Concert in the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory commemorated the anniversary of the establishment of Czechoslovakia
Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra Moscow had a special concert in their series on October 28th . The programme was fully Czech – A.Dvoøák – Carneval and violin concerto, and L.Janáèek Sinfonietta.
The orchestra performed under the baton of Maestro Leoš Svárovský, one of the best Czech conductors, who stepped in for Maestro Vladimír Válek. Violin solo played Sophia Jaffé.
The excellent performers, together with presence of the Czech ambassador PhDr. Petr Koláø and representatives of the Czech Centre, made memorable evening for everybody.
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno in Fraunkirche with Dresden Philharmonic
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno performed on Saturday October 22nd with Dresden Philharmonic in Fraueknkirche, under the baton of Simone Young.
Together with the above mentioned choir and orchestra, in the concert performed the children choir of Dresden Philharmonic and three brilliant vocal soloists -Miriam Gordon Stewart (soprano) Andrew Staples(tenor) a William Shimell(bariton) .
On the programme was Britten War Requiem, demanding and rarely performed piece. The piece perfectly suits to the venue – the church Frauenkirche was destroyed shortly before the end of World War II, and opened after reconstruction only in 2005.
The concert was excellent, after the final Amen followed few seconds of silence, and than long lasting ovations.
Sophia Jaffé at five concerts with Hallé Orchestra Manchester
Violinist Sophia Jaffé performed in the second half of September with Hallé Orchestra Manchester in five concerts.
Three of the concerts were in Manchester Bridgewater Hall with Sibelius concerto.
Two of the concerts were in Blackburn and in the Lincoln Cathedral with Bruch concerto.
All the five concerts were conducted by Andrew Gourlay, Hallé assistant conductor, and were highly acclaimed by the audience, and by the press as well.
Standing Ovations für den Tschechischen Philharmonischen Chor Brno
Der Tschechische Philharmonische Chor Brno in Holland hat einen ausgezeichneten Ruf. Beide Saale in Eindhoven und Rotterdam waren ausverkauft, in Eindhoven im Muziekgebouw sogar kam das Brabant TV, um das Konzert aufzunehmen. Die himmlische Musik von Giuseppe Verdi und seine Messa da Requiem kam von Het Brabants Orkest mit dem exzellenten Dirigenten Kees Bakels.
Großer Erfolg und Standing Ovations .
Sophia Jaffé at the Delft Chamber Music Festival 2011
Sophia Jaffé , violinist, performed three concerts at the Delft Chamber Music Festival beginning August.
One was solo recital in a church, the other two chamber concerts with excellent instrumentalists – violinist Liza Ferschtman, cellist Alexander Rudin, to name just a few.
More info about this important festival in Netherlads you can find on www.delftmusicfestival.nl.
Czech Chamber Soloists under the baton of Jakub Klecker at Rheingau Musik Festival
The Czech Chamber Soloists orchestra performed three concerts at renowned Rheingau Musik Festival in the end of this August, in the framework of concert cycle named Young Virtuosos.
The first concert was in Eberbach monastery courtyard. On the programme were Tchaikovski Rococco Variations and Pezzo Capricioso, with young Russian cellist Dimitri Maslennikov.
The second and third concert were in Wiesbaden Kurhaus, with young soloists – winners of the festival contest. They were : Kerson Leong – violin, Paolo Mendes – horn, Leonie Dessauer - oboe, David Dyakov – guitare, Silvia Hauer – mezzo. The audience was following the almost 100 minutes lasting programme with joy and acclaim. I would also like to mention moderator Karmen Mikovic, who contributed to success of the concerts a lot.
Vladimír Válek and Sophia Jaffé excelled at Varna Summer Music Festival
Varna Summer International Music Festival is one of the oldest and most renowned European music festivals, in 2011 was its 85th year.
Maestro Vladimír Válek conducted the festival concert of Varna Philharmonic on July 5th. Soloist of the evening was Sophia Jaffé (violin). They offered highlights of classical music to the festival audience – Smetana Vltava, Dvoøák Violin Concerto, and Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5. The audience counted this concert to the most memorable festival evenings and so did the promoters.
(Photo: Rossen Donev)
The brilliant duo at Mitte Europa Festival
Mitte Europa Festival proves for already twenty years that it is possible to bring top musicians with interesting programmes even to the smallest village. Barbara Maria Willi (harpsichord) and Sophia Jaffé (violin) performed in Pomezi nad Ohri – St. Jacob’s Church on July 24th. The programme of baroque and early classicist pieces, performed with virtuosity and devotion, received warm welcome for the audience, who came from both Czechia and Germany.
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno performed in Baden Baden, Strasbourg and Paris
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno went for tour to Germany and France this June.
Besides their demanding concert calendar in Czech Republic, the choir participated in three important concerts abroad.
The first was in Baden Baden in Mahler 8th Symphony, with Bamberger Symphoniker, under the baton of their chief conductor Jonathan Nott.
After Baden the choir moved to Strasbourg, where they had concert of Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder, with Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and the chief conductor Marc Albrecht.
The highlight of the tour was Gurrelieder concert in Paris, Salle Pleyel. The excellent vocal soloists (Ricarda Merbeth – Tove, Lance Ryan – Waldemar, Barbara Sukowa – speaker), and atmosphere of the rehearsals were really special – as this were two last concerts for Maestro Marc Albrecht as chief conductor of this orchestra.
Both the concerts were great success, as you can see the press reviews: here, here, here, here and here.
(On the picture: conductor Jonathan Nott.)
Gustav Mahler and his anniversary
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno receives always warm welcome in Linz. The choir participated on the New Year’s concert 2011, together with Bruckner Orchester Linz and under baton of the chief conductor Denis Russell Davies. On the programme was Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 2, to celebrate Mahler anniversary in 2011. The venue was sold out, with lot of people standing. Concert ended by whole-hearted applause.
Sophia Jaffé – two performances of Dvoøák violin concerto, with Hallé Orchestra and Sir Mark Elder
Violinist Sophia Jaffé performed at two concerts, in Manchester and Nottingham, with Hallé Orchestra under the baton of the chief conductor Sir Mark Elder. Sophia stepped in for her indisposed colleague Valeryi Sokolov.
The concerts were highly acclaimed by the audience, and the press as well.
Due to change of the soloist, the audience had chance to listen to nice Dvoøák concerto, which was not originally on programme.
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno Christmas concerts in Netherlands
In mid December 2010, the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno went for two Christmas concerts to Netherlands. The chamber choir, conductor Jan Ocetek, vocal soloists, accompanied by flutist Martina Matušínská and pianist Jaroslav Fric brought to the Netherlandish audience nice programme of Anton Bruckner motets, and Czech pastorellas and carols. Both the concerts were great success. At the second concert in St. Catherine church in Eindhoven were present about 600 people, and the concert ended with standing ovations.
Sophia Jaffé in the Municipal House in Prague
Sophia Jaffé was asked to stand in as a soloist in the demanding Beethoven violin concerto in Prague (two concerts on November 3rd and 4th). Both the concerts were memorable evenings for listeners, also thanks to the soloist precise and strong way of playing. We have to mention also the rest of these excellent concerts performers – Prague Symphonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Zdenìk Mácal.
Rehearsal photos are here, here and here (Dagmar Kneøová).
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno: Pure Musik der Romantik
No commentary is needed for this review.
Sophia Jaffé – three projects in Czech Republic this October
The concert audience in Czech Republic had three times chance to meet with the violinist Sophia Jaffé in October.
Beginning October, she performed baroque music with our leading harpsichord player Barbara Maria Willi. The audience in the fully booked venue (Convent of Merciful Brothers in Brno) highly acclaimed the performers, especially for their interpretation of J. S. Bach.
Few days later Sophia Jaffé played the world premiere of new violin concerto The Words of the Cross, by Slavomir Hoøínka. The premiere was in frameworks of the Moravian Autumn festival, with participation of Czech Philharmonic under the baton of Leoš Svárovský. The composition lasts about twenty minutes and works especially with the colours of the solo violin and the orchestra.
The last project included three concerts with Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice under the baton of Jan Kuèera. Sophia Jaffé played Brahms Double Concerto with top Czech cellist Jiøí Bárta. All the three performances in the orchestra concerts series were great success.
Here is photography by Ladislav Formánek from Pardubice concert.
Two women – two myths: Jakub Klecker great premiere
The Moravian-Silesian National Theatre in Ostrava started the opera season with premiere of two short operas in one evening – L. Janáèek Šárka and B. Martinù Ariane.
The musical leadership, stage direction and design were in the hands of two members of young artist generation: conductor Jakub Klecker and stage director and designer Rocc (Rok Rappl). Both artists are from the National Theatre Brno.
Jakub Klecker as experienced opera conductor (he started in 2004 in Brno with Smetana The Brandenburgers in Bohemia) and Rocc with his typical minimal direction promise, that the new performance will be one of highlights of this season. The audience of the premiere evening (September 23rd, 2010) felt it like this and the performance ended by long lasting applause.
Full resolution photography from program catalogue here, here and here.
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno first performance with Maestro Eliahu Inbal - in Mahler 2nd Symphony
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno performed for the first time with the Bern Symphonic Orchestra this September. The two concerts were led by Maestro Eliahu Inbal, on the programme was Mahler 2nd Symphony.
The choir performed recently the same piece with the Czech Philharmonic under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach. The concert took place in Prague and was highly acclaimed – see the article (in Czech).
The choir looked forward to the Bern concerts very much, and it was obvious that the two concerts of the same piece will be compared afterwards. Both the concerts in Bern ended by standing ovations. According to the words of Bern Symphonic director, the orchestra does not remember such spontaneous reaction of the audience.
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno choirmaster Petr Fiala and the singers were very pleased also by the appreciative words about their performance from Maestro Inbal.
Photography in full resolution here (photo by Pavel Drápal).
Puella Trio performed at the 36th festival in Estoril, Portugal
Estoril is city at Atlantic Ocean coast, about 20 km from Lisbon. Besides pleasant climate and delicious cuisine, Estoril is known by its tradition of music festival and interpretation courses that goes back to 1975. The motto of this year’s 36th festival was Mare Nostrum, which means concentration on music of the Mediterranean countries.
Puella Trio performed in Estoril at end June in a concert promoted as Young Talents of Central Europe, with programme from compositions by J. Suk, J. Turina, J. Haydn and D. D. Shostakovich. The concert was great success! Young Czech musicians were highly acclaimed by the audience and by the organizers.
Sophia Jaffé invitation to the Hallé Orchestra Manchester
One of the closing concerts of last season was for violinist Sophia Jaffé that with Hallé Orchestra Manchester on July 10th. It is her first cooperation with this renowned UK orchestra.
Sophia Jaffé performed excellently Bruch Concerto No.1 in G minor and Beethoven Romance No. 2 under the baton of Maestro Rory Macdonald. The concert was highly acclaimed by the audience and by the press as well – see the article on this link.
The metropolis of classical music
After their last excellent concert, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra received new invitation to the nice Kölner Philharmonie concert hall this spring.
The programme started with Beethoven Leonore III overture and than followed Beethoven Violin Concerto with charismatic Sophia Jaffé, the Queen Elisabeth competition 3rd prize holder as the violin soloist. The listeners heard this concerto in performance that could be compared with highest demands of the music lovers and of the music specialists as well.
Also the second part of the concert programme under the baton of chief conductor Vladimír Válek – A. Dvoøák Symphony No. 8 – was very attractive. It confirmed the general feeling from the concert – the Kölner Philharmonie concert hall is very inspirational for the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. The review says: „Die Prager Musiker bestätigen auf internationalem Parkett den hohen Stand tschechischer Klangkultur.“
