Karel Janovický (18 February 1930 – 9 January 2024) was a Czech composer, pianist, BBC producer and administrator who lived in the United Kingdom from 1950.
[6] Janovický was a keen walker, "never happier than half way up a Scottish mountain with a favourite dog",[8] and was active in the Scout Movement.
After his move to England he was awarded the Dutch Gaudeamus Foundation composition prize for his Piano Variations on the theme of Brigadier H. Smitke, Op.
10, was premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in London with Jan Šedivka soloist and the Kalmar Orchestra conducted by Colin Davis.
On 14 February 1956, he made his debut at The Wigmore Hall with cellist Selu Trau, who also played his Sonata for Solo Cello, Op.
[14] Although Janovický's rate of composition slowed down considerably from the early 1960s due to his heavy work commitments at the BBC, he resumed at full pace on his retirement in 1990.
His song cycle A Bed of Roses, words by Richard Robbins, was written for the tenor John Upperton and premiered at The Purcell Room in 1999.