Czech Chamber Music Society • Smetana Trio

The legacy of Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) reveals his extraordinary relationship to chamber music – this is evidenced not only by his fourteen string quartets, but also by four piano trios, three quintets and other compositions. And on top of that it is not known what Dvořák had destroyed – at least, we know of the two early piano trios mentioned in the introduction to this text. Piano Trio No. 3 in F minor, Op. 65 is one of the major achievements of Dvořák’s chamber music. It stands out by the wealth of musical ideas and their resourceful development, the masterly structure of the individual movements and the almost symphonic quality of the work as a whole, while maintaining the right balance between the instruments. This trio is often seen as the chamber counterpart to Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 in D minor, written two years later. In terms of its expression and mood, the trio differs from what was common in Dvořák’s early Slavic period. Its music is grave, brooding, contemplative and defiant; at the same time it is often described as Dvořák’s “most Brahmsian” work. Dvořák was well on his way to an international career at this time (invitation from the Philharmonic Society of London, among others), and it seems that he decided to write a composition that would draw on the best European musical traditions and compete on equal footing with the works of Beethoven or Brahms, just as he had successfully attempted with his Seventh Symphony. However, Dvořák manifested his Slavic heritage here by quoting one of his own Songs on the Words of the Dvůr Králové Manuscript from 1872 (namely The Cuckoo from the first movement). The immediate impetus for the composition of the Piano Trio is said to be the death of Dvořák’s mother, Anna Dvořáková. The composer started work on the score about a month later, writing from January to March 1883. He did a great deal of reworking and editing. The premiere of the Piano Trio was given on 27 October 1883 in Mladá Boleslav by the violinist Ferdinand Lachner and the cellist Alois Neruda; Dvořák himself as an excellent pianist (not only a violist and violinist!) sat at the keyboard. The Piano Trio was soon performed in Prague by the same ensemble and published that same year by the Berlin-based publisher Simrock. The internet website dedicated to Antonín Dvořák features a period press review from 13 February 1884 by the critic Eduard Hanslick in Neue Freie Presse: “The most valuable gem brought to us amid the plethora of concerts in recent weeks is undeniably Dvořák’s new Piano Trio in F minor. It demonstrates that the composer finds himself at the pinnacle of his career. If we disregard the smaller genres, it is particularly the Symphony in D major, the string sextet, and now the Trio in F minor which rank Dvořák among the world’s greatest modern masters.”

The Smetana Trio is one of the most prominent Czech chamber ensembles with a long history – it carries on the legacy of the Czech pianist Josef Páleníček, who founded the ensemble in 1934, more than ninety years ago. Today, it comprises three leading Czech soloists and experienced chamber musicians: cellist Jan Páleníček, the founder’s son; his wife, pianist Jitka Čechová; and violinist Markéta Janoušková, who completes the trio. The ensemble has collaborated with a whole host of leading conductors and orchestras and performs regularly both at home and abroad. During the 2024–2025 season, the Smetana Trio was also the resident ensemble at the prestigious Wigmore Hall in London.

Its repertoire encompasses a wide range of works, from the Czech classics to music of the 20th century. The trio has won numerous prestigious awards for its recordings, including the BBC Music Magazine Awards, the Diapason d’Or, the Choc du Monde de la Musique, the BBC Music Magazine Chamber Award and the MusicWeb International Award. Their latest album was released in September 2026 by Supraphon and features works by three composers: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Zdeněk Fibich and Walter Rabl. Pianist Jitka Čechová commented on the new release: “The combination of these three composers is truly an exclusive Romantic essence of the leading figures in European high art of their time. We wanted to present the chamber music legacy of three neighbouring European countries – and yet three distinct musical worlds.”

In May 2026, the ensemble performed once again at the Prague Spring festival after an absence of eight years, in a concert featuring a varied programme comprising works from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Critics praised their performance, noting, amongst other things: “Stylistic refinement is truly a hallmark of the Smetana Trio – hence the sheer number of awards they have received for their concert and recording achievements.”

The Smetana Trio kicked off the current season back in August with a performance at the international Music Along The Danube 2026 festival in Bratislava; during the autumn, they performed et concerts in Bohemia and Moravia, as well as on tours in Italy, Germany and Poland. After the New Year, the ensemble will perform not only at Prague’s Rudolfinum but also, for example, at the Besední dům in Brno, and will conclude the season at the Český Krumlov International Music Festival 2027.

Markéta Janoušková studied in Prague, Berlin and Chicago. In 2023, her solo album L’Astre Bleu was released by the German label Genuin. As a soloist, she also took part, alongside musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic, in a unique recording project showcasing the chamber works of Miloslav Kabeláč. She plays an 18th-century H. Lockey Hill violin.

Jan Páleníček studied in Prague; his encounter with the renowned French cellist Paul Tortelier was also a significant influence on him. As a soloist, he collaborates with both Czech and international orchestras. For many years, he also taught at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. He plays an instrument made by F. Delanoy in 1829.

Jitka Čechová studied in Prague, Paris and Freiburg. She has won numerous awards at international competitions and, as a soloist, is highly acclaimed by critics both at home and abroad. She has made many solo and chamber music recordings – among her most significant is a complete recording of Bedřich Smetana’s piano works for Supraphon.