Friday 18/5/2007 was a significant day for PETROF, spol. s r.o. The minister of foreign affairs Karel Schwarzenberg made alive the tradition from the past when the Czechoslovak minister of foreign affairs invited the ambassadors of all countries to a “tour” of the host country once or twice a year.

The first event of that type took place just on Friday, the 18/5/2007. In the morning, more than a hundred ambassadors from all over the world with their escort departed to visit the Kladruby stud farm. After the lunch in the manor of the Kinský family at Kněžičky they arrived to our factory at Hradec Králové.

Although the precious visit arrived only in later afternoon hours, people in the whole factory worked so that they could show off the magnificent art of skilful craftsmen, painters or designers.

The participant were shortly welcomed at the company courtyard by Mr. Jan Petrof, representative of the fifth generation of traditional piano builders with his daughter Ivana Petrofová. The Managing Director of the company, Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová, was at that time on the road between China and Korea...

The diplomats went in small groups through final production of pianos and upright pianos. They were fascinated by the way of work and the surroundings, the guides answered one question after other.

At the end of the visit, a concert of the Pančocha couple from Brno was held in the Piano salon where the visitors could hear well-known pieces played on the unique instrument of Mr. Kršák. Má vlast (My homeland) in four-handed interpretation was the culmination. The diplomats passed then some more pleasant moments in the company premises and then returned back to Prague. Their records in the Visitor’s book, the reactions during the visit and subsequent letters, e-mails etc. show unambiguously that the Petrof company is still perceived as a top world manufacturer that maintains the original European quality and top sound.52On 24-30/6, the 2nd year of the International Rudolf Firkušný piano competition was held in the mirror chapel of Klementinum in Prague.

Continuity with the 1st year held two years ago could be clearly seen. The jury with the same president, prof. Peter Toperczer, consisted mostly of the same members; the competition repertoire was modified in the selection of compulsory and optional titles, but it was oriented to the same targets: to confrontation of interpretation of most significant works of world and Czech piano music from all periods that gave the world the piano creation living until today to the modern works pronounced in innovator manner. The most striking change of the competition conditions was the cancellation of age categories: piano players who had achieved 26 years of age at the maximum by 1/1/2005 competed there equivalently. No lower limit was fixed, but mostly conservatory and university students took part.

The competition was held by the Smetana music association of Brandýs nad Labem – Stará Boleslav, the spiritus agens of which, Ing. Jan Flemr proved himself again as reliable organizer. The participants played the new piano PI MISTRAL lent from the PETROF company, the general partner of the competition. 43 piano players from twenty countries of the world signed up; 31 came and played in the 1st round. 19 participants advanced to the 2nd round and 9 to the finals.

All finalists were awarded prizes: first of all three main prizes in values of 75, 50 and 25 thousand CZK: The 1st prize was awarded to Anastasyia Naplekova, the twenty-one year old student of Art University of Charkov, Ukraine, at prof. N. Melnyková; the 2nd Jakub Uhlík, pupil of prof. Magda Štajnochrová at České Budějovice and today student of Music Faculty of AMU in Prague and the 3rd, Ilze Zvaigznekalne, pupil of Juris Kalnciems at the Latvian Music Academy of Riga.

Besides, prizes of different institutions and personalities were awarded. The most attractive of them, the prize of Florida University, connected with invitation to concerts in the USA, was awarded to the competition winner Aastasyia Naplekova. Other prizes were donated by Prof. Jiří Hlinka, jury member, piano player of Czech origin working in Norway now, director of the National Library, dean of Music Faculty of AMU in Prague, OSA Music Foundation, Bohuslav Martinů Foundation, Embassy of the Latvian Republic, the DURABO and GESTAV companies and Smetana Music association.

Besides the above stated laureates with the three main prizes, they were awarded – in sequence according to the amount of point evaluation – to Martin Levický, student of prof. Peter Toperczer at the Music Faculty of AMU in Prague, Julia Okruashvili, student of L. Roščina at the Moscow State Conservatory, Anna Volovitch from the Kazan State Conservatory of Russia, Alicia Witarsa, an Indonesian student of the Royal Conservatory at Haag, and Andreas Donat, an Austrian student of Barrat – Due Institute of Music at Oslo of prof. Jiří Hlinka.

The prize of the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation was bound to the best interpretation of Bohuslav Martinů music; his pieces were not played in the finals, so the jury awarded the prize to Magda Flemrová, student of the Prague Conservatory of prof. Jan Novotný who played the complete 2nd volume of the cycle called Etudes and polkas in the 2nd round. The concert of the winners that took place before the almost full parterre of Dvořák hall in the evening of 30/6 had excellent level. From Bedřich Smetana’s pieces, not only Martin Levický played splendidly the Pullet from the Czech Dances, but also the Indonesian Alicia Witarsa played the Polka g moll from the Poetic polkas and Hlinka"s Austrian student Andreas Donat played the 3rd movement from Janáček cycle In the fogs; Uhlík"s interpretation of Debussy"s Pictures I was remarkably mature and stylish, Ilze Zvaigznekalne surprised with the beautiful piece of the modern Latvian compositor E. Eshenvalds called Seaside landscape, making inventive use of piano possibilities of New music.

Julia Okruashvili played excellently the Prelude and Fugue Des dur from the famous opus 87 by Dmitrij Shostakovitsch and Martin Levický the Etude of opus 2 No. 3 by Sergei Prokofjev. In the end, romantically oversweetened and overpathetic music could be heard: two movements of the Sonatas in b minor by Sergei Rakhmaninov; but the winner Anastasyia Naplekova played them masterfully, with the best piano player qualities.

High artistic level, excellent organization, splendid inspiring environment of Prague and the support by the PETROF company are the best preconditions for a successful 3rd year that will take place in June 2007.


61Dear young musicians,

I must tell you with regret that with regard to unexpected organization difficulties that emerged, it will not be possible to held the 3rd year of the International Rudolf Firkušný piano competition in the year 2007.

As the general partner, we feel great responsibility for the competition and are pleased about the extraordinarily positive responses to the previous two years. 50 participants registered from 19 countries of the world evidence the excellent world response.

We are aware of how much effort and expectation you have put into the preparation of the prescribed repertoire. But we believe at the same time that you will make use of that work at your study, concert activities and particularly at the International piano competition we want to held in 2008 with full engagement and continue so the well started work.

The PETROF company has been producing Pianos and Upright pianos for more than 140 years; they are intended to young generation from all over the world at high level; instruments produced by our company appear in 60 countries. The future and the hope of all of us are connected with youth, talent and diligence; so I hope you will follow the information related to the new competition, which we will publish at our Internet sites.


Mgr. Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová
Managing Director of PETROF
73Hanger of piano music stand - 20088971Hanger of piano music stand - 20088982Geneva International Corporation (Illinois, USA) was not successful with its proposal for bankruptcy of the biggest European piano manufacturer, the PETROF company.81The Regional Court of Hradec Králové (Czech Republic) refused on 18/6/2007 the proposal for bankruptcy submitted against the biggest European piano manufacturer, the PETROF company, by the American company called Geneva International Cooperation (GIC) on the 20/3/2007.

The court found two basic reasons for its decision:

1. the Petrof company is not insolvent or involved in debt,
2. the petitioner (GIC) did not evidence sufficiently the justifiability of the claim on the base of which it submitted the proposal.


The proposal of GIC had speculative character and its target was to damage to its business partner.

GIC can lodge an appeal against the court decision.

Petrof is very popular in the Czech Republic and the development of the case is strongly followed by the Czech media. The court decision and the related comments of the press tell against the GIC.

The bankruptcy proposal submitted by GIC caused damages to Petrof, which are still being quantified. Preliminary estimates amount to about 3-4 million USD after specification. Petrof will enforce claims to their compensation on legal way.

Petrof cancelled the agreement of exclusive business representation to GIC. The reason is non-fulfilment of the agreement by GIC.

The cancellation of the agreement does not mean that top pianos of Petrof brand, the owners of which include even such personalities like Paul McCartney and Bob Milne, become unobtainable to American customers. The potential of sales of Petrof pianos on the American market is estimated as 10 million USD a year by their manufacturer. The owner of Petrof, Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová, stated at this occasion: „The Petrof brand has a 140 year long tradition and it features among instruments of the highest world quality. Each of our instruments is a unique product. Each of them is an original with its own individual soul and unique romantic tone appreciated by connoisseurs. The NAMM Show of Anaheim held at the beginning of this year confirmed us that there are a lot of persons interested in buying our pianos in America. The cancellation of the GIC agreement does not mean end of sales in the USA, but only an opportunity for new solutions and other – more capable partners.”

Petrof does not exclude that cheap Asian plagiarism of its pianos could appear on the American Market in connection with this situation and that they could misuse its business brand. Persons interested in buying Petrof pianos can easily distinguish such cheap and low-quality imitations. The original Petrof pianos are provided with covering documentation documenting European origin and quality from this year on: „The European Excelence“ (EEX). Each product has an individual serial number and is marked with protective hologram, EEX.

EEX mark:



This press release was published by PETROF, spol. s r.o.
Responsible for correctness: Mgr. Zuzana Ceralova – Petrofova, CEO
Prepared and distributed by V.I.A. PRAHA, a.s.
93Instrument catalogue91PDF document- 4,4 MB


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92katalog-nastroju-obalka.jpg103Peg hanger - 15176102Peg hanger - 15176113Brake hanger - 15177112Brake hanger - 15177123Brake case - 203960122Brake case - 203960133Flap brake - 203959132Flap brake - 203959153Peg - 203235152Peg - 203235163Cap - 203961162Cap - 203961193Angle brace hanger - 200890192Angle brace hanger - 200890203Safety holder, assembly - 201197202Safety holder, assembly - 201197323Lyre screw - 203400322Lyre screw - 203400333AL stock - 203748332AL stock - 203748363Pedal Upright pianos middle with half-groove - 203905362Pedal Upright pianos middle with half-groove - 203905373Stop for Upright pianos pedal - 203907372Stop for Upright pianos pedal - 203907383Pedalizing assembly – Pianos - 203910382Pedalizing assembly – Pianos - 203910443Pedal hook - 200531442Pedal hook - 200531453Upright pianos lock, plug contact - 885306452Upright pianos lock, plug contact - 885306463Lock metal sheet, key - 204032462Lock metal sheet, key - 204032473Piano lock - 203751472Piano lock - 203751483Piano push bolt - 204019482Piano push bolt - 204019493Piano key - 5415492Piano key - 5415503Direct plug contact – 203817502Direct plug contact – 203817523Bended plug contact - 200892522Bended plug contact - 200892533Boat glider - 200535532Boat glider - 200535543Cast iron glider – 200534542Cast iron glider – 200534603Piano wheel assembly, 2 pcs with brake, 1 pc without brake – 201149602Piano wheel assembly, 2 pcs with brake, 1 pc without brake – 201149613Collar - 203810612Collar - 203810623Music stand hanger - 200708622Music stand hanger - 200708633Music stand hanger with peg - 202366632Music stand hanger with peg - 202366673Bowl screw, diameter 12x20 mm - 203548672Bowl screw, diameter 12x20 mm - 203548683Bowl screw, diameter 12x16 mm - 200628682Bowl screw, diameter 12x16 mm - 200628693Lifting angle – 200656692Lifting angle – 200656703Lower frame spring - 200589702Lower frame spring - 200589713Movable spring - 200798712Movable spring - 200798853Threaded holder with nut - 202962852Threaded holder with nut - 202962893Hook of piano cover holder with eye - 202129892Hook of piano cover holder with eye - 2021291023Music stand guide - 2007731022Music stand guide - 2007731033Damper bar, L=1045 mm - 2006511032Damper bar, L=1045 mm - 2006511043Damper bar holder - 2007061042Damper bar holder - 2007061073Piano key lining - 8028361072Piano key lining - 8028361123Halftones - 8029751122Halftones - 8029751133Piano keyboard1132Piano keyboard1142Upright piano keyboard1152Environment friendly keyboard – with brass