YEAR OF CZECH MUSIC 2014

Keeping the tradition alive by developing it.

The Year of Czech Music is an exceptional cultural event which has been reminding us of famous Czech musicians since 1924. The Year of Czech Music 2014 enjoys the patronage of mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle.

The official beginning in the country takes place on 7th January 2014 in Prague and it will be opened with a new arrangement of Bohuslav Martinů’s Mirandolina performed by the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre.

The Moravian-Silesian Theatre focuses on the Year of Czech Music 2014 in the seasons 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. The main theme of our projects in the Year of Czech Music 2014 is to underline and stress the fact that Czech musical culture is a phenomenon and the fifth greatest musical culture of Europe (world), and as such we should perceive it, present it and talk about it, even in a wide historical, social, and cultural context.

The Year of Czech music 2014 is also a challenge for future. It is promoted by new compositions as well as by plays which are not performed very often and which have not found their way to the world yet. Nevertheless, they are remarkable works composed by Czech composers such as Smetana, Dvořák, and Martinů and they deserve to be spread worldwide.

Partners:


Programme of the Year of Czech Music 2014 in the Moravian-Silesian Theatre in the season 2013/2014
Projects and concerts:

		Zuzana Lapčíková (1968) BALADS Music by: Zuzana Lapčíková Choreographer: Hana Litterová Premiere on 19th September 2013 in Antonín Dvořák Theatre

		Ballet triptych triptych HOMECOMINGS Leoš Janáček (1854–1928) On an Overgrown Path Choreographer: Jiří Kylián Piano accompaniment: Ivo Kahánek Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959) The Strangler Choreographer: Nataša Novotná Conducted by: Jakub Žídek Bedřich Smetana (1824–1984): Trio in G Minor Choreographer: Pavel Šmok Premiere on 21st November 2013 in Jiří Myron Theatre

		Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959) MIRANDOLINA Music arrangement by: Robert Jindra Director: Jiří Nekvasil Premiere on 5th and 7th December 2013 v Antonín Dvořák Theatre Recorded broadcast of Ostrava’s performance of the opera Mirandolina: In the programme „Operní sezóna“ of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and on the Czech Radio (ČRo – Vltava) on 4th January 2014


		THE BEST OF CZECH OPERA CZECH OPERA GALA Special gala concert on the occasion of the Year of Czech Music 2014 Conducted by: Robert Jindra 10th January 2014 at 6:30 pm in Antonín Dvořák Theatre The gala concert is recorded by the Czech Radio – Vltava

		1st May 2014 in Antonín Dvořák Theatre ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK’S SONGS MARATHON All one-voice songs by Antonín Dvořák (8th September 1841 – 1st May 1904) in one day! In coproduction with the Czech Radio – Vltava

		Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884) THE DEVIL’S WALL Music arrangement by: Robert Jindra Directed by: Jiří Nekvasil Premiere on 12th and 14th June 2014 in Antonín Dvořák Theatre

		Martin Smolka (1959), Jiří Adámek (1977) THE LISTS OF INFINITY (2013) Newly ordered composition Premiere on 26th June 2014 at the NODO festival / New Opera Days Ostrava 2014 Reprise on 28th June 2014 In cooperation with Ostrava Centre for New Music Broadcasted live on the Czech Radio – Vltava

Further, the operas KATYA KABANOVA, THE BARTERED BRIDE, and JENUFA, which are in the repertoire of the theatre in the season 2013/2014, will also be performed as parts of the Year of Czech Music 2014.


GUEST PERFORMANCE GIVEN

		7th January 2014, The Estates Theatre at 7 pm WHOLECOUNTRY OPENING OF THE YOERA OF CZECH MUSIC 2014 Mirandolina by Bohuslav Martinů

		15th June 2014, Slovak National Theatre at 7 pm Mirandolina by Bohuslav Martinů

		20th and 21st June 2014, second castle courtyard at 9 pm SMETANA’S LITOMYŠL The Devil’s Wall by Bedřich Smetana

REALIZED LECTURES, DEBATES and OTHER

		18th September 2013 exceptionally at 4pm in Dům knihy Librex (bookstore KNIHCENTRUM.cz OSTRAVA) ZUZANA LAPČÍKOVÁ Phenomenal cimbalom player, composer and singer Zuzana Lapčíková will talk about the performance Ballads, which she has created along with choreographer Hana Litterová. On the evening before the premiere in the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre, followed by the autograph session.

		28th September 2013 at 3 pm and 5 pm BALLET IN KOMENSKÝ PARK Unusual event for visitors of the park in the centre of the city – by the Ostravice river at the sunbathing area, on the lawn, or at the memorial - in all these places you can see some dance. The ballet ensemble will perform parts of variations on The Strangler – a ballet to the music by Bohuslav Martinů (part of the ballet triptych HOMECOMINGS) - plus some other extracts from ballets.

		January and February 2014, Antikvariát a klub Fiducia CZECH DUMPLING WITH FRENCH SAUCE An evening dedicated to the composer Bohuslav Martinů (1890 in Polička – 1959 in Liestal, Switzerland). Martinů - rediscovered in France in 30s or during the Second World War and afterwards in the U.S.; as a foreigner in the West and in the Eastern Block; blamed for not being truly Czech by his companions in 50s. The following people will debate about this exceptional person in modern music of the 20th century: Aleš Březina - composer and director of the Bohuslav Martinů Institute, initiator of the project Martinů Revisited (2009 – 2010), and Jiří Nekvasil – general intendant of the of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre. Recorded broadcast by the Czech Radio – Vltava

		January and February 2014, Absintový klub Les (club) THE VOICE OF THE FOREST IN LES Watch the one-act radio opera The Voice of the Forest written by Bohuslav Martinů with libretto by Vítězslav Nezval, produced by the Czech Television, directed by Jiří Nekvasil.