Although the dramaturgy of our festival is mostly centered on myths and legends, it does not shy away from everyday life—or the ordinary, if you will. On Sunday afternoon, we turn our attention to earthly matters, where abundance is ensured by both good food and its preparation. We move to the kitchen, where, in jazzy rhythms, Mr. Pot and Mrs. Lid begin to dance, joined by the seductive Whisk, the flirtatious Towel, and the dignified Broom—all of them diving into their mischievous frolics. This ballet suite was first performed nearly a century ago, on November 17th, 1927, at Umělecká beseda (The Artistic Forum), where the premiere was presented by the author of the concept, Jarmila Kröschlová, together with her dance troupe. A concert version of the suite—including the sections Prologue, Tango, Charleston, and Finale—received great acclaim during one of Alfred Cortot’s Parisian concerts in January 1930. It was partly due to this success that Martinů considered La Revue de Cuisine (The Kitchen Revue) to be one of his most accomplished works.
This hearty appetizer is followed by the main course of the afternoon: The Soldier’s Tale by Igor Stravinsky, composed nine years earlier in Switzerland, where the composer had taken refuge during World War I. Due to the shortage of musicians—many having been drafted into the army—Stravinsky limited the instrumentation to a septet. The poignant Soldier’s Tale, a story of the Devil’s schemes and the Soldier’s failed attempt to outsmart him, premiered on September 28, 1918, in Lausanne and has since seen many performances.
These iconic works from the first half of the 20th century—Martinů’s jazzy ballet suite The Kitchen Revue and Stravinsky’s ballet-pantomime The Soldier’s Tale—are sure to delight your senses this Sunday afternoon. Afterwards, the festival will shift to a garden celebration, where, with a glass of wine in hand, we will toast the eve of the festival’s final day.
PROGRAMME:
• Bohuslav Martinů - The Kitchen Revue (La Revue de Cuisine), H. 161
Josef Špaček — violin
Ivan Vokáč — violoncello
Irvin Venyš — clarinet
Ondřej Roskovec — bassoon
Walter Hofbauer — trumpet
Kristýna Donovalová — piano
Martin Myšička — narrator
• Igor Stravinskij - The Soldier’s Tale (L'Histoire du soldat)
Josef Špaček — violin
Adam Honzírek — double bass
Irvin Venyš — clarinet
Ondřej Roskovec — bassoon
Walter Hofbauer — trumpet
Lukáš Moťka — trombone
Ladislav Bilan — percussions
Martin Myšička — narrator
Ondřej Vrabec — conductor
The concert is with a break. Estimated end is at 18:45.
