An evening of Czech Piano Music at the Embassy
We were very fortunate to be invited to the Czech Embassy in NW DC for an evening of Czech music and holiday celebration. The invitation came through our role as the local Petrof dealer, as Petrof has existed as one of the Czech Republic’s most storied institutions for the past 160 years. The evening marked the beginning of what we hope will be an ongoing collaboration centered on Czech music, instruments, and culture.
The concert featured three outstanding pianists — Mary Voutsas, Alex Ancil, and Misha Tumanov — who performed a program of solo, four-hand, and surprisingly, six-hand works. The repertoire included music by Czech composers Dvořák and Smetana, as well as Rachmaninoff. A particularly memorable portion of the program was a set of Czech Christmas songs, masterfully arranged by Mary Voutsas for the occasion. These pieces brought warmth and intimacy to the evening, and appropriately fit the Embassy’s patronage and culture, as well as the holiday season. For a piano recital, that is a rare feat.
The performance took place on the Embassy’s Petrof III Grand piano, an earlier predecessor to today’s Storm model. It was a pleasure to hear the instrument as a mature piano, as it still retains the qualities that characterize the Petrof sound: a warm, round, and lush tone with a singing treble and a clear, resonant bass register. The piano still clearly projects lines across four and six hands, while blossoming the voicing into rich, romantic tones. The Storm — Petrof’s current version of this piano and the crown jewel of our collection — builds upon these strengths and presents an even rounder and thicker tone.
We were also invited to offer opening remarks about Petrof and our work. As technicians and dealers, much of our role happens quietly behind the scenes, so it was especially meaningful to speak directly with Embassy guests and patrons of the arts. We enjoyed connecting with attendees that clearly shared our passion for piano, culture, and Czech craftsmanship.
The evening was a gracious celebration of Czech music and community, and we are honored to have played a part. We look forward to continuing our relationship with our new friends at the Embassy of Czechia, and supporting future events that highlight the artistry, tradition, and living culture behind Petrof pianos.