The 2024/2025 season traditionally concludes with Music Director and Chief Conductor Emmanuel Villaume. The evening's honored solo position will be taken by outstanding violinist Romana Špačková, Prague Philharmonia's long-standing concertmaster.

The evening opens with Anton Webern's Passacaglia, an early work combining strong Romantic influences with experimental tendencies. The epic arch of this Baroque-inspired variation form sets the stage for the dramatic atmosphere of the early 20th century, which we'll fully explore in Dmitri Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor. The post-war period during which the concerto was written marked another turbulent phase in the composer's life, as he faced intense criticism of his work and political persecution.

Webern. Shostakovich. Beethoven

Dvořák Hall Rudolfinum

Although it might seem that the peers Josef Bohuslav Foerster, born in Prague, and Leoš Janáček, born in Hukvaldy five years later, were friends or artistic partners, this is not the case. Rather, there was mutual respect between the composers. Like Janáček, Foerster came from a family of schoolteachers. Half a year older than Gustav Mahler and a whole generation older than Josef Suk and Vítězslav Novák, Foerster's music had one characteristic quality: strange inconspicuousness and modesty. Foerster never aspired to coin his own distinctly personal musical language. He formed a strong friendship and deep understanding with Mahler. They first met in Hamburg.

Romana Špačková

Events

Upcoming events

Feb 15, 2027

Janáček. Foerster. Mahler · Prague Philharmonia

Past events

Jun 18, 2025

Webern. Shostakovich. Beethoven · Prague Philharmonia

Future and recently performed repertoire

Violin in Symphony No. 5 by Mahler

Prague Philharmonia

Violin in Quartet for 4 Violins by Bacewicz

Prague Philharmonia

Violin in Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor by Shostakovich

Prague Philharmonia

Violin in 4 Concerti for 4 Violins by Telemann

Prague Philharmonia

Violin in Little Suite by Foerster

Prague Philharmonia

Violin in Sonnets by Janáček

Prague Philharmonia

About

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