Program:

Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884)

Má vlast / My Homeland
Cycle of symphonic poems (1872–79) in the author's * arrangement for four-hand piano (1879–80)

*Vyšehrad (1872–74, 1879)
Lento – Largo maestoso – Grandioso poco largamente – Allegro vivace ma non agitato – Meno mosso – Più allegro e poco agitato – Più mosso – Più mosso agitato – Più lento Lento ma non troppo

*Vltava (1874, 1879) / Moldau
Dva pramínky Vltavy: Allegro commodo non agitato – Lesní hon – Selská veselka: L’istesso tempo, ma moderato – Zář luny, rej rusalek: L’istesso tempo – Tempo I – Svatojánské proudy – Vltava v celé své šíři: Più moto – Motiv Vyšehradu
Allegro commodo non agitato – Forest Hunt – Peasant Merrymaking: L'istesso tempo, ma moderato – Moonlight, Rusalka Revelry: L'istesso tempo – Tempo I – St. John's Currents – The Vltava in all its breadth: Più moto – Motif of Vyšehrad

*Šárka (1875, 1880)
Allegro con fuoco ma non agitato – Più moderato assai, a la marcia – Moderato ma con calore – Moderato – Molto vivo – Frenetico – Più vivo

*Z českých luhů a hájů (1875, 1880) / From Bohemia's Woods and Fields
Molto moderato – Allegro poco vivo, ma non troppo – L’istesso tempo – Allegro, quasi Polka – Più mosso – L’istesso tempo, ma un poco meno vivo – Presto

*Blaník (1879, 1880)
Allegro moderato – Andante non troppo – Più allegro ma non molto – Più mosso – Tempo di marcia – Grandioso – Tempo I – Largamente maestoso  –  Grandioso meno – Allegro – Vivace

The Ardašev Duo is formed by leading Czech pianists Renata Lichnovská and Igor Ardašev, both highly respected interpreters of classical music at home and abroad. They are graduates of the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno and further honed their artistry through prestigious masterclasses. Lichnovská has received numerous awards at international competitions, while Ardašev has achieved success at renowned piano contests in Moscow, Brussels, Paris, and Athens.

Together, they focus on repertoire for piano four hands and two pianos, performing with technical brilliance, deep sensitivity, and exceptional ensemble coherence. They regularly tour across Europe and have recorded works by Dvořák and Smetana for Supraphon.

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