TRIO BOHÉMO FINALLY RELEASES ITS DEBUT ALBUM

On 23 August 2024, the youthful Trio Bohémo, having already enjoyed several years of success at prestigious competitions and concert venues around the world, are releasing their debut album on the Supraphon label. The recording brings together two important piano trios: Smetana’s Trio in G minor and Schubert’s Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, two works of great depth interpreted with special sensitivity. The album will appear on CD and in digital format, and it is also the first Supraphon classical recording in the Dolby Atmos format, enabling playback using surround sound technology.

Smetana wrote his Trio in G minor in less than three months of 1855 whilst grieving the death of his daughter. The emotionally powerful work is a gem of 19th-century chamber music. Schubert wrote his monumental Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major in 1827, a year before his death. The work is one of his last finished compositions. Trio Bohémo, with pianist Jan Vojtek, violinist Matouš Pěruška, and cellist Kristina Vocetková, have enjoyed triumphs at such prestigious competitions as London’s Parkhouse Award, the International Johannes Brahms Competition in Austria, and the International Filippo Nicosia Award in Italy. They recorded their first album in England at the Britten Studio in Snape Maltings in collaboration with the renowned recording producer Andrew Keener.

“Smetana was a clear choice for us from the beginning. We made our debut at London’s Wigmore Hall with his trio, and from then on we have felt strongly connected to the work,” says Trio Bohémo’s cellist Kristina Vocetková. Violinist Matouš Pěruška adds: “For all of us, it was important to play Smetana alongside something that would express how highly we regard Smetana’s trio. We could hardly have found a more brilliant work than Schubert’s Trio in E flat major.”

Trio Bohémo’s interpretations seek the meaning hidden behind the musical notation. Their debut album promises unforgettable listening and an enlightened view of two important composers. “Both works are a solid part of our repertoire. Schubert and Smetana will accompany us to all of the continents we will be visiting,” says violinist Matouš Pěruška.

The coming 2024/2025 season will be very important for Trio Bohémo with appearances around Europe and three big concert tours. In September they head for Australia, then in January they travel to the USA. At home they are looking forward to playing Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in May with the Brno Philharmonic and Alena Hron and at a concert in Dvořák Hall at Prague’s Rudolfinum in March.

Trio Bohémo was founded in 2019. Its members are Matouš Pěruška (violin), Kristina Vocetková (cello), and Jan Vojtek (piano). Although all the players are Czech, they first met whilst studying in the Hungarian capital Budapest, and soon afterwards they decided to form a piano trio. The group quickly earned recognition, winning second prize at the prestigious Gianni Bergamo Award competition in Lugano, Switzerland. Next, they collaborated with the Italian company Le Dimore del Quartetto, which honoured them as the ‘Ensemble of the Year 2021’. They earned more prizes at international competitions, including first prize at the Johannes Brahms International Competition in Austria and winning the Parkhouse Award in London. Trio Bohémo have made their debuts at such prestigious concert venues as London’s Wigmore Hall and the Musikverein in Vienna and at festivals including Prague Spring and the Flanders Festival in Ghent. They have also been active members of the European Chamber Music Academy, where they have collaborated with important European professors. Matouš Pěruška is playing an extraordinary violin from the workshop of Matteo Goffriller, and that has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Dr. Jan Telenský.