The festival, which takes place for a full five days near the Vltava River, will begin on its left bank. The innovative dramaturgy of Josef Špaček combined with the concert venue will be fully and boldly manifested right from the start. A performance of Beethoven’s symphony in the industrial setting of a water treatment plant is a challenge in itself. This beautiful building was constructed one hundred years after the premiere of today’s performed Eroica, which at the time took place in the Vienna residence of the Lobkowicz family. And it is precisely in the archives of their Prague palace that, thanks to Josef Maxmilian—Beethoven’s patron—copies of the original score (the original itself has not survived) of this composition are preserved. The piece was originally dedicated to Napoleon. However, after the composer’s disappointment with the general’s moral failure, the dedication was crossed out, and the Italian subtitle from the 1806 edition finally read: composed “in honor of a great man” – “per festeggiare il sovvenire di un grand’uomo.” This magnificent, nearly hour-long work will be preceded by the splendid “Merry Pranks of Till Eulenspiegel,” a folk trickster. Richard Strauss composed it almost a hundred years later, in 1895. We will enjoy both works in the main hall of the beautiful brick building, an industrial gem by William Lindley, a remarkable architectural monument acclaimed throughout Europe.
PROGRAMME:
• Richard Strauss - Till Eulenspiegel’s Marry Pranks (arr. Franz Hasenhörl)
Josef Špaček — violin
Adam Honzírek — double bass
Jan Mach — clarinet
Michaela Špačková — bassoon
Radek Baborák — French horn
• Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no. 3 in E flat major , op. 55 “Eroica” arranged for chamber ensemble
Joel Link & Alex Link — violin
Josef Špaček — viola
Vilém Petras — violoncello
Adam Honzírek — double bass
Radek Baborák & Jan Vítek — French horn
Jan Mach & Lukáš Dittrich — clarinet
Andrea Rysová — flute
The concert is without a break. Estimated end is at 21:15.
