Czech Philharmonic ⬩ Josef Špaček

Programme

Leoš Janáček | arr. Tomáš Ille The Makropulos Affair, suite from the opera 20'

Bohuslav Martinů
Rhapsody-Concerto for viola and orchestra, H 337 (24')

— Intermission —

Vítězslav Novák Slovak Suite for small orchestra, Op. 32 28'

Josef Špaček plays the master instrument of Johannes Theodor Cuypers from 1767. Special thanks to Josef Schebal and the Fidulaza Foundation for the loan of the rare viola.

Concerning the suite, the conductor Tomáš Netopil says “I hope that by performing it, we will be expanding Janáček’s rich, highly original musical legacy. I’m also pleased about collaborating in a new way with Josef Špaček as a viola soloist, and I fully understand his desire to play this extraordinary concertante work by Bohuslav Martinů, which was also once recorded by the legendary Czech violinist Josef Suk. Supplementing the evening of Czech music will be Vítězslav Novák’s delightful Slovak Suite, a work I have loved since my days as a student.”