For many years, Igor Ardašev has ranked among the absolute elite—not only of Czech pianists but of the international piano scene. Due to his natural modesty, it is sometimes overlooked that he is a pianist who truly conquered the world’s stages through prestigious competitions such as the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, the Prague Spring Competition, and, in its time, the highly respected Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Ardašev is often described by his chamber music partners as the most inspiring pianist they have worked with. His performance style—free of unnecessary theatricality—is marked by deep interpretative focus, with which he masterfully captivates his audience. programme Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (Pathétique) Miloslav Kabeláč — Eight Preludes for Piano Bohuslav Martinů — Eight Preludes, H 181 More Übergeordnete Aktionen festivals und festspiele Days of Bohuslav Martinů 10. 11. 2025 — 9. 12. 2025 Zusammenhängende Kühn's mixed choir and solists The opening concert of the festival’s fourth decade is dedicated to choral music, presented by the Kühn Mixed Choir alongside outstanding soloists. The Kühn Mixed Choir is an ensemble with over 60 years of tradition, known for its interpretation of classical choral repertoire and frequent collaborations with all major Czech orchestras (including the Czech Philharmonic, Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK, Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Hradec Králové Philharmonic, among others). A vital part of the choir’s identity has always been its engagement with contemporary music—many works have been dedicated to the choir—and its ongoing exploration of new ways to present the art of choral singing.