-taking performances demonstrates the sheer diversity of his talent. Most heartfelt congratulations! 5
Tomáš Jeřábek, who came second, studied at the organ college in Krnov. The third place went to Daniel Bulatkin, a bar-room pianist, accompanist, and jazz band soloist. The fourth place was awarded to Jan Horák, who specialised in jazz piano at the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory. All the performers played on the premium piano ANT. PETROF 275. They received many attractive prices, including financial rewards, stays in Boscole hotels in Prague and Budapest, a stay in the 5-star hotel resort Mui Ne in Vietnam, and interesting concert contracts. Finalists (left to right): Vít Křišťan, Tomáš Jeřábek, Jan Horák, Daniel Bulatkin. More information about the competition can be found at www.pianist.cz 6