This September, a rare musical experience returns to Victoria Concert Hall as part of the European Sound Concert Series by True Music Singapore. On 26 September 2025, Czech pianist Matyáš Novák will take the stage for Homage to Czech Music’s Four Greats, a recital celebrating the timeless beauty and expressive spirit of Czech classical music.
This performance marks only the second-ever Petrof recital in Singapore, following the success of the inaugural event on 4 July, where Prof. Karel Košárek stepped in for the indisposed Jan Schulmeister. This Petrof Concert Series is part of the 45th Anniversary festivities of Cristofori Music Singapore, the exclusive authorised dealer for Petrof. Košárek’s deeply memorable performance introduced local audiences to the bold, earthy tone of the Petrof Monsoon P237, a Czech handcrafted concert grand piano making its Singapore debut.
Now, Petrof returns to the Singapore stage along with a rising star of the European concert scene..
A Young Artist with Remarkable Depth
Matyáš Novák, born in 1998, has already performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the National Gallery of Art in Washington. A member of the Petrof Art Family, he is known not only for his expressive touch and imaginative interpretations, but also for his original piano transcriptions and fantasies based on operas and folk melodies.
Though still in his twenties, Novák commands a repertoire of remarkable depth and variety — from the romantic masterpieces of the 19th century to his own inventive works that draw upon Czech musical tradition.
A Tribute to Four Masters of Czech Music
Titled Homage to Czech Music’s Four Greats, this recital showcases music by Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, and Josef Suk: composers whose works continue to shape the sound and identity of Czech classical music.
The programme moves from lively folk dances and lyrical miniatures to emotionally charged reflections on life, love, and national memory. Two original fantasies by Novák based on Dvořák’s opera Rusalka and Smetana’s beloved Vltava add a personal voice to this tribute, offering audiences something both familiar and newly imagined.
Event Details
Date: Friday, 26 September 2025
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Victoria Concert Hall
Tickets: From $18 via Ticketmaster.sg
Enquiries: (65) 9687 4480
Programme
BEDŘICH SMETANA
Selections from Czech Dances
JOSEF SUK
Song of Love, Op. 7 No. 1
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK
Poetic Tone Pictures, Op. 85 (Selection)
INTERMISSION
LEOŠ JANÁČEK
Sonata 1.X.1905 (“From the Street”)
I. Presentiment
II. Death
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK / MATYÁŠ NOVÁK
Fantasy on Themes from Rusalka
BEDŘICH SMETANA / MATYÁŠ NOVÁK
Vltava (The Moldau)
A Czech Piano for Czech Music
Petrof pianos made their Singapore debut on 4th July 2025 in the hands of Professor Karel Košárek playing a curated program of Czech music, and jazz-infused 20th century masterpieces.
This programme will be performed on the Petrof Monsoon P237, a concert grand piano designed and handcrafted in the Czech Republic. Known for its rich, singing tone and lyrical voice, exceptional quality and craftsmanship, Petrof stands proudly as one of Europe’s oldest and largest piano manufacturers, with a history dating back to 1864.
Hearing Czech music performed by a Czech pianist on a Czech piano is a rare opportunity in Singapore, and one that promises a uniquely authentic musical experience.
Whether you are a seasoned concertgoer or exploring classical music for the first time, this recital offers an inspiring entry point into a world of rich heritage, masterful storytelling, and expressive sound from both the musician, and the instrument.
This event is presented by Cristofori Music Singapore, and organised by True Music Singapore, with the support of Petrof, and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Singapore.For more updates on the European Sound Concert Series, be sure to follow True Music Singapore on Facebook and Instagram, and for a peek at Petrof pianos, head over to their main showroom in Singapore at the Cristofori Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) @ One Holland Village, or visit the Piano Megastore at Blk 3014 Bedok Industrial Park E.