The Prague Philharmonia Wind Quintet is the only representative of the wind quintet in this season. The repertoire for this combination of instruments is somewhat limited, but it is possible to find inspiration in folk music in it as well. This is evidenced by Václav Trojan’s Wind Quintet, Op. 8, which mentions “Folk Songs” in its subtitle

Trojan. Farkas. Milhaud

The Professed House, Prague

These musical stories of the landscape tell what is hidden in the forests, rockfaces and watery depths of the Czech lands. We will discover what such music sounds like in the October concert, where music by Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák and other Czech composers will be heard.

D1 Stories of the Czech Landscape

Dvořák Hall Rudolfinum

E1 Stories of the Czech Landscape

In his debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Leslie Suganandarajah conducts BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, the Scottish classical accordionist Ryan Corbett in Václav Trojan’s Fairy Tales in a concert also featuring Unsuk Chin’s brief and colourful subito con forza, and Brahms’ serene Symphony No. 2.

Leslie Suganandarajah conducts music by Chin, Trojan and Brahms

BBC Maida Vale Studios

Chamber Concert

Imperial Baths

Today Václav Trojan (1907–1983) is known primarily as a composer of outstanding scores for a number of 20th-century Czech films. The most noteworthy are the soundtracks to Jiří Trnka’s world-renowned animated movies Bayaya, Old Czech Legends, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Good Soldier Schweik; Bořivoj Zeman’s fairy tale Once Upon a Time There Was a King ..., featuring Jan Werich in the lead role; and Otakar Vávra’s August Sunday. Moreover, Trojan created the ballets Prince Bayaya and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which were performed to acclaim at the National Theatre in Prague, and the stage poem Golden Gate, to folk motives. He wrote one opera, Kolotoč (Carousel), for children young and old, as the secondary title indicates. The owner of a merry-go-round invites children to climb aboard: “If you want to see Indians, a kangaroo and gorillas, take a seat on the carousel!” And indeed: in the scenes that follow children are taken on dreamy trips to an African rainforest, the Australian Outback, an Indian jungle, as well as to the world of American film. Characterised by bounteous instrumentation and exquisite melody, Trojan’s music co-creates a colourful fantasy story.

Václav Trojan

Events

Upcoming events

May 21, 2027

Chamber Concert · Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra

May 22 - Jun 5, 2027

Carousel · Národní divadlo

Past events

Mar 9, 2026

Trojan. Farkas. Milhaud · Prague Philharmonia

Oct 5, 2024

D1 Stories of the Czech Landscape · Prague Philharmonia

About

Václav Trojan hasn't added a bio