MATINEE IN THE CONVENT
Recent winner of the Jiří Bělohlávek Prize, Vilém Vlček always captivates his listeners, who appreciate his technical excellence, emotional depth and well-considered conception. At his first Prague Spring concert, he invites us to St Agnes’ Convent where, alongside pianist Denis Linnik, he will bring together music from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries in a programme filled with imagination and stories.
Programme
- Leoš Janáček: Fairy Tale for Violoncello and Piano
- Robert Schumann: Fantasiestücke Op. 73
- Thomas Demenga: Efeu
- Benjamin Britten: Sonata for Cello and Piano in C major Op. 65
Performers
- Vilém Vlček - cello
- Denis Linnik - piano
Although he is still a student at the Basel Music Academy, Vilém Vlček already has a series of impressive successes behind him. This native of Prague, who celebrates his 26th birthday in 2024, won the International Instrumental Competition in the German town of Markneukirchen and he is also the holder of the Rahn Musikpreis, conferred upon the best pupils studying at Swiss music schools. As a soloist he has appeared with a whole series of orchestras, including the Czech Philharmonic and the Basel Chamber Orchestra, and he can boast collaboration with such conductors as Jiří Bělohlávek and Petr Altrichter.
The programme for his Prague Spring debut opens with Janáček’s Fairy Tale, inspired by an epic poem by the Russian Romantic author Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky entitled The Tale of Tsar Berendyey. “This is a narrative piece, but this narrative could be different each time,” says Vlček, describing the tone of the work.
With their creative invention and intimate lyricism, Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke (Fantasy Pieces) might also evoke the realm of fairy tales. “They have always fascinated me with their seemingly elusive quality. In this work I sense a never-ending process of transformation, through which Schumann brings to life a unique and fantastic world,” Vlček reveals.
Vlček will demonstrate his supreme technical virtuosity to the full in a solo composition by contemporary Swiss cellist and composer Thomas Demenga entitled Efeu (Ivy). “Despite all the original techniques and sound colours, this is highly coherent and emotionally accessible music, even at first hearing,” he explains.
The morning concert in the attractive setting of St Agnes’ Convent will end with the masterful Sonata for Cello and Piano by Benjamin Britten. The English composer wrote it for one of the greatest cellists of all time, Mstislav Rostropovich who, accompanied by Britten, premiered the piece at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1961. “Few compositions offer so many diverse characters, moods and worlds within the space of twenty minutes. This places great demands not only on the performers, but also on the audience; however, the reward – namely the truly fulfilling experience one gains from this work – is definitely worthwhile!”, concludes the cellist, who plays on an instrument crafted by the renowned Neapolitan violin maker Lorenzo Ventapane.
