The Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Competition has been shedding light on new talents in the disciplines of piano, violin, violoncello, voice, harpsichord, wind instruments, and chamber ensembles for the past 27 years. Recent laureates include the clarinettist Anna Paulová, the pianist Matouš Zukal, as well as the violinist Roman Patočka, the cellist Tomáš Jamník, or the pianist Ivo Kahánek, and many others. Last year’s winners were Robin Červinek (baritone) and Vilém Vlček (violoncello), who will present their art at a concert on 10 December.
“The aim of the competition is to promote Bohuslav Martinů’s compositions among young, talented musicians and to support the performance of works by other Czech composers of the past decades,” the competition rules declare. This commitment is reflected in the competition format, which requires both a composition by Bohuslav Martinů for the given instrument and a work by some other Czech composer written after 1960, along with a work from the global repertoire of 18th- and 19th-century music.
Similar conditions apply to this year’s disciplines, that is, violin and chamber ensemble from trios to sextets with piano. Audiences can look forward to repertoire by Martinů, who was himself a violinist and who wrote impressive and often technically demanding works for the instrument, or to his chamber works marked by a generous breadth of musical inspirations.
The competition will be held in the following categories
- violin
- chamber ensembles from trio to sextet with piano
The competition is intended for candidates up to 28 years of age from the Czech and Slovak Republics or for foreign students studying in the Czech Republic.
Since 1996, the annual Bohuslav Martinů Festival has included an interpretation competition. Young performers regularly have the opportunity to measure their artistic abilities in eight categories:
- Violin / chamber ensemble trio to sextet with piano
- Piano / chamber ensemble trio to sextet without piano
- Wind instruments (flute, clarinet, trumpet) / harpsichord
- Vocal / cello
The focus of the competition lies in the interpretation of the works of Bohuslav Martinů. The choice of other repertoire underlines the historical links and connections with his work and personality.
More information can be found in the terms and conditions of the competition.
Conditions of the competition