Smetana’s Litomyšl
National festival | 10. 6. - 6. 7. 2021
CEREMONIAL OPENING CONCERT
Thursday, June 9th, 20.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Bedřich Smetana: Scherzo from Triumphal Symphony E major op. 6
Wolfgang A. Mozart: Recitative and aria for soprano and orchestra „Bella mia fiamma, addio…“
Wolfgang A. Mozart: Symphony No. 38 D major KV 504 ”Prague”
Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra C major op. 56
Marie Fajtová – soprano, Dvořák trio: Ivo Kahánek, Jan Fišer, Tomáš Jamník, PKF – Prague Philharmonia, conductor Petr Altrichter
Giuseppe Verdi: LA TRAVIATA
Friday, June 10th, 21.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
An opera in three acts set to a libreto by Francesco Maria Piave based on La dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas jr.
Performed in Italian with Czech and English surtitles.
Violetta Valéry Simona Houda Šaturová
Alfredo Germont Aleš Briscein
Giorgio Germont Roman Janál
Flora Kateřina Jalovcová
Anna Yvona Škvárová
Gaston Václav Lemberk
Baron Aleš Hendrych
Markýz Zdeněk Plech
Doktor Oleg Korotkov
Orchestra, Opera and Ballet of the National Theatre in Prague, director Jana Kališová, conductor Jaroslav Kyzlink
Antonín Dvořák: THE DEVIL AND KATE
Saturday, June 11th, 17.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Opera in three acts. The libretto based on a folk story was written by Adolf Wenig.
Performed in Czech with English surtitles.
Kate Kateřina Jalovcová
Jirka the shepherd Jaroslav Březina
Marbuel, a devil František Zahradníček
Princess Jitka Svobodová
Lucifer Zdeněk Plech
Orchestra, Opera and Ballet of the National Theatre in Prague, Sets and costumes Adolf Born, director Marián Chudovský, conductor Jan Chalupecký
CHURCH NOCTURNE – EXALTATIO
Saturday, June 11th, 21.30 hrs, Chapter Church of the Raising of the Holy Cross
Mysticism of the Holy Cross in the medieval choral repertoire interwoven with the organ cycle by the French composer Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) – Les Corps Glorieux.
Eva Bublová – organ, Female vocal ensemble Tiburtina Ensemble, artistic leader Barbora Kabátková
Leonard Bernstein: MASS
Sunday, June 12th, 21.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Vojtěch Dyk in the role of the Celebrant in a theatre piece for singers, players and dancers. A staging of this key work dating from 1971 by a composer, whose music oscillates on the borders of jazz, soul, rock and classical music, with significant elements of rhythm and dance.
Vojtěch Dyk, Street Chorus, choirmaster Michaela Rosza Růžičková, boys’ choir Pueri Gaudentes, choirmaster Zdena Součková, Orchestr MASS, director and scenography Šimon a Michal Cabani, conductor Oskar Rozsa
DAGMAR PECKOVÁ & KURT WEILL – CABARET EPOQUE
Tuesday, June 14th, 20.30 hrs, Castle Courtyard
A new concert project of Czech foremost mezzosoprano is a tribute to the works of Kurt Weil (1900–1950). The programme includes: the Beggar’s Opera, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, as well as songs and ballads in the original German, French and English versions.
Dagmar Pecková – mezzo-soprano, Jiří Hájek – vocals, Marta Trpišovská – dance and choreography, Michael Vodenka – dance and choreography, Epoque Orchestra, Miroslav Hloucal Jazz Band, conductor, piano Jan Kučera
#ujizdimNaSmetance
Wednesday, June 15th, 17.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
The premiere of an interactive programme comprising of musical curiosities, puzzles, and little pearls from the concert hall, silver screen and TV, where phones aren’t switched off and the classics are not taken too seriously. The winner of the main competition gets to take home a mobile phone! Performed in Czech, no translation available
En.dru - host, beatbox vocal, Filharmonie Brno, conductor Pavel Šnajdr
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
Thursday, June 16th, 14.00 hrs, Smetana's House
Barbora Látalová & Co.: CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
Multimedia dance production for children aged 7-12, who become actively involved in the course of the programme on the stage. The central motif is the musical suite by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, and it links movement and dance with video projection, original music and sounds.
Creation and interpretation Barbora Látalová, Zdenka Brungot Svíteková, Michaela Suša, Jana Látalová / Jana Novorytová, Inga Mikshina
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
Thursday, June 16th, 17.30 hrs, Smetana's House
Barbora Látalová & Co.: CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
Multimedia dance production for children aged 7-12, who become actively involved in the course of the programme on the stage. The central motif is the musical suite by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, and it links movement and dance with video projection, original music and sounds.
Creation and interpretation Barbora Látalová, Zdenka Brungot Svíteková, Michaela Suša, Jana Látalová / Jana Novorytová, Inga Mikshina
THREE STARS OF VIENNESE CLASSICS
Thursday, June 16th, 19.30 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Joseph Haydn: The Representation of Chaos - Prelude to the oratorio The Creation Hob. XXI:2
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 36
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem in D minor KV 626
Barbora Perná – soprano, Alžběta Vomáčková – mezzo-soprano, Josef Moravec – tenor, Marián Krejčík – bass, Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, choirmaster Petr Fiala, Czech Sinfonietta, conductor Radek Baborák
BAROCCO & CARMINA BURANA
Friday, June 17th, 21.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
The NTM Ostrava ballet company performs its most successful piece, which had its premiere on 15/1/2015. The evening is based on two ballet productions full of emotion. The first features the music of Bach both recorded and live (solo cello) and the choreography is inspired by the spirit of the Baroque. Orff’s Carmina Burana is among the most frequently played 20th century compositions. It may work with medieval texts but the ballet’s message of the wheel of fortune is a timeless hymn to the love of men and women.
Hommage à Johann Sebastian Bach: BAROCCO (choreography Jacek Przybyłowicz)
Carl Orff: CARMINA BURANA (choreography Youri Vámos) - The composer’s version for soloists, mixed choir, two pianos and percussion
Barocco: Markéta Kubínová – cello. Dancers – Isabelle Ayers, Brittany Haws, Saki Kagawa, Brígida Pereira Neves, Ayuka Nitta, Shino Sakurado, Aglaja Sawatzki, Barbora Šulcová, Stéphane Aubry, Giordano Bozza, Rei Masatomi, Sergio Méndez Romero, Stefano Pietragalla, Justin Zee
Carmina Burana: Veronika Holbová - soprano, Jan Mikušek - tenor, Filip Bandžak - baritone, Michal Bárta / Jiří Janík - piano, Václav Fildán / Martin Hrček / Petr Podraza / Jiří Smrčka / František Škrla / Pavel Švec / Jan Wysoglad - percussion. Dancers – Chiara Lo Piparo, Koki Nishioka, Macbeth Konstantin Kaněra, Giordano Bozza, Tommaso Avezzano Comes, Rei Masatomi, Sergio Méndez Romero, Olga Borisová-Pračiková / Petra Kováčová
Choir of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre Ostrava, choirmaster Jurij Galatenko, conductor Marek Prášil
LETTERS FROM ITALY
Saturday, June 18th, 15.00 hrs, Castle Riding Hall
Première of a literary-musical programme with readings from the books of Karel Čapek, Jan Werich, Miroslav Horníček and the music of A. Vivaldi, T. Albinoni, L. Boccherini and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – String Sextet in D minor op. 70 Souvenir de Florence.
Recitation Zdeněk Rumpík, Czech Philharmonic Sextet: Bohuslav Matoušek and Ota Bartoš – violin, Jaroslav Pondělíček and Jan Šimon – viola, František Host and Josef Špaček – cello
Bedřich Smetana: THE BRANDENBURGERS IN BOHEMIA
Saturday, June 18th, 21.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
A historic opera in three acts to a libretto by Karl Sabina. Staged on the 150th anniversary of the first production, premiered on 9/6/2016.
Performed in Czech with English surtitles
The National Moravian-Silesian Theatre Ostrava Opera Ensemble, director Jiří Nekvasil, conductor Jakub Klecker
LAUDATE PUERI – MUSIC OF CZECH PIARISTS
Sunday, June 19th, 14.30 hrs, Piarist Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross
The Baroque music of the Czech Piarists in the authentic environment of the renewed Piarist church. The name of the concert, in line with the verse from the Psalms ”Praise ye the Lord” characterises the activities and mission of the Piarist Order, which in the 17 th and 18 th centuries cared for the upbringing of boys from poor families.
Featuring works by: P. Adalbertus - Vojtěch Pelikán (*1643 Litomyšl), Antonín Maschat, Johann Ferdinand Richter, Johann Offner, František Xaver Brixi, Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer
Stanislava Mihalcová – soprano, Filip Dámec – countertenor, Ondřej Šmíd – tenor, Michal Krůšek - bass, Pueri Gaudentes, choirmaster Zdena Součková, Capella Regia Praha, artistic leader and conductor Robert Hugo
Gustav Mahler: SYMPHONY OF A THOUSAND
Sunday, June 19th, 19.30 hrs, Castle Courtyard
A unique production of one of the key works of the world’s musical canon for three sopranos, two altos, tenors, baritones and basses, children’s choir, two mixed choirs and a large orchestra.
Text – Part I: Rabanus Maurus Magnetintius – hymnus Veni creator spiritus
Part II: Johann Wolfgang Goethe – Faust, Part 2
Concert in cooperation with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra on the 90th anniversary of its founding.
Magna Peccatrix Maida Hundeling
Una poenitentium Eva Hornyáková
Mater Gloriosa Kateřina Kněžíková
Mulier Samaritana Terézia Kružliaková
Maria Aegyptiaca Veronika Hajnová
Doctor Marianus Daniel Frank
Pater Ecstaticus Anton Keremidtchiev
Pater Profundus Peter Mikuláš
Kühn’s Children’s Choir, choirmaster Jiří Chvála, Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno, choirmaster Petr Fiala, City of Bratislava Choir, choirmaster Ladislav Holásek, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductor Ondrej Lenárd
ON THE EDGES OF STYLES – ANETA LANGEROVÁ ”NA RADOSTI”
Monday, June 20th, 21.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Songs inspired by a place where time stands still and with it the fates of the people living there …
Singer and composer Aneta Langerová, accompanied by her own group and a symphony orchestra, mainly presenting songs from her CD Na Radosti, which in 2015 won her four Angel’s Awards from the Czech Academy of Popular Music.
Aneta Langerová – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, arrangements, Jakub Zitko – piano, vocals, orchestration and orchestral arrangements, Jakub Vejnar – bass guitar, electric bass, Chapman Stick, Ludvík Kulich – acoustic guitar, vocals, Martin Kopřiva – drums, percussion, Adam Koller – drums, percussion, Dorota Barová – cello, vocals, Veronika Vališová – violin, Vladan Malinjak – viola
The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductor Martin Kumžák
JIŘÍ BÁRTA PRESENTS THE EBEN TRIO
Tuesday, June 21st, 20.00 hrs, Castle Riding Hall
Jan Ladislav Dusík: Sonata for piano trio in E-flat major op. 34
Ástor Piazzolla: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
Peteris Vasks: Quartet for violin, viola, cello and piano
Eben Trio: Terezie Fialová – piano, Roman Patočka – violin, Jiří Bárta – cello, Karel Untermüller a.g. – viola
Věra Mašková: HEY, MASTER!
Wednesday, June 22nd, 19.30 hrs, Smetana's House
A play taking a fresh look at the looking at the life story of Jakub Jan Ryba, the composer of the Czech Christmas Mass, against the background of his times and artistic background.
Bona Nota Chamber String Orchestra, folklore group Radost Pardubice, artistic leader Jitka Vítková
East Bohemian Theatre Pardubice, director Michael Tarant
A NIGHT AT THE NOVÉ HRADY CHATEAU
Wednesday, June 22nd, 21.00 hrs, Chateau Nové Hrady by Litomyšl
The fifth festival season in the enchanting surroundings of a rococo Nové Hrady Chateau. Aside from samples of period entertainment and refreshment, the modern premiere of the epic Latin opera by Jaroměřice composer František Antonín Míča from the year 1735.
František Antonín Míča: Operosa terni Colossi Moles, congratulatory opera in three acts
Ensemble Damian, artistic leader, conductor Tomáš Hanzlík
Price of ticket includes optional transfer from Litomyšl to the venue and back.
In case of bad weather the performance will take place indoors.
Charles Gounod: ROMÉO ET JULIETTE
Thursday, June 23rd, 21.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
The great French opera in five acts. The libretto was written on the tragedy by William Shakespeare by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. The production premieres on 21/4/2016
Performed in French with Czech and English surtitles
Juliette - Jana Šrejma Kačírková
Roméo - Martin Šrejma
Soloists of the Prague National Theatre, State Opera Orchestr and Chorus, director Sláva Daubnerová, conductor Marco Guidarini
A NIGHT AT THE NOVÉ HRADY CHATEAU
Thursday, June 23rd, 21.00 hrs, Chateau Nové Hrady by Litomyšl
The fifth festival season in the enchanting surroundings of a rococo Nové Hrady Chateau. Aside from samples of period entertainment and refreshment, the modern premiere of the epic Latin opera by Jaroměřice composer František Antonín Míča from the year 1735.
František Antonín Míča: Operosa terni Colossi Moles, congratulatory opera in three acts
Ensemble Damian, artistic leader, conductor Tomáš Hanzlík
Price of ticket includes optional transfer from Litomyšl to the venue and back.
In case of bad weather the performance will take place indoors.
Vincenzo Bellini: NORMA
Friday, June 24th, 21.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
A lyric tragedy in two acts set in ancient Rome. The supreme work of Italian bel canto opera is full of beautiful melodies including Norma’s immortal aria ”Casta Diva…”. The libretto was by Felice Romani,
the premiere of this production on 2/10/2015
Performed in Italian with Czech and English surtitles
Norma - Marie Fajtová
Adalgisa - Jana Horáková Levicová
Pollione - Timothy Richards
Oroveso - Jiří Sulženko
Flavio - Václav Cikánek
Clotilda - Sylva Čmugrová
Soloists of the Prague National Theatre, State Opera Orchestr and Chorus, director Tomo Sugao, conductor Enrico Dovico
A NIGHT AT THE NOVÉ HRADY CHATEAU
Friday, June 24th, 21.00 hrs, Chateau Nové Hrady by Litomyšl
The fifth festival season in the enchanting surroundings of a rococo Nové Hrady Chateau. Aside from samples of period entertainment and refreshment, the modern premiere of the epic Latin opera by Jaroměřice composer František Antonín Míča from the year 1735.
František Antonín Míča: Operosa terni Colossi Moles, congratulatory opera in three acts
Ensemble Damian, artistic leader, conductor Tomáš Hanzlík
Price of ticket includes optional transfer from Litomyšl to the venue and back.
In case of bad weather the performance will take place indoors.
STARS OF THE OPERATIC SKY - CELINE BYRNE & GASTON RIVERO
Saturday, June 25th, 20.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Famous opera and operetta arias and duets performed by major soloists – the Irish soprano Celine Byrne and the Spanish tenor Alex Vicens.
Featuring works by: G. Puccini, R. Leoncavallo, P. Mascagni, A. Catalani, F. Cilea, A. Dvořák, P. Sorozábal, F. Lehár and Emil N. von Reznicek.
Celine Byrne – soprano
Gaston Rivero – tenor
Prague Symphony Orchestra, conductor Ondrej Lenárd
A NIGHT AT THE NOVÉ HRADY CHATEAU
Saturday, June 25th, 21.00 hrs, Chateau Nové Hrady by Litomyšl
The fifth festival season in the enchanting surroundings of a rococo Nové Hrady Chateau. Aside from samples of period entertainment and refreshment, the modern premiere of the epic Latin opera by Jaroměřice composer František Antonín Míča from the year 1735.
František Antonín Míča: Operosa terni Colossi Moles, congratulatory opera in three acts
Ensemble Damian, artistic leader, conductor Tomáš Hanzlík
Price of ticket includes optional transfer from Litomyšl to the venue and back.
In case of bad weather the performance will take place indoors.
SOLO FOR 100 STRINGS
Sunday, June 26th, 20.15 hrs, Castle Courtyard
A unique one hundred member body specially put together for this festival concert presents famous compositions for two string orchestras
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Ottorino Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3
Wojciech Kilar: Orawa
Samul Barber: Adagio for String Orchestra Op. 11
Petr Iljič Čajkovskij: Serenade for String Orchestra C major Op. 48
Joint string sections Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra and Czech Chamber Philharmonic Pardubice, conductor Leoš Svárovský
CONCERT BY POPULAR REQUEST – TRANSFORMATIONS
Monday, June 27th, 20.30 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Concerts of the popular group Čechomor and Lenka Dusilová with symphonic accompaniment to mark the 15th anniversary of the issuing of the album Proměny (Transformations), which was arranged by the composer, singer and punk rocker Jaz Coleman
Čechomor - František Černý, Karel Holas, Radek Pobořil, Michal Pavlík, Taras Voloshchuk, Lukáš Pavlík, Lenka Dusilová a.g., Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, conductor Jan Kučera
CONCERT BY POPULAR REQUEST – TRANSFORMATIONS
Tuesday June 28th, 20.30 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Concerts of the popular group Čechomor and Lenka Dusilová with symphonic accompaniment to mark the 15th anniversary of the issuing of the album Proměny (Transformations), which was arranged by the composer, singer and punk rocker Jaz Coleman
Čechomor - František Černý, Karel Holas, Radek Pobořil, Michal Pavlík, Taras Voloshchuk, Lukáš Pavlík, Lenka Dusilová a.g., Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, conductor Jan Kučera
Number of intermissions: 0, Estimated end: 22.30 hrs
C 690 CZK • B 790 CZK • A 1190 CZK
Tickets
OFF-SITE CONCERT IN SVITAVY
Wednesday, June 29th, 19.30 hrs, Fabrika Cultural Centre Svitavy
A leading Polish chamber orchestra, for the first time at this festival, will present famous compositions of three centuries.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: A Little Night Music
Edvard Hagerup Grieg: From Holberg’s Time
Henryk Mikołaj Górecki: Three Pieces in Old Style
Josef Suk: Serenade in E-flat major op. 6
Leopoldinum Chamber Orchestra Wroclaw, artistic leader Christian Danowicz
ENSEMBLE BERLIN PRAG
Thursday, June 30th, 19.30 hrs, Piarist Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross
Chamber music by the giants of the Baroque performed by an excellent international ensemble including Czech soloists with top instrumentalists from the Berlin Philharmonic.
Featuring works by: Jan Dismas Zelenka, Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, François Couperin.
Ensemble Berlin Prag:
Dominik Wollenweber – oboe, english horn, Vilém Veverka – oboe, Mor Biron - bassoon, Barbara Maria Willi - harpsichord, Ulrich Wolff – double bass
Bedřich Smetana: THE KISS
Friday, July 1st, 21.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
A simple traditional opera in two acts. The libretto was written by Eliška Krásnohorská after a tale by Karolina Světlá. Premiere of the production 4/12/2015
Performed in Czech with Czech and English surtitles
Vendulka - Pavla Vykopalová
Lukáš - Petr Levíček
Paloucký - Jan Šťáva
Tomeš - Svatopluk Sem
Martinka - Jana Hrochová
Barče - Martina Králíková
Matouš - David Nykl
Soloists, choir and orchestra of the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno, choreography Laďka Košíková, director Linda Keprtová, conductor Jakub Klecker
CAROLUS IV. – REX ET IMPERATOR
Saturday, July 2nd, 16.00 hrs, Piarist Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross
Ceremonial concert on the 700th anniversary of the birth of King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV.
Featuring: Religious and secular music from the period of Charles IV
Schola Gregoriana Pragensis: Hasan El-Dunia, Ondřej Maňour, Michal Medek, Martin Prokeš, Stanislav Předota, Marek Šulc, Michal Mačuha, artistic leader David Eben, special guest of the show Hana Blažíková - soprano, Gothic harp
Georges Bizet: CARMEN
Saturday, July 2nd, 21.00 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Opera in four acts; libretto written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy from the novel by Prosper Mérimée. Production premiere 18/3/2016
Carmen Atala Schöck
Don José Luciano Mastro
Escamillo Svatopluk Sem
Soloists, Choir and orchestra of the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno, director - Tomáš Pilař, conductor - Ondrej Olos
Joseph Haydn: MISSA SANCTI BERNARDI
Sunday, July 3rd, 13.30 hrs, Piarist Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross
Traditional thanksgiving service celebrated by Mons. Tomáš Halík accompanied by Haydn’s mass for the beatification of Bernard of Offida in 1796
Daniela Straková – soprano, Markéta Štefaniková – mezzo-soprano, Tomáš Kořínek – tenor, Jan Šťáva – bass, Rastislav Blansko Mixed Choir, Czech Virtuosi, conductor Jaroslav Martinásek
Number of intermissions: 0, Estimated end: 15.00 hrs
Admission free
AN AFTERNOON WITH SAINT-GOBAIN ADFORS
Sunday, July 3rd, 16.00 hrs, Monastery gardens
Official partner of the Smetana's Litomyšl festival for the third time cordially invites you to a meeting in Monastery Gardens; its musical part will feature female vocal trio Prime Time Voice (evergreens, swing and movie songs) and especially the world-famous ensemble of virtuoso musicians Gypsy Devils (Cigánski Diabli). From 19.30 hrs live video broadcast of the Grand Finale.
The event will take place only in case of good weather
Admission free
GRAND FINALE
Sunday, July 3rd, 19.30 hrs, Castle Courtyard
Bedřich Smetana: My Country
The grand finale is a reminder of the 70th anniversary of the Litomyšl concert of the Czech Philharmonic, which under the baton of Rafael Kubelík presented My Country in the Smetana House on Sunday June 23rd, 1946 as part of the celebrations in the first Smetana’s Litomyšl
The concert will be broadcast and available for viewing at Monastery Gardens as part of the Afternoon with Saint Gobain Adfors, the video broadcast will take place only in case of good weather
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Jakub Hrůša
