English translation:

To the 145 anniversary of Petrof

In February 2010 in cold and frosty Moscow, the Embassy of Czech Republic in Russia welcomed its visitors in warm and hospitable atmosphere. On February 11, 2010, unusual cultural event “PETROF invites…” took place there.

Evening started by a welcoming speech of Charge d’affaire of the Ambassador of Czech Republic in Russian Federation - Mr. Peiha. Then Mr. Jan Petrof (4th generation of Petrof family) took the floor and told the audience about history of Petrof family. PETROF is the company with a very rich history. 145 years have passed since its foundation. It was in 1864, when under direction of Antonin Petrof (the founder of the company), the first concert grand piano was manufactured in Hradec Kralove. During many years of prosperity of the company, PETROF branches in Temershvare (Hungary, 1880) and in London on Wigmore Street (1928) were opened. Then exports to Japan, China, Australia, South America (1924) started. In 1934 during a world's fair in Bruxelles PETROF pianos received a golden medal. The Second World War brought its corrective amendments in growth of the company. Then factory was nationalized in 1948, but development of manufacture was not interrupted. Thereby in 1958 on EXPO in Bruxelles concert grand piano Petrof Mondial received the superior award.

In 1991, the arrival of Jan Petrof to the management of the company (the representative of the 4th generation of family) has begun the updating of the firm which has been resulted in forming of Public Corporation PETROF by the end of 1998.

Proving the conformity to all requirements of the present and to cultural values of XXI-th century, the PETROF Company patented action with magnetic acceleration in 2003 and in 2004 the first instrument with magnetic accelerated action was produced. This piano was presented at the exhibition «Musik Messe 2004» in Germany. In 2005, acknowledgement of the international importance of the Petrof Company became appointment to the post of the president of the European confederation of manufacturers of musical instruments (CAFIM) Mrs. Zuzana Ceralova – Petrofova - the president of the PETROF Company (the representative of the 5th generation of Petrof family already).

Piano brand PETROF - one of the few in the world which is being managed by family. Practically all musical instruments are manufactured manually. Besides they do not have any Asian accessories inside them. It is certified by the Certificate of Quality  ISO (that PETROF got in 2007) issued by the European seal of Superiority and also EUROPEAN EXCELLENCE (in abbreviated form EEX), guaranteeing authenticity of an origin and protection against fakes testifies. And even innovative technologies which are used in manufacture of the latest models of this mark, do not prevent PETROF company to keep its distinctive ability of manufacture of a piano with a characteristic romantic sound which can be easily recognized.

Today manufacture of grand pianos on order for the most exacting clients, including concert grand piano Storm, new concert grand piano Monsoon, grand pianos Breeze and Bora is adjusted. It has become possible at the request of client to supply the instrument with its unique own keyboard with magnetic balancing. That is why nowadays PETROF instruments can meet the demand of both the exacting concert executors and of the young musicians.

Such wonderful young musicians became performers of piano compositions on PETROF grand piano during musical party «PETROF invites...» in Moscow. Pupils of professor Vassily Ermakov from Central Musical School at the Moscow Conservatory showed sincere and inspired play and really adult depth of comprehension of musical images. These were the pianists: Maria Andreeva, Anastasija Vorotnaya - the winner of competition Concertino - Prague 2010, Yn A In, Julia Vanyushina, and violinist - Tsoy Se Pel. Compositions by Frederik Chopin and Antonin Dvorak were performed.

True surprise of the evening became the playback of just ceased musical opuses on high-quality professional audio system Daniel Hertz. Concert numbers of pupils were written down by Mr. Mark Levinson by means of special sound recording system. And soon after alive dialogue with young musicians everyone could compare real performance with that recorded down on magnetic carriers. The effect was amazing indeed!

The founder of sound recording system Mr. Mark Levinson moved towards his discoveries for many years. Having received education of jazz trumpeter, he realized his first audio discoveries in 1968 at Musical festival in a Woodstock. Years of researches passed, and in 2007, Mark Levinson founded the company Daniel Hertz S.A in Switzerland. His main aspiration was aimed at uniting the sound (at the engineering level) with the world-known Swiss quality.

Now speakers Daniel Hertz are being also produced at the PETROF factory in the Czech Republic. For quite a long time already, known as "audiomagician" and by a nickname « a golden ear », preferred trade mark «PETROF» for his experiments on the specialized equipment of high technologies, having chosen « PETROF » from many well-known piano brands. Evening ended by free and easy talks between guests and an exchange of opinions at a glass of the Czech wine… The PETROF Company promises new projects and surprises in cooperation with Mr. Mark Levinson.