London: Czech Festival 2010
Principal concert and cultural centers throughout London celebrate the Czech Republic's unwavering musical contribution to culture in a three week long festival of music, including an exclusive residency with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra centred on London’s Cadogan Hall.
Czech Festival 2010
London, February 2 - 20 2010
The ensemble will be performing under the baton of Libor Pešek who is very much beloved by the British audience, and another famous Czech conductor Petr Altrichter. The concerts of the CNSO will take place on February 2, 3, and 8. Antonín Dvořák´s symphonies No. 8 and 9 will be on programme, as well as the same composer´s Violin Concerto performed by Charlie Siem, and also Smetana´s My Country cycle, Martinů´s Concerto for the Two Violins, or Trumpet Concerto composed by Johann Nepomuk Hummel and performed by Jan Hasenöhrl.
The Czech Festival has readily incorporated events such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Janáček and Martinů concert (conductor Jiří Bělohlávek) on 19 February, the Symphony Study Day (6 February, Barbican Centre), and the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s (with conductor Vladimir Jurowski) programme of Janáček’s Taras Bulba and The Eternal Gospel and Josef Suk’s Second Symphony Asrael (20 February, Royal Festival Hall).
A dominant part of the festival will belong to the name of Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959). As the prologue we will watch the film Martinů and America with the introduction and Q & A session with Ales Brezina, Director of the Bohuslav Martinu Institute and internationally renowned Martinů scholar. The Martinů´s piano quartet No. 1 and other works of the Czech composers will be presented by the Schubert Ensemble (William Howard, Simon Blendis, Jane Salmonová, Douglas Paterson, Peter Buckoke). The pianist William Howard will in his recital introduce compositions of Leoš Janáček, Zdeněk Fibich, Antonín Dvořák and the contemporary author Pavel Zemek-Novak.
The festival will also be an opportunity for Londoners to meet Czech jazz players (St. Blaises Bigband).
Tuesday 2 February
Cadogan Hall
12.30pm – 2.30pm
Film: Martinu & America
Introduction and Q&A session with Mr Ales Brezina (Director of the Bohuslav Martinu Institute)
7.30pm
Czech National Symphony Orchestra / Libor Pesek
Dvorak: Polonaise from Rusalka
Smetana: Polka from Bartered Bride
Martinu: Concerto for 2 violins (violins: Antonin Hradil & Jiri Hurnik)
Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"
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Wednesday 3 February
Cadogan Hall
7pm – 8.15pm
Czech National Symphony Orchestra / Libor Pesek
Smetana: My Country
9pm
St Blaise's Big Band
Czech Jazz
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Friday 5 February
Cadogan Hall
7.30pm
Schubert Ensemble
Martinu: Piano Quartet No. 1
Smetana: Piano Trio in G minor
Dvorak: Piano Quintet in A major
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Saturday 6 February
Mozart Room at the Barbican
10am – 4.30pm
Martinu Study Day
The BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Institute of Musical Research present a study day on the symphonies of Bohuslav Martinů with leading Martinu experts.
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Monday 8 February
Cadogan Hall
7.30pm
Czech National Symphony Orchestra / Petr Altrichter
Smetana: Overture to Bartered Bride
Dvorak: Violin Concerto (Charlie Siem)
Hummel: Trumpet Concerto (Jan Hasenöhrl)
Dvorak: Symphony No. 8
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Friday 12 February
Bishopsgate Institute
7.30pm
William Howard – piano
Janacek: In the Mists
Pavel Novak: Preludes and Fugues (selection)
Fibich: Moods, Impressions and Souvenirs (selection)
Dvorak: Three Waltzes from Op. 54
Martinu: Four pieces from Etudes and Polkas
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Friday 19 February
Barbican
7pm
BBC Symphony Orchestra / Jiri Belohlavek
Janacek: Suite from the opera Kata Kabanova
Korngold: Violin Concerto in D major (Andrew Haveron)
Martinu: Symphony No. 4
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Saturday 20 February
Royal Festival Hall
7.30pm
London Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Jurowski
Janacek: Taras Bulba
Janacek: Eternal Gospel
Suk: Symphony No. 2 (Asrael)
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