New works commissioned by the Prague Spring Competition written by Miroslav Srnka and Kryštof Marek

It is now a tradition that the Prague Spring commissions two new works from Czech composers for each edition of the competition. And that goes for this year as well. For the horn category Kryštof Marek wrote the piece Three Prague Escapes. “This is a composition in which, in three musical parts, I was inspired by the atmosphere of the city of Prague. I endeavoured to ensure that the movements were contrasting and that the piece was thus eloquent when performed as a solo without accompaniment,” he says. In the violin category this task was entrusted to Miroslav Srnka, who wrote the piece Apprivoise-moi. “It’s from the novella The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, taken from chapter 21, where the little prince meets a fox, and this fox feels a profound human need for closeness. This piece is also about closeness, namely the affinity between a musician and his instrument,” he states.

The candidates who were accepted received these works sometime in February, a mere three months before the start of the competition. The compositions will be performed in their premieres during the second rounds, which will be held on 10 May (horn category) and 11 May (violin category). In each category an award will also be presented by the Czech Music Fund Foundation for the best interpretation of these works.

Come and listen to the world premieres of these exceptional works! We look forward to seeing you at National House in Vinohrady and at the Prague Academy of Music.