Jakub Hrůša conducts three works that connect the specific tonality of Czech music with the language of 20th-century sound: Bohuslav Martinů’s First Symphony, composed in 1942 in American exile, evokes his lost homeland through traditional folk melodies and dance rhythms, while simultaneously celebrating the beginning of a new chapter in his life. The nostalgic Suita rustica by his student Vítězslava Kaprálová is based on folkloric themes, and Josef Suk’s passionate Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra, with Julia Fischer as the soloist, is also unmistakably influenced by Czech music.

A Czech evening with Jakub Hrůša

Berliner Philharmoniker

British cellist Steven Isserlis CBE enjoys an international career as a soloist, chamber musician, author, educator, and broadcaster. Equally at home in music from baroque to the present day, he performs with the world’s greatest orchestras, including period ensembles, and has given many world premieres, including Sir John Tavener’s The Protecting Veil, Thomas Adès’s Lieux retrouvés, four works for solo cello by György Kurtág, and pieces by Heinz Holliger, Jörg Widmann, Olli Mustonen, Mikhail Pletnev and many others.

EPSG:4326

Steven Isserlis, cello and Connie Shih, piano

560 Music Center

Lutosławski’s fiercely intense Concerto for Orchestra is a modern classic – and one of the most powerful musical experiences imaginable in a concert hall. In this work, the orchestra itself becomes the “soloist,” as different sections are brought to the fore and given their moment to shine. Like his Polish predecessors Chopin and Szymanowski, Lutosławski drew inspiration from traditional Polish folk music – but transformed it into something entirely his own.

Concerto for Orchestra

Stockholm City Hall

Internationally renowned British cellist, Steven Isserlis CBE, praised for leaving listeners “in perpetual wonder at the ingredients in his art” (The Australian), performs a program suited to his brilliance and versatility. From the playful charm and innovation of Beethoven to Soviet composer Kabalevsky’s personal emotion to Czech trailblazer Kaprálová’s explosiveness, Isserlis embarks on a captivating journey for all who cherish cello and piano.

Steven Isserlis, cello Connie Shih, piano

Johns Hopkins University

No thunderbolts and lightning, maybe, but plenty of kaleidoscopic colour, whirling rhythms and strong flavours as flamboyant Greek-Albanian violinist Jonian Ilias-Kadesha directs a concert dedicated to the gutsy glories of Czech music.

Bohemian Rhapsodies

The Queen's Hall

City Halls

They convey a "sense of happiness" that "has a doubly soothing effect in these pessimistic times" : this is how the critic-pope Eduard Hanslick once characterized Antonín Dvo ř ák's "Legends," a cycle of poetic miniatures. They were intended as an intimate counterpart to the down-to-earth "Slavonic Dances" and were also a great success. Dvo ř ák's ability to sketch out a story, scene, or atmosphere with just a few strokes seems to have been passed on from him to his compatriots. The younger Bohuslav Martin and the highly talented composer and conductor Vítězslava Kaprálová, who, despite her much too early death, left behind around 50 works and was the first female conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, also mastered the small form.

3rd Loh Concert

Octagonal House

Our principal conductor once praised the "natural quality" of our orchestra, saying that we "never play routinely" and therefore it "never sounds boring." He particularly appreciates our great enthusiasm for discovering the often still unknown music of his homeland, and so we will once again delve with him into the Czech repertoire, which has become irresistible to us – with exciting works such as the "Suita rustica" by Vítězslava Kaprálová, who was not only a highly gifted composer but also the first female conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. She came from Brno but died in exile in France at the young age of 25.

Guest at the Vienna Musikverein

Vienna Music Society

Brahms’s Third Symphony packs a wide variety of material into four compact, yet passionate movements of stunning depth and emotional sweep. Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša returns to also lead The Cleveland Orchestra in the wartime Third Symphony by his countryman Bohuslav Martinů and the Military Sinfonietta by countrywoman Vítĕzslava Kaprálová, who left a small but remarkable output before her untimely death at age 25.

Brahms’s Third Symphony

Severance Music Center

Bartók’s ballet is a fairytale, for sure, but this is 20th-century Hungary, where folklore has a habit of growing teeth and claws. Edward Gardner shares the choral ecstasies of Szymanowski’s gorgeous Stabat Mater, and champions the utterly original music of Vítězslava Kaprálová. Expect surging emotions, burning colours and glorious singing; but above all, prepare to be transported.

The Wooden Prince

Southbank Centre

The Pavel Haas Quartet from Prague is one of Europe’s leading string quartets, with a particular focus on Czech and Slovak music. This concert features an all-Czech programme.

Pavel Haas Quartet

Stockholm Concert Hall

Our principal conductor once praised the "natural quality" of our orchestra, saying that we "never play routinely" and therefore it "never sounds boring." He particularly appreciates our great enthusiasm for discovering the often still unknown music of his homeland, and so we will once again delve with him into the Czech repertoire, which has become irresistible to us – with exciting works such as the "Suita rustica" by Vítězslava Kaprálová, who was not only a highly gifted composer but also the first female conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. She came from Brno but died in exile in France at the young age of 25. In 1938, she wrote her impressive suite, inspired by the folklore of her homeland, which we will present with great joy and energy. 

Jakub Hrůša, Julia Hagen

Bamberger Symphoniker

You’ll hear sparkling works by Czech and French female composers, audience favorites like Coleridge-Taylor’s Christmas Overture and Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, plus a few surprises sure to make your spirits bright. And don’t miss the annual audience sing-along, hosted by CEO & President Sidney P. Jackson, complete with glowing luminaria lighting our hall in harmony.

Holidays of Hope

Mandel Hall

North Central College

The dynamic duo of violinist Adam Millstein and pianist Dominic Cheli performs works by innovative composers who profoundly impacted the trajectory of 20th-century music. 

The dynamic duo of violinist Adam Millstein and pianist Dominic Cheli performs works by innovative composers who profoundly impacted the trajectory of 20th-century music.

Recovered Voices: Adam Millstein, Violin and Dominic Cheli, Piano

Colburn School

The dynamic duo of violinist Adam Millstein and pianist Dominic Cheli performs works by innovative composers who profoundly impacted the trajectory of 20th-century music.

Adam Millstein & Dominic Cheli

Creative Resistance to Empire

Fisher Center at Bard

In this thoughtfully curated concert with commentary, scholars-in-residence Michael Beckerman and Aleš Březina present chamber works by Martinů and his gifted composition student Vítězslava Kaprálová, with whom he was in love.

Program Four • Martinů’s Distinctive Voice

If you enjoy Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony (No.9), you’re going to love his Eighth, which he wrote back home in the heart of Bohemia. Hymn tunes, birdsong and folk dances; village bands, summer sunsets and blazing triumph – they’re all here, in what might be the single happiest symphony by any great composer (and definitely one of the most tuneful). For guest conductor Eduardo Strausser, it’s a natural way to end a concert that positively glows with Central European sunshine. The award-winning violinist Liya Petrova steps into the limelight in Korngold’s soaring Violin Concerto – written in Hollywood by a composer with his heart in Vienna. And there’s a chance to discover a real neglected gem: the folk-inspired Suita Rustica by Vítězslava Kaprálová, who lit up Czech music between the wars.

Korngold’s Violin Concerto

Cadogan Hall 

If you enjoy Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony (No. 9), you’re going to love the one that he wrote back home in the heart of Bohemia. Hymn tunes, birdsong and folk dances; village bands, summer sunsets and blazing triumph – they’re all here, in what might be the single happiest symphony by any great composer (and, definitely, one of the most tuneful).

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Korngold’s Violin Concerto

Adellyn Geenen, voice - Second Year Master's Recital

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Winter Concert November 2024

Smith Square Hall

A ‘concerto for birds and orchestra’, Rautavaara’s ‘Cantus Arcticus’ blends recorded birdsong from the Arctic Circle with hauntingly beautiful orchestral music. This is followed by Lutosławski’s compelling and atmospheric Fourth Symphony which packs a dazzling variety of sounds into a brief but eventful two movements. Folk-inspired ‘Suita Rustica’ by Kaprálová draws on traditional Moravian melodies to create a colourful and energetic tribute to her Czech heritage. The evening ends with Martinů’s big-hearted Fourth Symphony, written in America in 1945, an optimistic work brimming with lyrical melodies.

FSO - Martinů, Lutosławski, Rautavaara, Kaprálová

### Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben - Kensington Symphony Orchestra

**Date:** Monday, 14 October 2024  
**Time:** 7:30 PM  
**Venue:** St John’s Smith Square

The Kensington Symphony Orchestra (KSO) is set to open its 2024/25 season with a captivating performance at St John’s Smith Square. Under the baton of conductor Russell Keable, the orchestra will present a rich and varied program featuring works by Richard Strauss, Samuel Barber, and Vítězslava Kaprálová.

**Programme:**
- **Barber:** Overture to The School for Scandal
- **Kaprálová:** Suita Rustica
- **Strauss:** Ein Heldenleben

**Highlights:**

- **Richard Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben:** This tone poem, also known as "A Hero’s Life," was composed in 1898 and is designed to illustrate the ideal of great and manly heroism. The piece includes an effusive violin solo depicting Strauss's wife Pauline and features caricatures of his adversaries in the music press. The six-section work contains over 30 quotations from Strauss's earlier compositions, including "Also sprach Zarathustra," "Till Eulenspiegel," "Don Quixote," and "Death and Transfiguration."

- **Samuel Barber’s Overture to The School for Scandal:** Composed in 1931, this was Barber’s first work for full orchestra. Written during a holiday in Italy, it reflects the spirit of Sheridan’s 18th-century comedy of manners with its energetic and fast-paced orchestral brilliance.

- **Vítězslava Kaprálová’s Suita Rustica:** Written in 1938, this three-movement work is both lyrical and exuberant, bearing the influence of Stravinsky’s "Petrushka." Kaprálová, a student of Bohuslav Martinů, composed this piece two years before her untimely death at the age of 25.

Join the Kensington Symphony Orchestra for an evening of exceptional music, showcasing the talents of one of the finest non-professional orchestras in the UK.

Richard Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben

St. John's Smith Square

Kensington Symphony Orchestra begins its 2024/25 season at Sinfonia Smith Square on Monday 14th October, when conductor Russell Keable leads the group in a performance of Richard Strauss’s tone poem Ein Heldenleben, or A Hero’s Life (1898).

Barber, Kaprálová, Strauss

Dvořák's Cello Concerto is the centrepiece of a concert inspired by nature - as Anna-Maria Helsing, cellist Senja Rummukainen and the BBC Concert Orchestra travel deep into the wild and wonderful heart of Europe.

Dvořák's Cello Concerto with Senja Rummukainen

Kick off the Bohemian Rhapsody Festival with this intimate chamber music performance highlighting lively works by Czech composers. Featuring members of the Houston Symphony in small ensembles, this concert allows for a unique, up-close experience to the musicians and the music. Concerts take place in a casual setting on the newly expanded Janice H. Barrow Piano Tier at Jones Hall. Enjoy cocktail hour at the Round Bar before your concert.

Bohemian Rhapsody Festival: Bohemian Rhapsodies

Jones Hall

For their second consecutive night at the Proms, Jakub Hrůša and the Czech Philharmonic bring to life the blazing fanfares, raw outcries and hushed humility of Leoš Janáček’s unparalleled Glagolitic Mass. Inspiration for the work struck the composer in a misty wood. ‘Its moist scent was the incense,’ he wrote. ‘I felt a cathedral grow out of the giant expanse of woods ... Now I hear the voice of each arch-priest in the tenor solo, a maiden angel in the soprano – and in the choir I hear our people.’

Prom 50: Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass

Royal Albert Hall

For its second evening London’s BBC Proms, the Czech Philharmonic and its Principal Guest Conductor Jakub Hrůša have prepared a special programme: the seldom played Military Sinfonietta by Kaprálová, written during the late 1930s, will be presented alongside Dvořák’s Piano Concerto with soloist Mao Fujita. The finale comes in the form of Janáček’s monumental Glagolitic Mass.

Czech Philharmonic • London

Join us for an enchanting evening of piano music as Emma Truong, a talented Bachelor of Music student under the tutelage of Sylvia Wang, takes the stage at the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall. This recital, scheduled for Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 6:00pm CDT, promises to be a memorable showcase of Emma's virtuosity and passion for music.

The program for the evening includes a selection of pieces that span a range of emotions and styles, highlighting the depth and versatility of the piano repertoire. Audiences will be treated to Claude Debussy's "Étude No. 8 Pour les agréments" and "La cathédrale engloutie" from Préludes, Book I, showcasing Debussy's impressionistic touch. The recital will also feature Franz Liszt's introspective "Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude" from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, and Olivier Messiaen's evocative "Première communion de la Vierge" and "Alouette calandrelle" from his respective works, offering a glimpse into Messiaen's unique musical language.

Further enriching the program, Emma will perform Amy Beach's "Hermit Thrush," Op. 92, and Florence Price's "Clouds," pieces that reflect the composers' deep connection with nature and the American musical landscape. The recital will also include "mountain and bird" by Leo Discenza and Vítězslava Kaprálová's "Dubnová preludia (April Preludes), Op. 13," adding a contemporary and international flavor to the evening.

This event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. It will also be available via live stream for those who cannot attend in person. The Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, located at 70 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL, offers a stunning setting for this recital, with its state-of-the-art acoustics and breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the artistry of Emma Truong and the beauty of piano music in one of the most acoustically and aesthetically pleasing venues in the region.

Emma Truong, piano

Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with the Aurora Symphony Orchestra at their enchanting "Christmas Time Around the World" concert. This heartwarming event is set to take place on December 16, 2023, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, promising an evening filled with festive music and international holiday traditions. Held at the Overland High School Auditorium located at 12400 E Jewell Ave, Aurora, CO, this concert is a perfect outing for the whole family.

Under the baton of Artistic Director Jeremy Cuebas, the orchestra will perform a diverse program that includes beloved classics and contemporary pieces, such as "Carol of the Bells," "Around the World at Christmas Time," and John Williams' "Harry’s Wondrous World" from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The repertoire also features unique compositions like "Umoja, Anthem of Unity" by Valerie Coleman and "Fiesta de Navidad" by Dan Goeller, showcasing the rich tapestry of holiday celebrations around the globe.

Before the concert, attendees will have the opportunity to join Maestro Cuebas for a free 20-minute pre-concert lecture, providing insights into the evening's music and the traditions it represents. This engaging introduction is a fantastic way to enhance your concert experience.

Ticket prices are accommodating for all, with adult general admission at $20, seniors and military at $10, and students 18 & under granted free admission. This event not only offers a chance to revel in the spirit of the holidays but also supports the Aurora Symphony Orchestra, a cherished community institution dedicated to bringing high-quality musical experiences to the region.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the world through music and celebrate the season with the Aurora Symphony Orchestra. For tickets and more information, visit the event's website.

Christmas Time Around the World

Overland High School

Young American violinist Randall Goosby is the talk of the classical music world. His sensitive soul and stage charm are irresistible. He makes his SLSO debut with Korngold’s Violin Concerto, a work that sings with the beauty of the master film composer’s scores. Christian Reif, another rising star, makes his SLSO debut conducting two pieces with turbulently rousing folk music at their core: Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony, and Kaprálová’s Rustic Suite. 

Korngold and Dvořák

Touhill Performing Arts Center

Join AYS for the beginning of the 2023-24 season on Sunday, September 17 at UCLA’s Royce Hall! This incredible program features virtuosic pianist and AYS 2023 Concerto Competition winner, Rosalind Wan Wong, who will perform Vítězslava Kaprálová’s Piano Concerto in D Minor, the triumphant composition she performed for the competition. The program also includes Arnold Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 1 and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor.

Opening Night Concert

University of California, Los Angeles

An evening of memoir and music comes together in this concert curated and narrated by Patricia Hampl.  She revisits her lifelong passion for Czech music with works  by Dvorak, Janacek, and others, performed by pianist and accordionist Dan Chouinard and Prague-based soprano Ema Katrovas, for an event in the West 7th neighborhood where Patricia was born.

Spotlight On: Patricia Hampl – “Writing My Way into Music”

Summit Brewing Company

The Slavic Department and the Program in Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies present a one hour recital with pianist Francine Kay featuring works by Dvořák, Suk, Kaprálová, Silvestrov and Chopin. Admission is free, but the audience is requested to donate to humanitarian relief for Ukraine.

Music From Eastern Europe

Taplin Auditorium

Czech music has many faces, and this evening with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra offers a wide-ranging arc across generations of composers, from the striking interwar figure Vítězslava Kaprálová to a brand-new work by Jiří Gemrot. The programme brings together melodic invention and rich orchestral colour, qualities that give Czech music its unmistakable character.

Jakub Hrůša and Czech music

Rudolfinum

Making her Liverpool debut, Czech conductor Alena Hron presents pieces from Má Vlast – a cycle of tone poems that evoke the landscape and history of her homeland and its people. Tonight we'll hear Vltava, inspired by Prague's mighty river, and Šá​rka, an ode to a female warrior of Bohemian legend. Poulenc, meanwhile, delivers a homage of a different kind – a deeply personal tribute to a friend, masterfully balancing sorrow and serenity in beautiful choral music. Vítězslava Kaprálová died young, but her music is being rediscovered today, and Suita Rustica is a work that leaves listeners simply breathless.

Vítězslava Kaprálová

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 21, 2026

Jakub Hrůša and Czech music · Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

May 8, 2027

The Spirit of Bohemia · Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Past events

4 - 6 Jun, 2026

A Czech evening with Jakub Hrůša · Berliner Philharmoniker

Apr 30, 2026

Steven Isserlis, cello and Connie Shih, piano · Washington University in St. Louis Department of Music

About

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