Jan Panenka

Jan Panenka (July 8,1922 – 12 July 1999 [ [http://phonoarchive.org/grove/Entries/S20806.htm Panenka, Jan ] ] ) was a Czech pianist. He recorded many of Beethoven's works. He played for many years with the Suk Trio.

Life

He began the concert career in 1944, as a pupil of František Maxián at the Prague Conservatory. In 1951 he was awarded the 2nd prize at the Prague Spring International Music Competition. He attracted the attention of the world audiences in 1959, on a concert tour to Australia and Japan with the Czech Philharmonic [Sleeve note of the Supraphon CD (SU 3547-2 101)] . Panenka interrupted his career in 1979, due to hand problems. He worked as a conductor, but later returned to the piano and made the recordings with the Smetana Quartet. He worked also as a teacher at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

As a soloist with the Czech Philharmonic he made also a number of gramophone recordings, in 1964-71 complete piano concertos of Ludwig van Beethoven. He was awarded the "Grand Prix du Disque" for the recording of the violin sonatas (Janáček, Debussy...), together with Josef Suk.

Discography

Allmusic reports that he performed works by:
* Antonín Dvořák
* Ludwig van Beethoven
* Josef Suk
* Robert Schumann
* Bohuslav Martinů
* Leoš Janáček
* Johannes Brahms
* Franz Schubert

Allmusic reports that he performed together with the following musicians:
* Josef Suk (violinist)
* Panocha Quartet
* Josef Suk (composer)
* Suk Trio
* Josef Chuchro
* Orchestr Česká Filharmonie (Czech Philharmonic)

References

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=41:44732 Allmusic.com: Jan Panenka]
* [http://www.supraphon.com/en/about-us/60th-anniversary/ Supraphon - 60th anniversary]
* [http://www.classicstoday.com/digest/pdigest.asp?perfidx=2949 ClassicsToday.com Review Digest for Performances by Jan Panenka]

Footnotes