‘Jan is a worthy winner. He has fascinated us from the first round. Not only with his technical skills, but also with his charisma on stage,’ the chairman of the jury of the 2014 Fritz Kreisler Competition announced after Mrácek’s performance with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was met with thunderous applause. Prior to this Mrácek has studied with the great Czech master Václav Hudeček, as well as with Levon Chilingirian, Gavriel Lipkind and Ida Haendel.

For his debut CD, Jan Mrácek has chosen an all-Czech programme devoted to Dvořák. The Violin Concerto sits on the margins of that exclusive club of ‘great’ concertos but this is to misunderstand the originality and genius of this Concerto, dedicated to Joseph Joachim, written by a superb violinist with a deep understanding of the capabilities of his instrument. The easy charm and lyricism of the music has always appealed to the public.

The haunting Romance in F originally formed the slow movement of an early String Quartet, op.9, and has the ability to stick in the listener’s memory long after the music has stopped. The Mazurek, op.49, was dedicated to Pablo de Sarasate and is typical of Dvořák’s Slavonic style. The Four Romantic Pieces, op.75, were composed for a group of friends of varying musical abilities, and are charming, easy-going works.