Beginning November 4, 2014, the Czech Philharmonic tours Costa Mesa, San Diego, Berkeley, Annapolis, Purchase, Northridge, Davis, Santa Barbara, Fairfax, and New York. The philharmonic performs in renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, the National Cathedral, Segerstrom Concert Hall, and Copley Symphony Hall, among others. Guest artists include pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, violinist Josef Spacek, and the Prague Philharmonic Choir and soloists.
The focus will be Czech composers: Janacek, Smetana and, in particular, Dvorak, to coincide with the international recording release of the complete concertos and symphonies on Decca. The philharmonic’s touring repertoire alternates between Dvorak ’s ‘New World’ Symphony and his other moving masterwork, Stabat Mater. Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Josef Spacek join the philharmonic for concerts performing Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Suk’s Fantasy respectively.
On November 17, 2014, and the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, the Czech Philharmonic performs Dvorak’s ‘New World’ Symphony and Smetana’s Vltava at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. This final U.S. performance is part of a larger celebration of the Czech Republic which also includes the unveiling of a bust of Vaclav Havel in the US Capitol Building, making Havel one of four foreign dignitaries to have a bust procured at the Capitol. This celebration is hosted by the Prague Freedom Foundation, an independent charitable foundation located in Prague.
The Czech Philharmonic’s 119-¬year history is filled with extraordinary musical achievements. The orchestra’s activities have also significantly tended to manifest the artistic, cultural, and political context reflective of the times.
The Rudolfinum in Prague houses one of the world’s most beautiful concert halls and is home to the Czech Philharmonic. It was founded in 1885 as a multipurpose cultural facility with concert and exhibition halls. The building continues to remain the centre of artistic life in the Czech Republic, offering concerts, exhibitions and numerous education programmes which are vital to the heritage of the nation.
U.S. Tour Schedule
November 4, 8:00PM
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
JANACEK: Taras Bulba
LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “New World”
Jiri Belohlavek, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
November 5, 7:30PM
Great Hall – Valley Performing Arts Center, Northridge
DVORAK: Stabat Mater
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Lukas Vasilek, choirmaster
November 6, 8:00PM
Copley Symphony Hall, San Diego
JANACEK: Taras Bulba
LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major
DVORK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “New World”
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
November 8, 8:00PM
Barbara K. and W. Turrentine Jackson Hall, Davis
JANACEK: Taras Bulba
LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “New World”
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
November 9, 3:00PM
Cal Performances – Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley
DVORAK: Stabat Mater
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Lukas Vasilek, choirmaster
November 10, 8:00PM
The Granada, Santa Barbara
JANACEK: Taras Bulba
LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “New World”
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
November 13, 7:30PM
Alumni Hall, Annapolis
JANACEK: Taras Bulba
SUK: Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 24
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “New World”
Josef Spacek Jr., violin
November 14, 8:00PM
Concert Hall, Fairfax
JANACEK: Taras Bulba
LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “New World”
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
November 15, 8:00PM
The Concert Hall – The Performing Arts Center, Purchase
JANACEK: Taras Bulba
LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “New World”
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
November 16, 2:00PM
Carnegie Hall – Isaac Stern Auditorium, New York
JANACEK: Taras Bulba
LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “New World”
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
November 17, 7:00PM
National Cathedral, Washington DC
SMETANA: Vltava, symphonic poem from “My Country”
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “New World”