Czech Philharmonic: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Antonín Dvořák
Two musical variations. Joy and melancholy. Two of the most famous Romantic composers, two different life stories. Tchaikovsky composed his famous Violin Concerto in D Major after one of the most difficult crises in his life, while Dvořák’s Fifth Symphony was made during a time of family happiness and creative flourishing. These two works filled with passion, tenderness, and the joy of life will be performed by the Czech Philharmonic under the direction of Petr Altrichter. The violin solo in Tchaikovsky’s concerto will be performed by the orchestra’s concertmaster Jan Mráček.
Program:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 35
Allegro moderato
Canzonetta: Andante
Finale: Allegro vivacissimo
intermission
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony no. 5 in F Major, op. 76 (36’)
Allegro ma non troppo
Andante con moto
Scherzo. Allegro scherzando
Finale. Allegro molto
Performed by:
Jan Mráček – violin
Petr Altrichter – conductor
Czech Philharmonic
About program
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) wrote his violin concerto in the spring of 1878 in the Swiss town of Clarens on the shores of Lake Geneva, where he had traveled to recuperate after one of the most difficult crises in his life. Here, he was visited by his student, the violinist Josif Kotek, and Tchaikovsky found himself inspired to start composing again. The concerto was finished in just under a month. But its journey onto the stage was a thorny one – the highly regarded violinist Leopold Auer, to whom Tchaikovsky dedicated the concerto in its first printed edition, wanted to rework the solo part, which the composer refused. Its premiere thus only took place three years later – in Vienna with the soloist Adolf Brodský, conducted by Hans Richter. The feared critic Eduard Hanslick tore the piece to shreds, writing that the finale had been influenced by vodka. But he was wrong. Today, the concerto is one of the most popular violin concertos of all time. It captivates the listener with its haunting melodies, particularly the wistful canzonetta, of which the composer’s patron Nadezhda von Meck wrote: “How much poetry and longing is concealed in these sons voilés, these mysterious tones!”
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) composed his Fifth Symphony in just six weeks, during a time of joyous fatherhood and after he had won a grant from the state. The publisher Fritz Simrock assigned it the high opus number (no. 76) thirteen years later in a marketing ploy meant to give the impression that it was a recent work. The first movement’s pastoral mood is further accentuated by the melodious sound of the woodwinds. The lyrical second movement gives way to a scherzo reminiscent of the Slavonic Dances, while the dramatic finale shows Dvořák at his very best. After a performance in London in 1888, the English press appreciated the symphony’s “great inspiration” and “masterful form.” It premiered in Prague in March 1879 at a fittingly titled “Slavonic” concert.
Jan Mráček
Violin
Leading soloist, chamber musician, and concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Jan Mráček came to public attention at a young age when he became the youngest laureate of the Prague Spring International Music Competition and won the prestigious Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition in Vienna. He took on the role of concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic at the behest of Jiří Bělohlávek. As a soloist he has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London and at the renowned Suntory Hall with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Conductor Franz Welser-Möst has repeatedly invited him to serve as guest concertmaster with the Cleveland Orchestra, with whom he gave a concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall, and in 2022 he performed in the same role with the Berlin Philharmonic. Mráček is also a member of the Lobkowicz Trio and a winner of the Johannes Brahms International Music Competition. His recording of Antonín Dvořák’s complete violin works received rave reviews. Gramophone magazine has praised the “silvery tone” of his violin as well as his “assertiveness and sensitivity to style.” He plays a 1770 Nicolò Gagliano violin, on loan from the Fidula Foundation.
Petr Altrichter
Conductor
Petr Altrichter is one of the most prominent Czech conductors today. He studied French horn and conducting at the conservatory in Ostrava, followed by conducting at JAMU in Brno. He gained international recognition in 1976 as a winner of the prestigious conducting competition in Besançon, France. He then worked as an assistant to Václav Neumann at the Czech Philharmonic, with which he continues to collaborate to this day, having undertaken numerous tours with the orchestra throughout Europe and Asia. He has served as chief conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra (FOK) and the Brno Philharmonic. Abroad, he was music director of the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz and principal conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, with which he performed at the BBC Proms in 2000. Since the 2018/2019 season, he has served as a permanent guest conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic. He has also guest conducted leading orchestras worldwide, including the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and he has appeared at festivals ranging from the Prague Spring to the Salzburg and Edinburgh festivals. The main focus of his repertoire is Czech music, in particular Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček, and Martinů, but he also performs Shostakovich, Mahler, and Bruckner.
Czech Philharmonic
Over the course of its 130-year history, the Czech Philharmonic has established itself as one of the most important ambassadors of Czech musical culture. The orchestra systematically focuses on presenting works by Czech composers, both past and present, and it is highly regarded by audiences and critics alike as a leading interpreter of the world’s symphonic repertoire. Since the 2018/2019 season, the Czech Philharmonic has been led by chief conductor and music director Semyon Bychkov, under whose leadership it regularly performs the Classical and Romantic repertoire along with works by contemporary composers; it also regularly appears at prestigious venues and festivals around the world. The Czech Philharmonic’s artistic activities are based on four pillars: concerts for domestic audiences, international tours, recording projects, and extensive educational activities. The orchestra’s artistic profile is further shaped by Simon Rattle, principal guest conductor holding the title of Rafael Kubelík Chair, and Jakub Hrůša, who will assume the role of chief conductor and music director beginning with the 2028/2029 season.
Violin
Leading soloist, chamber musician, and concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Jan Mráček came to public attention at a young age when he became the youngest laureate of the Prague Spring International Music Competition and won the prestigious Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition in Vienna. He took on the role of concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic at the behest of Jiří Bělohlávek. As a soloist he has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London and at the renowned Suntory Hall with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Conductor Franz Welser-Möst has repeatedly invited him to serve as guest concertmaster with the Cleveland Orchestra, with whom he gave a concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall, and in 2022 he performed in the same role with the Berlin Philharmonic. Mráček is also a member of the Lobkowicz Trio and a winner of the Johannes Brahms International Music Competition. His recording of Antonín Dvořák’s complete violin works received rave reviews. Gramophone magazine has praised the “silvery tone” of his violin as well as his “assertiveness and sensitivity to style.” He plays a 1770 Nicolò Gagliano violin, on loan from the Fidula Foundation.
Leading soloist, chamber musician, and concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Jan Mráček came to public attention at a young age when he became the youngest laureate of the Prague Spring International Music Competition and won the prestigious Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition in Vienna. He took on the role of concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic at the behest of Jiří Bělohlávek. As a soloist he has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London and at the renowned Suntory Hall with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Conductor Franz Welser-Möst has repeatedly invited him to serve as guest concertmaster with the Cleveland Orchestra, with whom he gave a concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall, and in 2022 he performed in the same role with the Berlin Philharmonic. Mráček is also a member of the Lobkowicz Trio and a winner of the Johannes Brahms International Music Competition. His recording of Antonín Dvořák’s complete violin works received rave reviews. Gramophone magazine has praised the “silvery tone” of his violin as well as his “assertiveness and sensitivity to style.” He plays a 1770 Nicolò Gagliano violin, on loan from the Fidula Foundation.
Conductor
Petr Altrichter is one of the most prominent Czech conductors today. He studied French horn and conducting at the conservatory in Ostrava, followed by conducting at JAMU in Brno. He gained international recognition in 1976 as a winner of the prestigious conducting competition in Besançon, France. He then worked as an assistant to Václav Neumann at the Czech Philharmonic, with which he continues to collaborate to this day, having undertaken numerous tours with the orchestra throughout Europe and Asia. He has served as chief conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra (FOK) and the Brno Philharmonic. Abroad, he was music director of the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz and principal conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, with which he performed at the BBC Proms in 2000. Since the 2018/2019 season, he has served as a permanent guest conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic. He has also guest conducted leading orchestras worldwide, including the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and he has appeared at festivals ranging from the Prague Spring to the Salzburg and Edinburgh festivals. The main focus of his repertoire is Czech music, in particular Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček, and Martinů, but he also performs Shostakovich, Mahler, and Bruckner.
Petr Altrichter is one of the most prominent Czech conductors today. He studied French horn and conducting at the conservatory in Ostrava, followed by conducting at JAMU in Brno. He gained international recognition in 1976 as a winner of the prestigious conducting competition in Besançon, France. He then worked as an assistant to Václav Neumann at the Czech Philharmonic, with which he continues to collaborate to this day, having undertaken numerous tours with the orchestra throughout Europe and Asia. He has served as chief conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra (FOK) and the Brno Philharmonic. Abroad, he was music director of the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz and principal conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, with which he performed at the BBC Proms in 2000. Since the 2018/2019 season, he has served as a permanent guest conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic. He has also guest conducted leading orchestras worldwide, including the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and he has appeared at festivals ranging from the Prague Spring to the Salzburg and Edinburgh festivals. The main focus of his repertoire is Czech music, in particular Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček, and Martinů, but he also performs Shostakovich, Mahler, and Bruckner.
Over the course of its 130-year history, the Czech Philharmonic has established itself as one of the most important ambassadors of Czech musical culture. The orchestra systematically focuses on presenting works by Czech composers, both past and present, and it is highly regarded by audiences and critics alike as a leading interpreter of the world’s symphonic repertoire. Since the 2018/2019 season, the Czech Philharmonic has been led by chief conductor and music director Semyon Bychkov, under whose leadership it regularly performs the Classical and Romantic repertoire along with works by contemporary composers; it also regularly appears at prestigious venues and festivals around the world. The Czech Philharmonic’s artistic activities are based on four pillars: concerts for domestic audiences, international tours, recording projects, and extensive educational activities. The orchestra’s artistic profile is further shaped by Simon Rattle, principal guest conductor holding the title of Rafael Kubelík Chair, and Jakub Hrůša, who will assume the role of chief conductor and music director beginning with the 2028/2029 season.
Over the course of its 130-year history, the Czech Philharmonic has established itself as one of the most important ambassadors of Czech musical culture. The orchestra systematically focuses on presenting works by Czech composers, both past and present, and it is highly regarded by audiences and critics alike as a leading interpreter of the world’s symphonic repertoire. Since the 2018/2019 season, the Czech Philharmonic has been led by chief conductor and music director Semyon Bychkov, under whose leadership it regularly performs the Classical and Romantic repertoire along with works by contemporary composers; it also regularly appears at prestigious venues and festivals around the world. The Czech Philharmonic’s artistic activities are based on four pillars: concerts for domestic audiences, international tours, recording projects, and extensive educational activities. The orchestra’s artistic profile is further shaped by Simon Rattle, principal guest conductor holding the title of Rafael Kubelík Chair, and Jakub Hrůša, who will assume the role of chief conductor and music director beginning with the 2028/2029 season.