The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra was in charge of inaugurating the twentieth edition of the Year of Czech Music this January 1 at the Rudolfinum in Prague, the most famous concert hall in the country.
Jakub Hrůša|Photo: Petra Hajská, Czech Philharmonic
Under the baton of Jakub Hrůša, chief conductor of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, compositions by Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček and Oskar Nedbal, but also by George Gershwin, could be heard.
According to what the general director of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, David Mareček, told Radio Prague International, the musicians will take Czech music abroad, for example, to Spain.
“The first tour will take place in March when the Orchestra will travel to Spain, Austria, Germany, France and Belgium. Above all, they will perform works by Antonín Dvořák, specifically his 7th, 8th and 9th symphonies and his concertos. The orchestra will be conducted by Semyon Bychkov. In summer, we have the BBC Proms and the Lucerne Festival, Jakub Hrůša will travel to these events, and at the end of 2024 three concerts await us at Carnegie Hall in New York. On this occasion, Semión Bychkov will conduct works by Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček and Gustav Mahler.”
David Mareček | Photo: Elena Horálková, Czech Radio
Many Czech composers will be remembered throughout the year, however, the focus will be, above all, on Bedřich Smetana, who was born 200 years ago and died 140 years ago. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra will pay tribute to the composer with a performance of the symphonic poem My Homeland and the opera Libuše. According to David Mareček, other institutions are also preparing special programs dedicated to Smetana.
“First of all, the National Theater in Ostrava will perform all of Bedřich Smetana’s operas. The Pilsen Opera will do the same. Of course, the National Theater in Prague will also put some of Smetana’s operas in its repertoire. In addition, a special program was prepared by the National Theater in Brno. There will be a completely new adaptation of Dalibor in cooperation with Welsh Opera in the city of Cardiff, directed by Czech director Tomáš Hanus.”
Jarmila Novotná (Violetta, La Traviata)|Photo: Wide World Studio
In addition to the Smetana anniversaries, Czechia will also remember 120 years since the death of Antonín Dvořák, 170 years since the birth of Leoš Janáček, 150 years since the birth of Josef Suk or 65 years since the death of Bohuslav Martinů.
During the musical events, the opera singer Jarmila Novotná, who died 30 years ago, will be remembered, the centenary of the birth of the singer-songwriter Jiří Šlitr, as well as Karel Kryl, representative of the protest song, who would turn 80 in 2024.
2024-01-05 12:46:55
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