Keeping modern music alive at Prague Spring

By Frank Kuznik, 26 May 2017

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“the Faust Cantata is fiendishly difficult to perform”

Reviewed at Forum Karlín, Prague on 24 May 2017

Schnittke, Faust Cantata: "Seid nüchtern und wachet"

Holst, The Planets, Op.32

Brno Philharmonic

Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno

Dennis Russell Davies, Conductor

Petr Fiala, Choirmaster / chorus director

Kateřina Jalovcová, Mezzo-soprano

Jan Mikušek, Tenor

Jaroslav Březina, Tenor

Svatopluk Sem, Baritone

From Moravia with love: the Brno Philharmonic at Cadogan Hall

Alexander Hall, 14th October

When you tour abroad, it makes good sense to have in your travelling bag scores taken from your homeland. The Brno Philharmonic under Dennis Russell Davies with Alexander Sitkovetsky showcase Janáček, Korngold and Dvořák.

****1

A modern mash-up at Prague Spring

Frank Kuznik, 30th May

Pop star Angélique Kidjo joins Dennis Russell Davies and the Brno Philharmonic for vibrant performances of Adams and Glass.

****1

Heldenreisen im Wiener Konzert: die Brünner Philharmoniker unter Aleksandar Markovic

Simon Haasis, 22nd May

Die Brünner Philharmoniker und das Klavierduo Silver-Garburg überzeugen im Wiener Konzerthaus mit Heldenreisen aller Arten.

***11

Frühwerk trifft Meisterwerk

Isabella Steppan, 22nd September

Die Brünner Philharmonie unter Aleksandar Markovic spannte einen Bogen von den Anfägen Wagners zu seiner Glanzzeit. Ein Abend, an dem das Orchester und die Sänger begeisterten, aber dennoch Wünsche offen blieben.

***11

Bychkov’s Mahler 8 makes a heavenly finale for Prague Spring

Frank Kuznik, 3rd June

Under the baton of Semyon Bychkov, the Czech Philharmonic and a sprawling supporting cast lead listeners up a stairway to heaven.

****1

A banner Bystrouška in Prague: The Cunning Little Vixen

Frank Kuznik, 11th April

Jakub Hrůša returns to his Moravian roots leading the Czech Philharmonic in a stellar concert performance of Janáček's Cunning Little Vixen.

*****

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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.