Lukáš Matoušek

Having graduated from the Prague Conservatory (clarinet with Milan Kostohryz, conducting with Václav Smetáček, and composition with Zdeněk Hůla), Matoušek took part in a two-year course in electronic music at the Czechoslovak Radio.

Between 1969 and 1975 he studied composition privately under Miloslav Kabeláč. In 1982 he graduated from Ctirad Kohoutek’s composition class at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno. In 1980 he studied medieval music in London as a British Council scholarship holder.

Matoušek has assumed a number of professional positions, working as clarinet professor in the 1970s, music director at the Czechoslovak Radio in the 1980s, music director of the Studio Matouš recording company in the 1990s, and programme advisor of the Prague Symphonic Orchestra FOK in 2000–2006. Since 2001 he has been teaching at the Faculty of Music of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

As the founder and artistic director of the vocal-instrumental ensemble Ars Cameralis he performs medieval and contemporary music. Ever since the 1960s his inclination towards dodecaphony and New music has been palpable. The influence of aleatorics and timbre compositional techniques grew temporarily stronger during the 1970s. At the same time, however, he was seeking for points of concurrence between contemporary music and the music of both earlier and more recent history.

Nowadays, it is difficult to pinpoint his compositional style; nevertheless, there are perceptible reflections of the present-day (postmodernism-influenced) currents in music to be found in his production. Matoušek’s output includes orchestral, chamber, solo, vocal and instructive music. Matoušek’s works have been conducted by such personalities as Sir Charles Mackerras, Gennadij Roždestvenskij, Jiří Bělohlávek, Ole Schmidt, and others.

Titles for sale:
"Czech" Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano
Shadows and Reflections