History and Present of Prague Piano Trio-Ensembles

Abstract

The core of this MA thesis is to map Prague piano trio-ensembles from the beginning of the 20th century up to nowadays. It deals with history of such ensembles like Czech and Smetana Trios including their contemporary successors; it mentions Suk, Foerster, Prague and New Prague Trios, trios containing the name of Antonín Dvořák in its title including new Dvořák Trio renamed from Trio Concertino. Neither renowned Guarneri Trio Prague nor younger ensembles, established in the 1990s and after 2000 (Trio ArteMiss, Kinsky Trio Prague, Orbis Trio i.e.), are absent in the list. This thesis also explores history of the genre of piano trio from 18th century on, presents the way a pianist should work as a chamber player and touches also past and present Czech institutions and organizations supporting performing chamber music in our country. In connection with these aspect the thesis mentions also possibility of new MA studies of chamber music at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Finally, the author considers current chamber local and international music industry and its influence on artistic work in a piano trio