
Czech pianist Karel Košárek with a Petrof piano charmed Singaporean audience
10.07.2025 / 09:08 | Aktualizováno: 10.07.2025 / 09:52
On July 4, 2025, the prestigious Victoria Concert Hall in Singapore hosted an exceptionally successful concert by Czech pianist Prof. Karel Košárek, co-organized by the Czech Embassy in Singapore. Košárek not only replaced the indisposed Jan Schulmeister, but also thrilled the audience with a varied program that combined Czech musical tradition with American jazz influences, helping to promote the PETROF company.
The first part of the evening was devoted to the music of Czech composers, especially Bedřich Smetana and Bohuslav Martinů. Košárek presented a technically brilliant and sensitive interpretation of their compositions. For example, he played Skočná from Bedřich Smetana's Czech Dances and three Czech Dances by Bohuslav Martinů, which, with their jazz elements and unusual rhythms, perfectly illustrated the connection between tradition and modern musical trends.
Karel Košárek then moved into full jazz mode in the second half of the concert, focusing on the music of American composer George Gershwin. The discerning Singaporean audience appreciated both the lyrical side of the compositions and the fact that three of the preludes were published only after Gershwin's death and are not often played. The entire concert was received with great enthusiasm and confirmed the high level of the Czech piano school.
Karel Košárek performed on a Petrof Monsoon Grand Piano, known for its soft, melodious, and romantic tone. This instrument, handcrafted in Czechia with an emphasis on tradition and innovation, allows performers maximum artistic freedom and excels in its richness of color and dynamic range. It is thanks to these qualities that Petrof is sought after by many world-class pianists and its instruments are regularly used on prestigious stages. The loud response from the audience not only demonstrates Karel Košárek's virtuosity, but also shows that the traditional Czech piano manufacturer has the potential to become a respected brand among classical music lovers in Singapore.