Event date

26 / 07 / 2026 - Sunday 13:00

Event type

Young talents

Kozák & Klánský Present…

A concert by the piano classes of two piano masters will offer a playful and virtuoso afternoon in the Krumlov synagogue. Solo and chamber compositions will be performed. A concert with commentary and surprises by pianists Ivan Klánský and Marek Kozák.

The intimate atmosphere of the Český Krumlov synagogue will host a piano afternoon that will bring together two exceptional personalities of the Czech music scene, Marek Kozák, one of the greatest talents of the young generation, and Ivan Klánský, a prominent long-time representative of the Czech piano school and a teacher of international renown. The program will offer a dialogue between experience and youthful energy. In addition to solo performances by six students of performance courses, both main guests will also perform. Marek Kozák, winner of the Prague Spring, Géza Anda, and Bremen competitions, is known for his virtuosity and ability to transform music into a powerful experience. Professor Ivan Klánský, dean of the Prague Academy of Performing Arts and a renowned pianist with a career spanning more than fifty years, captivates audiences with his elegant expression and musical thinking.

Artists

prof. Ivan Klánský - piano

Marek Kozák - piano

students of the Summer Interpretation Courses at ČK

Ivan Klánský

Ivan Klánský is a Czech pianist, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher of international renown. After winning the international piano competition in Bolzano in 1967, he began his international career. He was also a laureate of competitions in Naples (1968), Leipzig (1968), Barcelona (1970), Warsaw (1970), and others. After studying at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague with professors such as Valentina Kameníková and František Rauch, he became a sought-after soloist and chamber music partner. Since 1983, he has been a professor at the Music Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, and since 1991 he has also been a professor at the Musikhochschule Luzern in Switzerland. In 1986, he founded the Guarneri Trio Prague, with which he regularly performs and records. He is the recipient of the Antonín Dvořák Prize for his lifetime contribution to Czech classical music. His repertoire ranges from Baroque to Classical to contemporary music; he performs all over the world and is known for his deep understanding of music and extraordinary musicality.

Ivan Klánský

Marek Kozák

Pianist Marek Kozák is acclaimed for his brilliant technique, balanced phrasing, wide range of colors, and interpretations based on a deep respect for the musical score. Critics praise his elegant style and ability to convey music without ostentation, “as the composer intended.” He is a laureate of the prestigious Géza Andy Competition in Zurich (2021), a finalist of the Busoni Competition (2019), winner of the European Piano Competition in Bremen (2018), and a laureate of the Prague Spring Competition (2016). In 2015, he advanced to the semifinals of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw. He regularly performs with leading Czech orchestras and abroad. In the 2024–25 season, he performed Dvořák, Grieg, and Tchaikovsky piano concertos with the Moravian Philharmonic, FOK, Slovak Philharmonic, and other ensembles. He is a sought-after chamber musician, collaborating with Simona Šaturová, Václav Petr, Vilém Vlček, and Jan Novák, and performing at leading Czech festivals.

Marek Kozák
Photo: Keishiro Mikawa

Synagogue Český Krumlov

The Jewish synagogue in Český Krumlov hides a welcoming multifunctional space, which was created after the successful revitalization of the third meander of the Vltava River.

Kozák & Klánský Present…

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