Joint concert of the Czech Association of Arts Managments (ASUMA) in Prague
On Wednesday September 30, 2009 the joint concert of the Czech Association of Arts Managements (ASUMA) took place in the Knight´s Hall of the Wallenstein Palace in Prague within the framework of the Malá Strana Chamber Festivities.
ASUMA associates four czech arts managemetns – ArcoDiva management, ARS/KONCERT, C.E.M.A. and TRIART Management which aim to react to the new situation of the classical music market during the past 20 years and help to promote the Czech performing arts particularly by effective export. The ASUMA president Zdenka Kachlová informed about the aims and objects of this association before the concert begin.
The soloists represented by the single arts managements – Jiří Bárta, Ivo Kahánek and Smetana Trio together with the Talich chamber orchestra appeared with great success at the opening evening.
Sophia Jaffé excels
Sophia Jaffé played end September the closing concert of the Prague Radio Autumn festival. She performed the Shostakovich 1st violin concerto, accompanied by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Vladimír Válek. The Prague audience prepared for Ms. Jaffé a warm welcome, as they know her from her previous concerts. The first Radio Prague Autumn festival (organized by the Czech Radio and Radioservis), was a great success, and ended by a closing concert on European level.
Sophia Jaffé had recently another concert in Czech Republic – end August she performed the opening concert of Emmy Destinn Music Festival České Budějovice. She played Bruch Violin Concerto, accompanied by the Brno Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Leoš Svárovský. Also this concert ended by standing ovations.
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno in Switzerland
Beginning September the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno had two concerts in Switzerland in the frameworks of the Graubünden Festival. Both concerts were conducted by the chorusmaster and founder of the choir Petr Fiala – one in St. Martin Church in St. Moritz, one in the wonderful cathedral in the city of Chur.
The choir came with programme from Jacobus Gallus and Anton Bruckner compositions. This festival of voices, fragile and strong at the same time, touched most of the audiences.
„...Ganz vorzüglich, wie Fiala mit seinen 40 Sängerinnen und Sängern die einzelnen Teile (Jakob Handl) agogisch delikat abstimmte. Mit durchsichtigem Klang erreichte man einen subtilen Ausdruck von Schmerz und Wehmut...
...Erstaunlicherweise nahm Bruckner in seinen Motetten Bezug auf die Chormusik der Renaissance, verband sie mit romantischer Harmonie und erreichte so eine reichhaltige Ausdeutung der Texte. Und genau das war der eindrückliche Verdienst des Chores aus Brünn, der für die CD-Einspielung den „Echo“-Preis erhielt. Die Kontraste der Stimmführung könnten nicht gewaltiger sein: Vom innigen „Pianissimo“ bis zum dreifachen strahlenden „Forte“. Das bekannte „Locus iste“ erhielt eine Inbrunst mit stimmlicher Delikatesse. Im „Ave Maria“ wirkten mit herrlichen Stimmen die Sopranistin Alexandra Polarczy und die Altistin Pavla Zborilova mit und im „Tota pulchra“ der klare Tenor Jakub Tuček...
...Am eindrücklichsten gelang das „Libera me Domine“ mit seiner Verzweiflung und der innigen Bitte um Befreiung vom fast gehauchten „Piano“ zum dynamisch gesteigerten „Fortissimo“. Alles zusammen die hohe Kunst der Gestaltung, die man zusammen mit der vorzüglichen Akustik der St. Karlskirche erleben durfte. Und als wundervolle Zugabe: Das „Ave verum“ von Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart mit einem samtenen Chorklang, der die überragende Qualität des Ensembles unter Fiala noch einmal bestätigte. Dieses stimmgewaltige Konzert war ein bezauberndes Geschenk an die große, dankbare Zuhörerschaft...“
Post, September 5th 2009
Dvorak Stabat Mater in Netherlands
The Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno and tenor solo Tomáš Černý were invited by the Het Brabants Orkest, based in Eindhoven, for two concerts with Dvořák Stabat Mater in Netherlands.
The concerts took place end September 2009, in the nice and renowned venues – Frits Philips Muziekzentrum in Eindhoven, and De Doelen in Rotterdam.
Dvořák‘s sacred works appear rarely in the programmes of Netherlands orchestras, and maybe this is one of reasons that both the concerts were almost sold out.
The concerts ended by standing ovations, which showed audience satisfaction and admiration not only of the Dvořák‘s music, but also of excellent performance of the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno and Tomáš Černý.
Young musicians from European Union performed in Czech Republic
European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) came for the last 2 concerts of its regular summer tour to Czech Republic. After more than 6 years the orchestra set up from the young musicians of all 27 EU members countries performed for the very first time under the baton of its artistic director Vladimir Ashkenazy in Brno at the closing concert of the International Music Festival Špilberk. This year festival topic was „For jubilee the best“ and the ravishing performance of the Schostakovich Cello concerto No. 1 performed by the legendary russian cellist Natalia Gutman verified this focal point literally. The audience also savored the rest of the concert and highly appreciated the music by Dvořák, Roussel, Ravel perforemd in juvenile larky but very professional manner.
Last concert of the tour was the performance within the International Music Festival Dvořák‘s Prague in the Dvořák´s Hall of Rudolfinum. As the young musicians themselves confirmed – the last concert of the tour is always the top one, the same showed the audience in the hall by its long lasting clapping and furious ovation.
The War Requiem
On the programme of Musikfest Bremen festival, there were big symphonic concerts, recitals, staged and vocal productions. The three weeks of the festival productions are the highlight of cultural life not only for Bremen, beautiful Hanseatic city, but also for the whole Northern Germany region.
At this year’s festival, the ensembles from all over Europe were present, and the listeners could enjoy music ranging from 16th century to contemporary.
1st September 2009 is the date when we reminded the 70th anniversary of beginning of the World War II. The concert in St. Petri Church was dedicated to this event. The Bremer Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno and the solo singers performed Britten’s War Requiem under the baton of Markus Poschner. The excellent solo singers were Susanne Bernhard (soprano), Thomas Cooley (tenor) and Thomas E. Bauer (baritone).
The purpose of programming particularly Britten’s War Requiem on this day is obvious - the British pacifist B. Britten expressed in this piece his antiwar and anti violence position. As a text for War Requiem, he used the Missa pro Defunctis (Mass for the dead) in Latin, and the poetry of Wilfred Owen, who was Britten contemporary.
In the sold out cathedral there were about 2000 people audience listening to this emotional piece. The minute of silence after choir’s Amen in the end was a symbolic conclusion of the evening.
Dvořák's music sounded in Rhein valley
In the first August week magic tones of Antonín Dvořák music coming out from the Friedrich von Tiersach hall of the Kurhaus in Wiesbaden have been floating over the Rhein valley. The concert organizer Rheingau Sommer Burghofspiele has decided to open the new concert series devoted to this giant of the classical music and invited the artists untmost competent.: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Zdeněk Mácal and with young czech pianist Lukáš Vondráček. Concert programme set up of the most famous Dvořák music works (Carnival, Piano concerto in G minor and Symphony No. 9 „From the New World“) and their fenomenal performance have totaly subjugated the concert visitors and long lasting warm applaus followed. Dvořák series lifted up with excelent rating and there is remaining nothing else than to wish „Happy sailing, Mr. Dvořák“ in coming years.
Setimmane musicali Meranesi – Meraner Musikwochen - Merano Music Festival
In the spa and cultural centre of South Tyrol – the Meran Kurhaus, took place the second concert of this year’s Merano Music Festival. The festival has already 24 years long history.
On the concert performed the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Vladimir Valek. In the second half, they played three parts of Smetana’s My Homeland – Šárka, From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields and Vltava. As an encore, the orchestra played two of A. Dvorak Slavonic Dances – No. 9 and 15.
A. Dvorak famous violin concerto was programmed for the first part of the evening. The German violinist Sophia Jaffé played it in lively, dance and Slavonic manner. Her cooperation with the conductor and the orchestra was excellent. After their concert this August, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and Ms. Jaffé are invited for the next Merano Music Festival, member of the European Festivals Association.
Her singing is the crown of every piece
The famous Frauenkirche Church in Dresden, which was in ruins after the World War II., was recently restored. After the reconstruction, the church is used for lectures, exhibitions, cultural programmes, and concerts, of course.
In 2007, when the chorusmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno Petr Fiala was preparing the programme of Mozart early sacred compositions for the new CD, nobody knew that Frauenkirche Foundation would like this exceptional programme so much, that they will include it into their concert series as it is on the CD, without any changes.
The concert with the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, the Czech Chamber Soloists, soprano Hana Skarkova, under the baton of Petr Fiala took place on the last Saturday in June. All the performers were highly acclaimed by the Dresden audience.
The audience in Dresden knows the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno from their regular cooperation with the Dresdner Philharmonic. So no wonder, that the venue with the capacity over 1000 people was sold out. The atmosphere in Frauenkirche church is fantastic and inspiring, and makes the concert even more remarkable for the performers and for the audience well.
As the critics writes:
“…in full harmony, with a very beautiful sound and great passion, the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno and the Czech Chamber Soloists under the baton of Petr Fiala performed their concert. With every piece the artists climbed to Mozart spiritual and music world, and they succeeded to take with them also the audience…”
The brilliant soprano solo of the evening Hana Skarkova gained the sympathies of the audience from her first appearance in “Regina Coeli”. The critics wrote:
“…Her singing is highly cultivated, the beautiful coloraturas are perfect to the tiniest nuances. Her singing is the crown of every piece. In spite of the technical proficiency she has capacity for crescendos and decrescendos and for deepness full of style.”
The success of the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, representing the South Moravia region and city of Brno, brought its fruit in the form of invitation to next concert in Frauenkirche.
Monaco with the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno
When we say Monaco or Monte Carlo, we usually think of the Casino, F1, or the princely family. As every summer for already 50 years, another attraction is the classical music festival „Les Concerts du Palais Princier de Monaco“. During the history of the festival, which takes place on courtyard of the Princely Palace, have performed such stars as conductors Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, Rafael Kubelík, soloists Vladimir Ashkenazy, Evgenij Kissin, Yehudi Menuhin, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Itzak Perlman, Lucia Popp, Jessye Norman or Luciano Pavarotti. The festival brought to Monaco a lot of world premieres.
In fact, Prince Rainier III. and Princess Grace restored in 1959 the 200 years old tradition. Already in the 18th century, the princes of Monaco used the open the doors of their palace, and organize cultural evenings for Monaco inhabitants.
In the frameworks of the jubilee festival this summer were performed the same compositions as in 1959 – Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt and Richard Strauss. At the closing concert was performed probably the most famous symphony – Beethoven 9th Symphony with Schiller's Ode to Joy.
The Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno with the chorusmaster Petr Fiala, the Echo Klassik “Ensemble of the Year 2007”, was invited to perform at this prestigeous event. Monte Carlo Orchestre Philharmonique performed under baton the new chief conductor Yakov Kreizberg, who will be also the artistic director of the orchestra from September 2009.
A lovely conclusion of the closing concert performance of the 50th „Les Concerts du Palais Princier de Monaco“ was the last sentence in the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno biography - we quote the programme brochure: „Monte Carlo est heureux d'accuiller ce brillant ensemble pour la premier fois.“ (Monte Carlo is happy that we can welcome for the first time this brilliant ensemble.)
Richard Wagner Festival Wels 2009 with Czech and Slovakian artists
The jubilee 20th Richard Wagner Festival (RWF) in the Austrian Wels this year was performed for the first time mainly by Czech and Slovak artists. The interest of the audience, which comes to Wels not only from all over Europe, but from whole world, was immense. On the posters, we could see “ab Januar ausverkauft” – which means that the premiere performances were sold out since January.
As usually there were two operas programmed – Parsifal (production from 2008) and this year premiere of Lohengrin. The stage director of both the performances was Herbert Adler, the stage and costume designer Dietmar Solt. Both the performances took place in Theater im Greif.
The two performances of Parsifal were on May 26th and 28th 2009. The soloists were Endrik Wottrich as Parsifal, Jukka Rasilainen (Amfortas), Hans Sotin (Titurel and Gurnemanz), Anton Keremidtchiev (Klingsor) and Judith Németh (Kundry). The soloists we accompanied by the Brno Philharmonic and the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno (choirmaster Petr Fiala) under the baton of Maestro Ralf Weikert.
The premiere of Lohengrin was on May 24th, the second performance on May 30th, both conducted by Maestro Ralf Weikert. In the main roles of Lohengrin and Elsa von Brabant excellent Christropher Ventris and Petra Maria Schnitzer, supported by Kurt Riedel and Hans Sotin (Heinrich der Vogler), Lioba Braun (Ortruda), Jukka Rasilainen (Friedrich von Telramund) and Anton Keremidtchiev (Heerrufer). For the first time in Wels performed the Slovak Philharmonic and the Slovak Philharmonic Choir (choirmaster Blanka Juhanakova).
This year’s Richard Wagner Festival in Wels took place under the auspices of Dr. Heinz Fischer, the president of Austria.
The Brno Philharmonic in Tyrol
When the Brno Philharmonic musicians arrived to the Italian city of Toblach/Dobbiaco, surrounded by nice mountains, it was clear to everybody, why Gustav Mahler liked to spend his summer holidays here. The genius loci of the city inspired Gustav Mahler’s Society to create a music festival in Toblach 29 years ago.
The Brno Philharmonic under the baton of their former chief conductor Leoš Svárovský had the honour to play this year opening festival concert. On the programme was Mahler Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor. The nice concert hall with capacity of app. 600 people is part of the first mountain hotel, and was sold out at the opening concert. This venue offers interesting programmes to the music lovers not only during the G. Mahler’s festival, but all the year round.
Zdeněk Mácal conducting the Düsseldorf Symphonic again
After s short pause Maestro Zdenek Macal returned to the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra to conduct the closing concert of their concert season.
The programme idea of this season was to introduce at each of the concerts one less known musical instrument, and in the second half of the concert one of the most popular classical pieces.
At the three concerts for the adult listeners, and one for the schoolchildren, in June was introduced didgeridoo in the composition of Peter Sculthorpe. Didgeridoo, the musical instrument of the Australian Aborigines, natural wooden trumpet made of Eucalyptus tree was new for many of the listeners, and they liked it.
Maestro Macal agreed with this idea, as he knew Peter Sculthorpe compositions from his previous engagement with the Sydney Symphony. Moreover, Maestro Macal created a nice programme – Suk’s Fairy Tale, Sculthorpe Memento Mori, and Dvorak the most popular symphony From the New World.
The enthusiastic and joyful cooperation between the orchestra and Maestro Macal brought not only positive reaction of the press and appreciation from the orchestra, but also invitation to another concert for Maestro Macal.
Sophia Jaffé’s debut in Israel
Sophia Jaffé was invited to Israel to play Brahms Violin Concerto with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. There were two concerts in the end of June, the first one in Jerusalem, the second in Herzliya.
Both the concerts were a great success – see the e-mail below sent to ARS/KONCERT by Maestro Amos Talmon, conductor, founder of Music Angels Foundation and music director of the Grand Symphonic Series, Herzlyia.
“...Sophia was a great success in every respect: The audience loved her, the orchestra loved her and I loved her....
She is an incredible violinist , a great musician , una bella figura on stage !
Her Brahms was deep, moving and properly giocoso at the end.
The whole concert was an immense success, with Jerusalem Radio Symphony under baton of Petr Vronsky providing Sophia with a very precise , supporting and loving accompaniment !...”
Amos Talmon
Recording of the Month for Puella Trio!
The Puella Trio’s second CD was released in May 2009. The CD brings three compositions by contemporary Czech composers – Petr Fiala, Sylvie Bodorová and Petr Eben (to commemorate the 80th anniversary of birth of Petr Eben).
In spite of the short time of existence, the CD gained the interest of listeners, and the music journalists as well.
It became Recording of the Month on MusicWeb. Dominy Clements wrote that it is one of the best chamber recordings of this year – see.
The Fall of the Antichrist in Terezin
Terezín Festival of Forbidden Music is young festival, but it has already gained important place on the Czech cultural scene. The festival programmed Czech premiere of Viktor Ullman’s opera The Fall of the Antichrist for the opening concert on June 21st. The opera concert version in the Terezin Church of Resurrection was performed by our renowned artists – Aleš Briscein (Governor, tenor), Václav Sibera (Artist, tenor), Tomáš Kořínek (Priest, tenor), Roman Janál (Technician, baritone), Roman Vocel (Guardian, Bass), Veronika Hajnová (Angel, mezzo soprano), Petr Frýbert (Narrator, tenor), and Prague chamber choir.
The expressive music is based on Albert Steffen’s anthroposophistical drama, and was performed by the North Bohemian Philharmonic Teplice, under the baton of Maestro Leoš Svárovský.
The concert ended by long standing ovations, which is not usual by this type of music. Moreover, the performers received personal congratulations afterwards.
Also, the Czech TV referred about this concert.
Sophia Jaffé excels
The Czech audience had chance to hear the phenomenal German violinist Sophia Jaffé at two concerts in June. On 7th June, she performed at Václav Hudeček Encounters festival in Moravské Budějovice. On the programme was Phantasy in g minor for violin and orchestra by Josef Suk. The concert was highly acclaimed by the audience and by the artistic director of the festival Mr. Václav Hudeček as well. To the success contributed also the Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc under the button of Stanislav Vavřínek.
The second concert was on 9th June, recital with piano at the Concentus Moraviae festival, in the nice hall of chateau in Žďár nad Sázavou. Sophia Jaffé and pianist Björn Lehmann performed an interesting programme (Garcia, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Landowska, Messiaen, Suk and Bartók), which was recorded by the Czech TV.
Bernstein Kaddish at the Smetana’s Litomyšl Festival
Bernstein 3rd Symphony is very demanding piece, and it was on the programme of Smetana's Litomyšl festival in 2008. The 2008 concert was cancelled because of heavy rain and storm. This year was Kaddish programmed again on the 25th June 2009. It was raining during general rehearsal, and the rain stopped only after the first ten minutes of the concert performance.
Despite these circumstances this year the performers - Soňa Červená (narrator), Jana Wallingerová (mezzosoprano), Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, Bonifantes Boy Choir Pardubice, Brno Philharmonic and conductor Leoš Svárovský - did a great concert.
On the ground plan of a symphony, Kaddish is a kind of melodrama, demanding in all the aspects - expressional, dynamical, rhythmical and philosophical. The ethical statement of the Bernstein piece was extremely strong, also thanks to the concerned recitation of Ms. Soňa Červená. The sensitive audience awarded the performers by long lasting standing ovations.
57. Festspiele Europaeische Wochen Passau 2009
This year’s festival Festspiele Europaeische Wochen Passau – European Weeks Passau takes place in Eastern Bavaria, Bohemia and Upper Austria under the motto “Honour to whom honour is due”.
The reason for this motto are the numerous festive and commemoration days celebrated in this period. The anniversaries are connected with the important personalities of the European cultural life like Henry Purcell, George Friedrich Handel, Joseph Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Richard Strauss, Otto Dix, Alfred Kubin and Bohuslav Martinů.
The 57th festival is held in the period of the Czech Republic presidency in the EU, and under the patronage of His Excellency Karl Furst zu Schwarzenberg, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and present President of the European Council.
The festival concerts take place in the most beautiful churches, monasteries and castles as well in the open air.
Czech Republic was represented by the mezzo-soprano Karla Bytnarova at the opening ceremony. On the next day performed the Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice with the chief conductor Leos Svarovsky and oboist Vilem Veverka. The concert was a great success, and it shall be difficult for the forthcoming festival projects to compare with.
About 500 persons audition, and the crew of the Bavarian TV in the sold out auditorium of the Furstenzell Church enjoyed the programme consisting of Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks, Mendelssohn 4th Symphony, and Martinu Oboe Concerto in the excellent interpretation of Vilem Veverka.
At the concert was present also ambassador of the Czech Republic in Berlin Mr. Rudolf Jindrak.
Artists represented by ARS/KONCERT appeared at 2009 International Music Festival Janáček May
34th International Music Festival Janáček May offered to its numerous visitors a serie of outstanding performances and wide-ranging programmes and we are more than pleased to inform the foremost artists represented by ARS/KONCERT were present.
Celebrated Vietnamese pianist Dang Thai Son, winner of the famous Chopin piano competition in Warsaw, provided for the impressive festival openning with famous Rachmaninov Piano concerto. Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Leoš Svárovský let the audiences bubbled during the Sinfonietta by L. Janáček in the fist half. Another no fewer dazzling performance of Brahms Violin concerto was brought to Ostrava by a young Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović. His performance was undoubtly the best prove this young charsimatic artist has electrifying efect for the audience. Last but not least it was superior Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno (chorusmaster Petr Fiala) which distincitvely contributed to the great highlights of the festival itself namely in Martinů cantata Bouquet of flowers and Dvořák Te Deum laudamus.
