The South Czech Philharmonic presented Vrstvení (Layering), a new piece by composer and top-class cymbalist Daniel Skála (*1981). It was performed on 21 and 22 February in the church of Saint Anna, České Budějovice, under the direction of Marek Prášil. “The title of the piece refers to the main principle of composition I used here,” Skála said. “Instead of melodies and … Read more…
As a part of their 49th season, the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice introduced Little Words, a new song cycle by composer and the orchestra’s former music director Marko Ivanović (*1976). The piece attracted the attention of the Prague Spring festival, too; that is why the audience in the Suk Hall of Pardubice’s Dům hudby on 19 February had a chance … Read more…
One of the nine opera performances Staatstheater Kassel (Hesse) produced this year was Janáček’s Jenůfa. The sold-out premiere which took place on 10 February was preceded a few days earlier by a public talk introducing not only the most famous of Moravian composers and his music but also the background of the Kassel production. The opera was directed … Read more…
On 4 January, PKF – Prague Philharmonia gave world premiere to an orchestral version of YIN – Nostalgia and Hope by composer Ondřej Štochl (*1975). Its chamber version for vibraphone and 12 instruments had been premiered 2 years ago in Brno; just like then, the solo part was now played again by the excellent Martin Opršál. The orchestral transcription maintained … Read more…
Led by their artistic director Pavel Šnajdr, the Brno Contemporary Orchestra on 31 January in Besední dům, Brno, presented the first of the two concerts commemorating and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. It was named FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA and the programme consisted of new pieces by Petr Bakla, Luboš Mrkvička and Marián Lejava … Read more…
On 31 January in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House, the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK gave world premiere to Concerto for oboe and orchestra by Jiří Gemrot (*1057). Just like his Trio for oboe, harp and piano, the composer dedicated it to a leading Czech oboist Vilém Veverka. “The first attribute I would think of is ‘lyrical’,” the … Read more…
On 28 January, Opéra National de Lorraine in Nancy, Eastern France, presented a new production of Janáček’s Katya Kabanova. It was created by German opera director Philipp Himmelmann who decided to highlight the tragic nature of the story; the spectators are thus even offered handkerchiefs upon entering. The music director is an Irish conductor Mark Shanahan. Popular … Read more…
On 18 January in the St Agnes Convent, violoncellist Petr Nouzovský and accordionist Ladislav Horák gave premiere to Introduction and Tango, a new piece by composer and choirmaster Petr Fiala (*1943). The concert was a part of the chamber series held by the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK. The two-part composition was written directly for these two leading Czech instrumentalists, … Read more…
On 15 January, the renowned Quatuor Diotima presented a new piece by Miroslav Srnka. The concert was a part of Biennale de Quatuors à cordes, a festival of string quartets held by the Philharmonie de Paris. Future Family analyses the traditional distribution of musical roles between the players as well as other conventions typical for a string quartet and explores … Read more…
On 14 December, the New Stage of the National Theatre in Prague premiered the second opera by composer, and this time also a librettist Miloš Orson Štědroň (*1973). Subtitled “Poetic Images from the Life of Bohumil Hrabal”, Don Hrabal reveals, in nine images, the personality and attitudes of this famous Czech authorr, as well as the background of his relationship … Read more…
The composers’ association Konvergence dedicated this year’s last concert to the youngest generation of Czech composers and composition students. It was held on 12 December, as usually in St. Lawrence Church in Lesser Town, Prague. The evening was closed with the world premiere of All Ending, a piece by composer, director, poet and translator Ian Mikyska (*1994), performed … Read more…
After forty years, Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka returned onto the stage of Oper Leipzig, Germany. The new production by Dutch director and scenographer Michiel Dijkema was premiered on 3 December. Focusing on the fairy-tale archetypes of the tragic story, Dijkema crated a mysterious, eerie scenery on the stage, including the lake and moon on a night sky. Most of the … Read more…
The BERG Orchestra ended this year’s season on 5 December with a concert in the St Salvator Church, Prague. They presented the Czech premiere of Circle for 4 trios, conductor and audience by the Chinese composer star, Oscar and Grammy winner Tan Dun. The second part belonged to the world premiere of a space composition shadows by day, Light by night by Czech … Read more…
Miroslav Srnka, the most successful Czech composer today, was the main star of DIALOGE 2017, contemporary music festival held by the Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation. Forming the dramaturgical basis of the festival, his music was being performed several times over the 4 days – as the festival’s name suggests – in dialogues with other contemporary, classical, electronic or film … Read more…
As a part of the chamber cycle of the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK, Bohemia Saxophone Quartet gave a concert on November 23 at the Convent of St Agnes of Bohemia. It included the world premiere of Sherlock Holmes, a new piece by instrumentalist, multi-genre composer and FOK’s long-standing collaborator Martin Kumžák. The audience also had a chance to hear E. Bozza’s Andante … Read more…
On November 17 in the Mozart Hall of Reduta, Brno, Ensemble Opera Diversa introduced the first opera by Vienna-based composer and musicologist Lenka Nota I Am the Princess of Fools. It tells the story of Božena Němcová as written into the libretto by a famous Czech documentary director Olga Sommerová. “Božena is a friend of all Czech women … Read more…
On November 16 in the theatre hall of Metropol, České Budějovice, the South Czech Philharmonic gave world premiere to Lachian Pictures, a new piece by composer and clarinettist Aleš Pavlorek (*1971). This suite for small orchestra drew inspiration from the Lachian folklore, which is manifested also in the titles of its four movements – Lachian Janáček, Lachian Yodel Songs, … Read more…
Less than three years since Jenůfa, Theater Aachen in Aachen, Germany, presented another of Leoš Janáček’s operas – Katya Kabanova. The premiere took place on November 12, led by the theatre’s current music director Justus Thorau. The production was created by the Czech-born director Tibor Torell who presents the story as chain of visions of the heroine, who thus … Read more…
On November 11, Theater Bremen, Germany, presented a new production of Dvořák’s Rusalka. Directed by Anna-Sophie Mahler, it became already the fourth opera featuring a strong female lead she staged in Bremen, following Carmen, Maria Stuarda and, five years ago, Janáček’s Makropulos Affair. Mahler set the plot into the rooms reminiscent of the socialist Czechoslovakia of the 70s and instead of on the … Read more…
One of the guests of the 20. international festival of contemporary music and multimedia projects Meetings of New Music Plus, held between October 11 and December 6 in Brno, was the Prague-based ensemble MoEns. Their concert took place on November 9 at the Chamber Hall of the Faculty of Music of Janáček Academy of Music and Performing … Read more…