R7 / Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich ⬩ Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

“Music is the confession of the soul.” This is how Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky described the power of musical expression, and it is precisely emotion and inner drama that unite the programme of this April evening with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.

The concert opens with the energetic miniature Overture for Strings by Witold Lutosławski, written in 1949 and dedicated to Mirek Očadlík, then director of the radio orchestra. Lukáš Vondráček then returns to the piano for the second time in this 100th season. A soloist of international renown and winner of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, he will perform one of the most popular works in the piano repertoire – Piano Concerto No. 1 in B minor by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. His interpretation of this iconic work promises brilliant virtuosity combined with a keen sense for the subtle nuances of musical emotion.

Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93 by Dmitri Shostakovich – one of the most important symphonies of the 20th century – was written in 1953, shortly after Stalin’s death, and carries within it both tension and the bitter memory of the preceding decades. The monumental four-movement composition culminates in a dramatic finale in which the composer recalls his musical signature D–E♭–C–B (D–Es–C–H).

The programme will be conducted by the Polish conductor Michał Nesterowicz, a respected interpreter of Slavic and modern repertoire who collaborates regularly with leading European orchestras. In combination with the virtuosity of Lukáš Vondráček, the evening promises a powerful musical experience.

Liverpool Philharmonic and as principal guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. His conducting is characterised by spontaneous musicality, energetic expression, and a deep affinity with the Czech symphonic repertoire.

Pianist Martin Kasík is a laureate of the Prague Spring Competition and winner of Young Concert Artists in New York, achievements that launched his international career. He performs with major orchestras across Europe, America, and Asia, and his performances combine technical brilliance with sensitive musical expression.

Join us for an evening in which Janáček’s playful poetic world, Liszt’s ever-transforming piano fantasy, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s dazzling orchestral imagery come together – music capable of telling stories without a single word.