The duo started to perform with the repertoire for two pianos during their studies at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno (since 1960), later also with the repertoire for four hand piano (since 1983). They played also abroad – Hungary, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Poland and Iceland.

For over 50 years spouses Novotnýs rehearsed and performed extensive repertoire by Baroque masters through new compositions by contemporary authors. They performed several premieres of domestic and foreign authors; some opuses were dedicated to them. During their career they cooperated with Zdeněk Bílek, Mário Klemens, Ľudovít Rajter (Slovak Philharmonic), Bystrík Režucha (State Philharmonic Košice), Alfred Walter (Belgium), Djuro Jaksič (Chamber Orchestra of Belgrade Philharmonic – Yugoslavia), Vít Micka (Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra), János Sándor (State Philharmonic Győr), Georg Kugi (Ernő Dohnány Symphony Orchestra Budapest).

Among their important performances in Slovakia belong Bratislava Music Days 1985, Presentation of Slovak Concert Arts in Žilina (1979, 1988), Košice Music Spring (1968, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999). Duo performed at the international festivals: Reykiavik – The City of Music (2000, Iceland), VIII. Miedzynarodowy Festival Muziky Odnalezionej (2001) under the patronage of Polish president. They performed within “Týždeň novej tvorby”/The Week of New Works (1992), on the evenings of the anniversaries not only Slovak composers, but also the authors of the former East Germany (Karl Dietrich) and Greece (Panos Triandafilidis).

As piano teachers at the Košice Conservatory they raised many piano performers and teachers, many of whom are active at home but also abroad.

Both members of the duo are active also methodically. They are lecturers within methodical days at primary music schools, at the international competition for piano duos in Jeseník (Czech Republic). Within the Festival of Found Music in Tarnow (Poland) in May 2001, in addition to the lecture they also taught.


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