Classical concert in Prague Castle

It was something of a surprise to walk past the Lobkowicz Palace on the way out of Prague Castle and to find a board announcing a classical concert just a few minutes later. Tickets acquired, we made our way to the beautiful Concert Hall to join an expectant audience of around 50 people.

It’s never easy to ascertain whether members of the audience are passers-by who happened in out of curiosity or deliberate attendees from the locality, or even tourists who have booked their tickets weeks in advance. Certainly, they all appeared to enjoy the experience.

A trio of excellent musicians proceeded to perform a selection of pieces, most of which would be familiar to music lovers. Adam Dvoracek (piano) accompanied Lucie Maskova (flute) and Dagmar Maskova (viola) on most of the pieces, arranged with care and expertise for this somewhat unusual ensemble.

The trio opened the concert with Boccherini’s Menuet and the audience palpably relaxed in recognition of a tune, the composer of which they may not have known. Similarly, ending with Smetana’s Polka was inspired, as the composer was proudly Czech and his work provides great examples of this nation’s music.

Throughout the concert, the trio performed individually and in pairs with impressive virtuosity, whether Mozart’s solo piano Turkish March or the gorgeous viola and piano rendition of Dvorak’s Largo from New World Symphony.

Just as the concert in Vienna was a somewhat spontaneous surprise, so, too was this one in Prague Castle. Both showed the virtuosic high standard of musicians in Central Europe.