Czech Philharmonic ⬩ New Year’s Concerts

From the latter half of the 19th century to the early 20th, French classical music enjoyed one of its richest periods. This era, often called the “belle époque”, was a time of creative blossoming, innovation, and a search for new means of expression. Composers like Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel – who was Fauré’s pupil -and Camille Saint-Saëns played key roles in changing musical aesthetics, enchanting the whole world in the same way their visual arts counterparts did with their creations.

A characteristic feature of French music of this period is the transition from traditional musical forms and harmonies to experimentation featuring a new range of tone colours and musical structures. Ravel’s music, often associated with Impressionism, perhaps departed the most from conventional harmonies and melodic lines, giving rise to an innovative musical language full of colour and rhythm. This music can evoke clear images and intense feelings, and unlike the slightly later attempts by representatives of the Second Viennese School, for listeners, it remains accessible and, to put it honestly, enjoyable.

At its New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day concerts this season, the Czech Philharmonic will celebrate this musical living legacy under conductor Tomáš Netopil. The cocktail of French programming will of course also feature opera and ballet music because combining visual arts, dance, and music led French composers to write such brilliant works as Samson et Dalila, Pelléas et Mélisande, Thaïs, or the lesser known but beautiful ballet Les Biches. Josef Špaček, the former long-time Concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic, together with Principal Cellist Ivan Vokáč appear as soloists. Marek Eben will present both concerts on 1 January for the audience in the Rudolfinum and those tuning in via the live broadcast.