Romantic evenings in the Rudolfinum ⬩ Jan Martiník, David Mareček

Young czech Bass Jan Martiník was born in 1983 in Ostrava where he studied on Janáček Conservatory and on the University of Ostrava with Eliška Pappová. 2003 he won the International Singing Competition Antonín Dvořák in Karlovy Vary in the category Junior and was also rewarded with the second prize in the category "Lied". Jan Martiník is laureate of the International Competition Jelena Obraztsova, where he won the special prize for the best Tchajkovsky romance. 2007 he was finalist in Placido Domingo´s Competition "Operalia" and in 2009 in Cardiff Singer of the World, where he won the category "Song".

While studying at the university he appeared in roles at the NDM Ostrava, including Pistola (Falstaff), Leporello (Don Giovanni) and Truffaldino (Ariadne auf Naxos). At the National Theatre Prague he sung roles including Masetto (Don Giovanni), Larkens and José Castro (La fanciulla del West), Leporello (Don Giovanni) in the new production in Estates theatre.

From 2008 to 2011 Jan Martiník was a member of Komische Oper Berlin, where he sung roles including Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Colline (La bohème), Surin (Pique Dame) and Nachtwächter (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg). In Volksoper Vienna he sung Betto (Gianni Schicchi), 1.Nazarener (Salome) as well as Zuniga in Carmen. Since 2012/13 Jan Martiník is a member of Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, where he performes roles including Colline (La Bohéme), Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Eremit (Der Freischütz), as well as Father Trulove (The Rake´s Progress).

In concerts the young Bass was working with well known orchestras such as Czech Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Brimingham Symphony Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, as well as the King´s Consort and the Collegium 1704. Amongst other pieces of the concert repertoire he has performed Jesus in St. Matthews Passion, as well as the Aria Part, the Bass Parts in Mozart, Dvořák and Verdiʼs Requiem, Dvořák Te Deum, Beethovens 9. Symphony and Haydns Schöpfung. Jan Martiník is already known for his sincere interpretations of Schubertʼs Winterreise and Dvořák Biblical Songs. 

The beauty of his voice matches with a splendid technique and a comical talent, which makes him one of the leading singers of the young generation. 

David Mareček graduated from the Brno Conservatory as a pianist and conductor, studying under Ivana Stanovská and Evžen Holiš. He continued his piano studies at the Janáček Academy of the Performing Arts under the guidance of Inessa Janíčková and Jaroslav Smýkal. He took part in master classes with such illustrious pianists and pedagogues as Karl-Heinz Kämmerling, Dominique Weber, Peter Lang, Pierre Jasmin, and Walter Groppenberger. In 1998 he received an educational grant from the Czech Music Fund, and two years later with the violinist Jiří Němeček he won the second prize at the Leoš Janáček International Competition.

From 2003 to 2015 he taught piano at the Brno Conservatory, in 2007 he became the executive director of the Brno Philharmonic, and since February 2011 he has been serving as the Chief Executive of the Czech Philharmonic. At present, he is devoting himself to playing chamber music in collaboration with Jan Martiník, Ivo Kahánek, the Dover Quartet, the Jerusalem Quartet, and the Zemlinsky Quartet. Together with colleagues from the Czech Philharmonic, he has appeared in concerts in Prague, London, Tokyo, and Beijing. During the celebration of Czechoslovak centenary in autumn 2018, he accompanied the cellist Alisa Weilerstein on BBC Radio 3 and at the Bohemian National Hall in New York. In September 2018, Supraphon released his recording of Schubert's Winterreise together with Jan Martiník.

„Their sparkling pianist in Dvořák’s A major Quintet was the CEO of the Czech Philharmonic, David Mareček who, despite his busy life, finds time to keep up his technique.“