Romantic piano by Jiří Malásek
Pianist and composer Jiří Malásek, whose recordings of world and Czech hits enjoyed huge popularity in his time, was born 95 years ago.
Jiří Malásek originally studied to become a lawyer, but he devoted his life to music. He started as an amateur musician and went on to perform as a solo pianist with the Karel Vlach Orchestra.
From 1955 he also worked for Czechoslovak Television and for Czechoslovak Radio as a music programmer, and as editor-in-chief of the music publisher Panton.
Jiří Malásek received numerous awards and accolades throughout his life, which ended prematurely at the age of 56.
Five years ago, on the occasion of what would have been his 90th birthday, his son Petr Malásek, also a renowned musician and composer, put together a three-part CD collection entitled Jiří Malásek - The Golden Collection.
The first two albums include a selection of instrumental solo recordings of popular international and Czech hits. The third album presents Malásek as an author and co-author.
It opens with Píseň o Jasmínu or Song about Jasmine performed by Hana Hegerová, but it also includes six evergreens from the cult Czech musical Starci na chmelu or The Hop Pickers from 1964.
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