Tonight, our audiences will hear a selection of music originating from our northern neighbours. Vítězslav Novák is a Czech composer who worked in the first half of the 20th century. His works bear the marks of late romanticism, but he was also influenced by folk music. His Slovak Suite was inspired by a journey through Slovakia and consists of five movements depicting Slovakian landscape and life. The musical journey takes us first to a Protestant church service, then out of the church to witness the joyful play of children. Walking further into the village, we can follow a couple in love, and then join a dance. As night falls, the lovers appear again, gently cuddling in the sunset.
Petr Eben is one of the Czech Republic’s leading contemporary composers. He wrote his huge one-hour organ concerto back in his youth. In terms of genre, the work is a synthesis of a concerto and a symphony, as reflected in its title: Symphonia gregoriana. The work is based on a Gregorian melody, the Litany of the Saints on Good Friday, which will be heard in the second movement performed tonight.
Smetana’s symphonic poem My Homeland is one of the most popular pieces of music literature, in which the composer depicts Czech landscapes and mythological and historical events. Today, you can hear two excerpts from it: one that takes us to Tábor, the former centre of the Hussite movement, and the other that takes us to Mount Blaník. Legend has it that the Hussites are asleep in the caves of Blaník, waiting for their homeland to call them. The end of the movement heralds a glorious future for Bohemia.
Josef Suk’s symphonic poem Prague will also be performed, exploring the mysterious world of the composer’s beloved city. First the Vltava River appears in the morning mist, and then the ancient fortress of Vyšehrad looms up, a reminder of the city’s glorious past. Although the glorious tone fades for a moment in remembrance of more turbulent times, the piece ends with a jubilant, triumphant theme.
