Czech Festival 2010
Venues across London celebrate the Czech Republic’s musical heritage in a three-week-long festival, from 2 to 20 February.
The festival includes three performances, on 2, 3 and 8 February, by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra at Cadogan Hall. Libor Pesek conducts them in well-known works like Dvorak’s Symphony No.9 ('From the New World'), Smetana’s Má vlast and the Overture to The Bartered Bride, as well as less-known works such as Martinu’s Concerto for two violins and orchestra and Zdenek Lukas’ Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. Young rising star Charlie Siem plays Dvorak’s Violin Concerto with the Orchestra on 8 February.
On 6 February the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Institute of Musical Research present a study day at the Barbican on Martinu’s symphonies. Director of the Bohuslav Martinu Institute, Ales Brezina will lead a Q&A session at Cadogan Hall on 2 February, following a screening of the film Martinu and America .
The Schubert Ensemble gives a concert of Czech chamber music on 5 February and pianist Williams Howard plays at Bishopsgate Institute on 12 February.
The festival ends with two concerts by British orchestras. Jiri Belohlavek will conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a programme of Janacek, Korngold and Martinu at the Barbican on 19 February, and Vladimir Jurowski will appear with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall on 20 February. They will play Janacek’s Taras Bulba and Eternal Gospel and the relatively unknown Suk Symphony No.2 .
For more information on individual festival events and to find out how to book tickets, click here .
