Marvelous Martinů in Prague

Robert Kružík and the Pavel Bořkovec Quartet with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic

Irvin Venyš

By Frank Kuznik, 09 December 2024

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Liechtenstein Palace: Martinů Hall, Prague on 7 December 2024

Teml, Concert for Clarinet and Orchestra

Suk, Pohadka (Fairy Tale) music to drama Radúz and Mahulena, Op.16: Suite

Martinů, String Quartet with Orchestra H 207, H 207

Irvin Venyš, Clarinet

Pavel Bořkovec Quartet

Ondřej Hás, Violin

Marek Blaha, Violin

Matěj Kroupa, Viola

Štěpán Drtina, Cello

Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic

Robert Kružík, Conductor

Ballet of the National Theatre Brno brings majesty to La Bayadère

Graham Watts, 16th February

Ballet of the National Theatre Brno, with guest artists, gave outstanding performances of this update of a great 19th century ballet.

*****

Dazzling Prokofiev from Alim Beisembayev and the RLPO

Peter Connors, 26th April

In an all-Russian programme in Liverpool, Alim Beisembayev gives a breathtaking performance of Prokofiev's fiendishly difficult Second Piano Concerto.

****1

A Evgeny Kissin tour de force in Boston

Kevin Wells, 25th April

Andrey Boreyko makes an impressive debut with the Boston Symphony, where Evgeny Kissin performs in not one, but two piano concertos.

****1

Patriotic angst with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Thomas Zehetmair

Nick Butters, 24th April

Patriotic Sibelius and early Mendelssohn are served up at the Glasshouse in Gateshead.

***11

Yunchan Lim at Carnegie Hall: unmooring musical time

Edward Sava-Segal, 24th April

Schubert and Scriabin are shaped by expansion and suspension in the Korean pianist’s Carnegie Hall recital.

****1

From funeral rites to firebird: Măcelaru and the Cincinnati Symphony

Sam Jacobson, 24th April

In a staged Firebird and an early work by Mahler, Cristian Măcelaru and the Cincinnati Symphony colorfully bring to life these composers’ youthful ambitions.

****1

More reviews...

Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.