Newsletter 69 — October 2004 (Summary)

  Page last updated Apr 10 2005

This Newsletter is produced with the generous financial support of the Czech Foreign Ministry.

This is a summary of Newsletter No. 69. The full text—which for this issue runs to 36 pages of A4-size text and graphics—has been mailed to all members of the Dvořák Society in the United Kingdom and around the world.

Contents

Regular items

Items special to this issue

Editorial 

Slovak singing student Ivana Mikesková and Czech composition student Tomáš Pálka have attended the 2004 Dartington Summer School as Dvořák Society scholars.

Vilém Tauský Memorial Concert—please note that the the incorrect date was given in Newsletter 68. In fact the concert will be held on Saturday 12th March 2005 (at 7:30 pm in the United Reform Church Hall, Widmore Road, Bromley). It will not be a wake, but a mixed programme of vocal, instrumental and choral music.

All contributions to the Newsletter are welcome. For the next issue—No. 70 January 2005—the editorial deadline is 1st December 2004.

Announcements

Every issue of the Newsletter includes announcements on a wide variety of topics. This is an extremely valuable service to Members, because the announcements are by no means limited to those of the Society. The organisations using our pages in this way are truly international. Those in Newsletter No. 69 are summarised below.

Changes at the Czech and Slovak Embassies in London—Maria Hughes writes in The British Czech and Slovak Review architectural proposals for their redevelopment. In a remarkable diplomatic achievement, some existing facilities and a new consulate building will be shared by the Czechs and Slovaks. It is understood that work on the Embassies is unlikely to commence until late in 2005.

44th International Music Competition for Cellists, Beethoven’s Hradec—this will be held from 4th to 10th June 2005 at the castle in Hradec nad Moravicí (near Opava) where Ludwig van Beethoven was the guest of Count Karl Lichnowsky in 1806 and 1811. The competition is divided into two age categories: 1st category, under the age of 19; 2nd category, under the age of 30. Information from talent@ritornel.com by e-mail and on the web site www.ritornel.com/beethoven.

The Emmy Destinn Foundation are holding a Gala Benefit Concert at St John’s, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA on Friday 29th October 2004 at 7:30 pm to celebrate the Janáček and Dvořák anniversaries. Performers include sopranos Kimberley Myers and Stanislava Vajarova, and tenors Andrew Rees and Mark Chaundy. (Box office telephone: 0207 222 1061).

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust offers opportunities for British citizens to travel overseas to undertake study projects related to their trade, profession or particular interest. In the coming year one of the categories on offer is: “Music for the Young. The Trust invites applications from Young Musicians and those who are involved in their tuition, organisation or development.” (Further information from the Trust on tel no +44 (0)20 7584 9315, Email: office@wcmt.org.uk)

Another Burton Manor Study Weekend is planned for 2005. The dates are 17th to 19th September. The study topic is likely to be “The music of contemporary Czech and Slovak composers”.

Shawn: short & sharp: News from the Secretary (Shawn Pullman)

Members’ views are sought on a suggested alteration to the format of the Society’s Yearbook. It has been proposed that the membership listing to be formatted with surnames first and followed by first names rather like that found in a standard telephone directory.

Hot off the press, in a new English translation by Anne Wyburd of Kurt Honolka’s original 1974 edition, comes this small soft-bound volume from Haus Publishing of London—Dvořák by Kurt Honolka at £9.99, ISBN 1-904341-52-7. At 165 pages and a little under A5 format, this would be a useful introductory volume for anyone starting to study the life and times of the composer, but surely, in this, the 100th anniversary of Dvořák’s death, a truly comprehensive and definitive English language study of the great man is overdue?

Our Chairman reports: by Graham Melville-Mason

Each issue of the Newsletter includes a report from the Chairman, either dealing with matters of particular importance to the Society or with particularly interesting information drawing on his many contacts with the world of Czech and Slovak music. His contribution to Newsletter No. 69 is summarised below.

Dartington International Summer School 2004
Since 1993 the annual five-week Dartington International Summer School—in the beautiful surroundings at Dartington Hall, near Totnes in Devonshire—has included a triennial Czech/Slovak week. The Dvořák Society decided to mark its 25th Anniversary, in 1999, by setting up a scholarship for a Czech or Slovak student to attend the Summer School and benefit from the master-classes under leading British and overseas musicians—see this link for details of this and other charitable Society activities. Because of major reconstruction work on the Dartington Estate, the next Czech Week scheduled for 2002 had to be curtailed and it was agreed that the next occasion would be 2004—the Year of Czech Music, the special anniversaries of Dvořák and Janáček, as well as the 30th anniversary of our Society. It was also agreed that the Society would award two scholarships in 2004 and that one of them would be for one of the two week courses (either composition or conducting) with Dartington’s own Trust funding the second week. As a result, in consultation with the Academy of Music in Prague (HAMU) and the Janáček Academy in Brno (JAMU), the two successful students were composition student Tomáš Pálka from Brno in the Czech Republic and the singing student Ivana Mikesková from Nitra in Slovakia.

The Advanced Composition Course was under the direction of Pavel Novák and was a truly international course of seven very talented young composers. At the end of their two weeks, they had the benefit of having their compositions played by the members of the two leading Czech ensembles in the week—the MoEns (the Czech Republic’s leading contemporary music group and successors of Mondschein) and the Martinů Quartet. Tomáš Pálka’s work Moonsilences was the longest of the main compositions and was scored for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello and piano, spatially placed around the hall, while his miniature, Shortly from Dartington Gardens, was scored for the same ensemble.

Ivana Mikesková had the opportunity to work with Patricia Rozario in the master-classes and Pippa Longworth in the vocal workshops. Of the several voices heard during the week, she had one of the most pleasant of all the students of singing. She sang a variety of pieces, including some Dvořák, and Slovak songs. Both her teachers at Dartington felt that she was among the best students of the week and had the potential for a good singing career ahead of her.

Concert performances during the week included—

• a beautiful if subdued recital of Dvořák and Janáček Violin Sonatas plus Suk’s Four Pieces (Op. 17) from Matthew Trussler
• the Martinů Quartet performing Martinů: String Quartet No. 7, Janáček: String Quartet No. 1 and Dvořák: Piano Quintet (Op. 81) with William Howard
• Pippa Longworth gave an interesting recital of song cycles with Mark Packwood which included Dvořák: Four Songs (Op. 82) and In Folk Tone (Op. 73) as well as Antonín Tučapský: The Veil of Night
• trumpeter Robert Farley joined David Titterington in his organ recital to perform Eben: Okna and gave the première of Tučapský: Sonoramente
• the ensemble MoEns gave two concerts, the first including works by Peter Graham (Jaroslav Šťastný), Jan Klusák, Martin Marek, Michal Nejtek, Pavel Novák, Miroslav Pudlák and Hanuš Bartoň, while the second was of compositions by Milan Slavický, Pavel Novák, Hanuš Bartoň and Miroslav Pudlák
• William Howard, who had given a piano recital of Smetana, Janáček and Pavel Novák in the previous week, gave a recital of Dvořák, Janáček and Pavel Novák (the first performance of Preludes and Fugues Nos. 13 to 18 of his 24 Preludes and Fugues being specially written for William Howard)
• Sarah Francis, with Howard Beach, included the Haas: Suite (Op. 17) for oboe and piano in their recital
• the Trinity College of Music String Orchestra gave an attractive concert of music by Suk, Dvořák and Pavel Novák (the first performance of his very fine Symphony No. 3 for piano and strings, in which the piano was played by William Howard)
• the final concert: Janáček: Sinfonietta, the first performance of Pavel Novák’s Dartington Gardens and the Janáček: Glagolitic Mass, conducted by Sir Richard Armstrong and in which the soloists were Lynda Russel, Pippa Longworth, Alan Oke and Ashley Holland, with David Titterington (organ). The Summer School choir (chorus master David Temple) with the members of the orchestral course, most of whom had never performed in the work before, had prepared this work in five days!

The involvement of our Society in the Dartington Czech Weeks is much appreciated by the Summer School and the Dvořák Society Scholarships add to the value of our cooperation.

For members interested in the work of some of the younger contemporary Czech composers, including some of the works performed at Dartington this year, three CDs on the Arta label (performed by Ensemble Mondschein—including members of MoEns—as well as the Prague Philharmonia for the third work of Miroslav Pudlák) are currently available and may be obtained through the Society’s Record Service—

• F1 0073 Pudlák: Sextet, Bartoň: Tempestuous Rive, River of Oblivion, Graham: Quintet, Marek: 37 Views of Říp Mountain, Matějů: Capriccio
• F1 0091 Graham (Šťastný): Der Erste, Fragment II, Sextet, MoEns or the Dvořák Problem, Silent Music, Heaven and Earth Shall Pass Away, The Last Evening of Poet Si-Kchang, Ave verum corpus
• F1 0101 Pudlák: I Am Flying, The Last Word, A Winged Creature, Khandra, OM-Age

Karlovy Vary Celebrates Dvořák And The ‘New World’
Karlovy Vary, its Symphony Orchestra and its leading musicians marked the centenary of the death of Antonín Dvořák together with the 110th anniversary of the Bohemian première of his Symphony No. 9 in E minor (Op. 95)[B. 178] in July. The occasion consisted of a concert on 23rd July, followed by a musicological conference on the following day.

Following the New York world première of Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony on 16th December 1893, the first European performance was given in London on 21st June 1894. Dvořák’s own nation heard it first in a concert at Karlovy Vary on 20th July 1894, conducted by August Labický. The concert celebrating the 110th anniversary of that Karlovy Vary performance was given by the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, conducted by its Honorary Chief Conductor Jiří Stárek, the programme also consisting of a performance of Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor (Op. 53)[B. 108] in which the soloist was Václav Hudeček. The newspaper reports were very favourable. On the following day there was a conference, under the auspices of the Regional Commissioner, Josef Pavel, addressed by Antonín Dvořák III and chaired by Zdeněk Pachovský, assisted by Alois Ježek. The theme was the tradition of Czech music in the Karlovy Vary region in the 19th and 20th centuries. The occasion was marked also by a performance of three new pieces for flute and piano by Jiří Teml performed by Jarmila Štruncová and Zdeněk Pachovský.

Radoslav Bernard Vočadlo
Radoslav Vočadlo has died. He was one of our Czech members who was a loyal and interested member of the Society and who had a distinguished career as a cellist in Great Britain after his emigration from Czechoslovakia.

Juraj Beneš (1940-2004)
It is with very deep regret that the death is reported, on 14th September, after a long illness, of the Slovak composer Juraj Beneš. He was one of that group of leading Slovak composers of the post Suchoň/Cikker generation.

Martinů Review: compiled by Greg Terian

Greg Terian is a specialist in the music of Martinů. He contributes an article to each issue. That for Newsletter No. 69 is summarised below.

Martinů at the Proms
Here Greg writes about two BBC Proms performances of established Martinů works—Sir Andrew Davis on 29th July conducting The Frescoes of Piero della Francesca and Jiří Bělohlávek conducting the Double Concerto with the Prague Philharmonia on July 21st—and related talks by the conductors broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Bělohlávek disclosed that due to lack of funding, his series of recordings of the cycle of Martinů symphonies may not be completed.

Mirandolina and the Hogwood CD The long anticipated Mirandolina set from Supraphon is finally in the shops. The Christopher Hogwood CD of 1927 ballet scores has also appeared. Amazingly, this contains a second recording of Le Raid Merveilleux, the score of which only surfaced from a Berlin archive around 1990. It certainly eclipses the earlier Panton CD. The full score of the Revue de Cuisine as edited by Hogwood is featured here for the first time on this disc. It contains some extra bits of music, notably a three minute funeral march. As for On Tourne!, the major work on the disc, this is a first recording and a must for Martinů lovers. It is typical of the 1920s Paris Martinů. (Supraphon SU 3749-2 031)

Piano recital disc from America
The American pianist and Martinů scholar Erik Entwistle has a CD due to be released in November on the American Summit label. The particular interest of this recording lies in the fact that it contains nine première recordings and collects together other works which can otherwise only be heard by investing in a variety of other piano recital discs. The beauty of the new disc (SMT 407) is that it fills many of the gaps left by the failure to complete the earlier project by Radoslav Kvapil. Played in chronogical order, the compositions are: Vánoce, the three Dumkas, a Mazurka, Bacarolle, the Sonata and the touching Adagio of 1957 composed in memory of Václav Kaprál and his daughter Vítězslava Kaprálová. Entwistle gets to the heart of these works on this unique disc.

One of Martinů’s sketches of himself at the piano

Festival in Basel
The concert on 28th November at the Jean Tinguely Museum will include a rare performance of The Strangler ballet score, with Gennady Rozhdestvensky directing the Ensemble Basilisk. Another imaginative project will see students from the Zurich State Music School performing The Amazing Flight at Basel railway station.

The Parables
Seldom heard in the concert hall but held by some Martinů devotees to be one of his finest orchestral works, The Parables is due to be featured in the 2004 Martinů Festival in Prague when it will be performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra under Claus Peter Flor. Greg gives some fascinating historical background material to the creation and first performance of this composition, derived from the Boston Symphony Orchestra archives and “Charles Munch” by Geneviève Honegger (Editions Nuée Bleue in 1992). This includes Martinů’s inspiration drawn from “La Citadelle” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, details of the première conducted by Munch and the favourable public and critical reaction. [With thanks to Bridget Carr, BSO Archivist, for her kind assistance with this item.]

A London Première?
Following an approach by Greg to Janet Hilton, Principal of woodwind studies at the Royal College of Music, the short three movement Divertimento for two recorders (published by Eschig in 1965) has been scheduled for performance on 8th November as part of a lunchtime recital of Czech Music commencing at 1.05 p.m. The performers will be Emily Hughes and Francesca Fraser, two advanced students of Ashley Solomon, Professor of recorder studies at the RCM. (Please check with the College nearer the date on 0207 589 3643 as to programme content). Is this a first UK performance?

The Lorna Corner

Lorna makes a characteristically wide-ranging contribution to the Newsletter.

Prague Autumn & New Year
Lorna looks forward to the 14th International Music Festival in Prague and the Prague Winter Festival. The latter will take place between 2nd and 7th January 2005. There will be performances at the Estates Theatre and the Church of St Simon and St Jude, and a special firework display on the Charles Bridge. For details contact www.praguewinterfestival.com which is offering special B/B breaks from £458 for five nights. (Thanks to The Times Travel Section for this information.)

Die Mädchen von Zimmer 28 (The Girls from Room 28)
Just released is this book by Hannelore Brenner-Wanschick outlining the lives of several young girls, detained in Room 28 at Terezín. In addition to Alice Sommer (mother of the late Raphael Sommer, the renowned cellist) much of the work in bringing this book to publication has been done by Dvořák Society member in Brno, Anna Hanusová.
• Details—“Die Mädchen von Zimmer 28, (Freundschaft, Hoffnung und Überleben in Theresienstadt)” by Hannelore Brenner-Wanschick, published by Droemer, Copyright 2004, ISBN 3-426-27331-4: in German but negotiations are currently taking place for its translation into Czech and it is to be hoped that there will eventually be an English version.

Leoš Janáček—Chronology of his life and work
While still in this Janáček anniversary year, Opus Musicum of Brno have published the above 120 page book. Written in Czech and English, it is well worth buying.

Dvořák à la carte
The 2004/2005 season at the Vienna Konzerthaus will include a series of eight concerts devoted to works by Dvořák, between 27th October and 18th May. All concerts take place in the Schubert Saal and commence at 12.30 hrs. (Full details see the Diary section.)

Yet more Czech music for the Dutch
The series of Saturday matinée concerts for the 2004/2005 season being held in the Klein Zaal in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam has an excellent range of composers including Korngold, Haas, Ullmann, Dvořák, Klein, Krása, Martinů and Schulhoff—an absolute MUST is the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra/Gerd Albrecht concert on 12th February 2005. (See Diary for dates and programmes.)

Peter’s Pages

Nová Česká Píseň at the Ryedale Festival—Works by Dvořák and Lukáš
The Ryedale Festival ran from 16th July to 1st August this year and had a very strong Czech flavour, with full recognition of the important anniversaries. The Festival covered much more than Dvořák and Janáček, including several Czech performers doing anything but Czech music as well.

The only event Peter was able to attend was the concert at Ampleforth Abbey Church, on Saturday 17th July given by the choir Nová Česká Píseň from the city of Plzeň under the direction of Zdeněk Vimr. The first half was an outstanding performance of the Dvořák Mass in D in the version for organ accompaniment, which overcame the inappropriate acoustic of the venue—the piece was written for the intimate surroundings of the chapel of Josef Hlávka’s chateau at Lužany near Plzeň—to give perfect clarity. After the interval the choir gave performances of several unaccompanied works by Zdeněk Lukáš, a composer long associated with Plzeň and its music and this choir particularly—Op. 234 “Quis potest dicere”, Op. 263 “Pater noster”, Op. 44 “Parabolae Salomonis” and Op. 252 “Requiem per coro misto”. The stillness was breathtaking and the audience could again hear every single syllable with the most perfect clarity, with electrifying effect. CDs which had looked like staying unsold, flew off the table at the end.

RLPO at the Chester Festival—Dvořák, Suk, Smetana and Britten
Conducted by choral specialist David Hill, this very successful concert by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Wednesday 21st July included was a truly vibrant performance of Dvořák’s Te Deum. Elizabeth Donovan was the soprano soloist, Anna Burford the mezzo, Peter Hoare the tenor and Matthew Rose the base. Of these perhaps the tenor was weakest, with the others keeping better to volume and consistency with one another. The playing of the RLPO was excellent throughout the concert and very responsive in the Te Deum and the Chester Festival Chorus was well integrated with the the ensemble. Other works performed were—the orchestral version of Josef Suk’s Meditation on an Old Bohemian Chorale, Vltava from Má vlast by Smetana (where Hill found some freshness here that eludes many conductors in what can seem such a hackneyed piece) and a very good performance of Britten’s Spring Symphony (but with the Manchester Boys’ Choir inaudible in their Sumer is Icumen in).

The Dvořák Society day in Garstang
Following a Society Committee Meeting, there was an enjoyable afternoon concert by The Krommer Wind Ensemble (plus cello and double bass), which also included a post-interval talk on the basset horn given by Graham Melville-Mason. The pieces played were: Josef Triebensee’ Variations on a Theme by Jírovec, opened , Dvořák’s Serenade in d minor Mozart’s Gran Partita, or Serenade in B flat K361. The musicians were most expertly held together by guest conductor, Peter Stallworthy.

The Krommer Ensemble, with Peter Stallworthy second from the
left at the front, after the concert

Reports of Events

Each issue includes reports of events of interest to lovers of Czech and Slovak music. A variety of authors, members and others, contribute. A summary of this section in Newsletter No. 69 follows.

Míla Smetáčková of the Czech Music Society reports on the centenary of František Lýsek, the musician, teacher and choir master who was born on 2nd May 1904 in Ostrava and died on 16th January 1977 in Brno. The epicentre of the centenary celebrations took place in Brno because the origin and sphere of activities of the person being honoured was largely Moravia, and above all Brno. Míla gives details of his career, which began as a simple, poor village teacher in 1929 and culminated in university appointments and the prestigious title of National Artist. In 1945 he founded the famous Brno Children’s Choir. In June 2004 the International Festival of Children’s Choirs in Brno was held in his honour. More than twenty Czech and foreign choirs participated. The whole festival was one continuous joy and pleasure in listening to many excellent choirs.

Lewis Stevens reports on the highly successful “Dvořák in England” Burton Manor Study Weekend held on the weekend of the 10th September. Attended by over 30 people at Burton Manor—set in rural parkland on the Wirral Peninsula—the course tutor was Graham Melville-Mason. The subject matter covered the nine visits the composer made to England between 1884 and 1896 and the premières of the Stabat Mater (in London), 7th Symphony (again, in London) and The Spectre’s Bride (Svatebni košile) (in Birmingham). Also dealt with was Dvořák’s visit to Worcester for the 800th anniversary of the founding of the cathedral where the 6th Symphony was performed and the 27-year old Elgar played in the violin section.

Live Performance Reviews

Each issue of the Newsletter includes reports of live performances. The reviews in Newsletter No. 69 are summarised below.

Martinů The Greek Passion (original version) at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 19th September 2004
Report by Patrick Howat
This was an overwhelming musical and emotional experience for this reviewer. Production, singers Peter Sidhom and Willard White, and conductor Sir Charles Mackerras deserve special mention. In describing the staging in some detail, Patrick refers to techniques used previously in Brno and Vienna for productions of Janáček’s Jenůfa.

Bohemian Organ Music performed by Catherine Ennis the Minster Church of Saint George, Doncaster, 10th July 2005
Report by Phillip Scowcroft
Given by the organist of St Lawrence Jewry, London, this successful and wide ranging recital in Doncaster included Dvořák’s organ solo which forms a prelude to the Benedictus of (the original version with organ accompaniment of) his Mass in D, framed by instrumental versions of the Sanctus and closing Hosana.

And more Czech music in Doncaster
Report by Phillip Scowcroft
A lunch-hour concert at Doncaster Museum included Viktor Ullmann’s The Way of Love and Death of Cornet Christoph Rilke, which is the last of the works written by him in Terezín concentration camp. This devoted performance was given by Matthew Mills (piano) and Matthias Würz (speaker) (both are former students of York University).

Other Dvořák centenary year pieces performed in Doncaster have included: Schubert Ensemble’s readings of Suk’s Elegy and Dvořák’s Opus 65 Trio, which contrasted well with Schubert’s B Flat Piano Trio, in Priory Methodist Church’s concert series; and, at the Museum, pianist Jonathan Gooing offered five movements of Janáček’s On an Overgrown Path and two waltzes from Dvořák’s Opus 54; another pianist, Jeffrey Lague had found in his piano stool a transcription (by Edouard Schutt) of Songs My Mother Taught Me and played this, to general satisfaction, as the encore to his recital.

Czech Music at the Chester Summer Music Festival, 2005
Report by Richard Beith
For his 12th year as Artistic Director of Chester’s summer festival, Andrew Burn arranged a varied and engaging programme of events. Two themes were in evidence this year, the centenary of the death of Dvořák and the music of the leading Scottish composer James MacMillan. In fact, Andrew developed a wider Czech context including music by Smetana, Suk, Janáček and Martinů.

The main choral concert on 21st July in Chester Cathedral comprised Dvořák’s Te Deum (B 176) sung by Elizabeth Donovan and Matthew Rose with the Chester Festival Chorus and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Hill, Suk’s Meditation on an Old Bohemian Chorale, Smetana’s Vltava and Britten’s Spring Symphony. On the following evening, 22nd July, in Chester Town Hall, the Doric String Quartet started their programme with a fine performance of the popular Dvořák American Quartet (B 179) before moving on to Webern, MacMillan and Beethoven. Violinist Jennifer Pike gave the 27th July lunchtime concert in St Mary’s Centre where, with her father Jeremy Pike at the piano. Along with Debussy, MacMillan and Saint-Saëns, she played the Four Romantic Pieces (B 150). At the same lunchtime venue on 30th July, the Kungsbacka Trio performed Martinů’s Five Short Pieces (Trio No. 1) and the Dvořák Dumky Trio (B 166). Finally, on 4th August, in a lunchtime concert in St John’s Church, introducing the very talented Dutch ensemble Trio Ondine performed Janáček’s Violin Sonata and Pohádka, Mozart’s Trio in G, K 564 and, as an encore, the first movement of the Dvořák Dumky Trio.

Dvořák at the Edinburgh International Festival
Report by Margaret Beith
The Leaves are Fading, a ballet by Antony Tudor to music by Dvořák, was performed at the Edinburgh Playhouse by Ballet West USA as part of a triple bill of ballets by Antony Tudor. Accompaniement was by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and comprised string arrangements of the Scherzo from Terzetto in C major, B 148, and music from various string quartets including Cypresses, B 152, String Quartet Movement in F major (fragment of a String Quartet) B 120 and Quartet No. 8, B 57. Both dancers and musicians maintained a high level of precision and control under their conductor, Terence Kern.

Czech/Slovak Music at the Three Choirs Festival
Report by David Button
In amongst some marvellous performances of English music, there were great performances of: Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass (conducted by Adrian Lucas with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Janice Watson, Catherine Wynne Rogers, Adrian Thompson and Matthew Best); Mládí (wind soloists from the Philharmonic Orchestra); Quartet No. 1, “Kreutzer Sonata” (the Sorrell Quartet); and Otčenáš (sung by the Bath Camerata in the organ and harp version with James Oxley the tenor soloist and Nigel Perrin conducting): Dvořák’s Quartet in F major, “The American” (Sorrell Quartet); and Cello Concerto (soloist Emma Denton): and Suk’s Barcarole (Sorrell Quartet).

Czech Music in Finland—Kuhmo Festival
Although Czech music was by no means particularly prominent during this year’s Festival in Kuhmo, a little Finnish town near the Russian border, there were a number of fine performances of Dvořák, Martinů and Korngold, among others (but the main attraction of the festival was a complete Haydn String Quartet with a dozen different quartets involved). Next year’s festival, in the second half of July, will have Czech musica as a main theme. A preliminary program is usually available five or six months before the event at: www.kuhmofestival.fi.

Dvořák’s Jakobín in Chester in 1959: by Richard Beith

At his talk “Dvořák 100 Years On” in Liverpool on 21st February, Graham Melville-Mason devoted one session to the slow arrival of Dvořák’s operas in the British Isles. One amateur performance, of Jakobín, he noted was by the Chester Opera Group in 1957. In this article, Richard Beith gives us the fruits of his subsequent research in to that performance, noting among other things that it actually took place two years later than previously thought, in 1959.

The Animated Vixen, Mark II and Mark III: by Richard Beith

As report in Newsletter 57, an hour long animated film version of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen was made as a joint venture between The European Opera Centre in Manchester, the BBC, conductor Kent Nagano and British animators. The original version, now broadcast twice on the BBC and available as a DVD, featured an English language text. (It was this version which Dvořák Society Members visiting Brno in January/February found playing on screen in the little Janáček house!)

Catalan and Spanish language versions were recorded in Barcelona at the end of 2003 and a Czech language version was recorded in Prague in July 2004—Eva Garajová, who sang at Leamington in May, took the role of the Forester’s wife. At the 2004 International Television Festival Golden Prague, this animated Vixen was voted best music or dance programme made for TV.

Fanfares for Czech and Slovak Music: by Bill Marsden

Graham Slater has kindly presented to the Society’s Library his collection of the American classical record magazine Fanfare, dating from 1983 – 2000. Appearing six times a year, each has some 400 pages. One disadvantage for the British reader is that many recordings, particularly of major labels issued in the UK, appear not to have found their way to the United States. On the other hand, far more attention is paid to minor labels and, not least, to Czech/Slovak recordings and Czech/Slovak music, than in comparable British journals. As the copies of Fanfare are now in the Library, obviously members can borrow particular items if the information in this article is of specific interest.

Membership News: from Tony Pook

The Membership Secretary reports that three new members have enrolled during the last quarter (one in the Czech Republic and two in the U.K.).

Requests for Help

Greg Terian and the Dvořák Society are anxious to establish whether the performance of Martinů’s Divertimento for two recorders—scheduled for 8th November at the Royal College of Music—will be the UK première of the piece.

From the Editor’s Postbag (and e-mail)

Douglas Bostock writes about the Swiss contribution to the International Year of Czech Music.

Geoff Piper of MusicEnterprise, Luxembourg, writes about his chamber music workshop for amateur string players in Castle Vilémov (near Kutná Hora) from 16th to 22nd May 2005 www.intermusica.org and www.intermusica.org/czechlist.html

Patrick Howat suggests that senior Dvořák Society members might be persuaded to make known their preferred recorded performances of the Czech repertoire.

Record Service Report: by Bill Marsden

Members of the Dvořák Society find the Record Service—run by Bill Marsden—a very economic and convenient way of buying recordings, including those hard to find items on small labels.

A certain amount of stock is maintained by Bill, whilst other recordings are ordered. Each quarter, his report gives information about current news items about records and the industry, and includes the current stock list. The report in Newsletter 69 is summarised below.

Distribution News
In this edition there is news of Pan Classics, Codaex, Select, Pavane, Metronome, Andante and Harmonia Mundi.

Dvořák Society Stock List
The first part of the list comprises the Society’s normal “trading” stock; and this itself is divided into post-1830 and pre-1830 sections (the date classifications are approximate). The post-1830 section lists 92 recordings. The composers include Brahms, Dvořák, Eben, Goldscheider, Hurník, Janáček, Karel, Klein, Korngold, Korte, Martinů, Moyzes (M & A), Řezníček, Schulhoff, Slavický, Suk, Ullmann and Ysaÿe.

There are 69 issues listed in the pre-1830 section. The composers include Benda (F), Benda (J), Biber, Demantius, Dusík, Gluck, Hummel, Koželuh (L), Kramář, Krumpholtz, Michna, Mozart, Mysliveček, Pichl, Rejcha, Rössler, Schmelzer, Schubert, Stamic (J), Stamic (K), Tomášek, Vaňhal, Voříšek, Vranický, Zach and Zelenka.

36 CDs donated by members are shown in the second part of the list. Composers include Bach (CPE), Báchorek, Beethoven, Debussy, Dvořák, Fauré, Franck, Hummel, Husa, Kvěch, Loudová, Martinů, Mozart, Prokofiev, Ravel, Richter, Tchaikovsky, Smetana, Villa-Lobos and Vivaldi.

Short Reviews of Recordings: by Members

Twenty-three CDs and one DVD are reviewed by society members in this issue—

CDs

Janáček: Sinfonietta, Fiddler’s Child, Glagolitic Mass
Performed by: Brno Radio SO, Brno PO, Bakala
Czech Radio CR 0269-2
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Dvořák: Serenades + Tchaikovsky
Performed by: Czech CO, CPO Wind Ensemble, Josef Vlach
Supraphon SU 3776-2
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Nová Česká Píseň (New Czech Song): “Potěšení”—folksong arrangements by Zdeněk Lukáš and Jaroslav Krček
Edit 41 0178-2
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Antonín Rössler (Antonio Rosetti): Flute Concertos
Performed by: Bruno Meier, Prague CO
Orfeo C095 031
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

“Fujaristo z Kokavy”: Slovak Folk Music
Akcent AT 0104-2
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Janáček: Piano works
Performed by: Håkon Austbø
Brilliant Classics 92295
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Moscheles: Complete Concert Studies
Performed by: Piers Lane (piano) Hyperion CDA67394 Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Collegium Marianum: “Music of Baroque Prague” Zelenka, Rovenský, Fux, Caldara, Lotti, Vivaldi and Brentner
CM 03001
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Mysliveček: Symphonies F26 – 31
Performed by: London Mozart Players, Matthias Bamert
Chandos CHAN 10203
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Dvořák: Mass in D, Ave Maria etc.
Performed by: Prague PO Choir, Mátl, Kšica, Drobková, Novák etc.
Supraphon SU 3787-2
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Martinů: Works for Cello and Piano
Performed by: Jan Páleníček (cello) and Jitka Čechová (piano)
Cube Bohemia CBCD 2420
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Dvořák: Complete Choruses
Performed by: Hradec Králové Male Choir; Bonifantes; Jan Mísek (conductor); Canticorum iubilo; Oliver Dohnányi (conductor)
Vixen V1-0645
Reviewers: Peter Herbert and Warwick Wainwright

P. Georgius Zrunek: Missa 1 pro Festis Natalitis
Performed by: Camerata Bratislava, Jan Rozehnal
Ebony Bratislava EB 0002-2
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

“The Creation of Style—the New Dutch Academy Mannheim Project” Vols. 1 and 2 Sinfonias by Jan Stamic (Johann Stamitz here) and Franz Xaver Richter
Performed by: The Chamber Orchestra of the New Dutch Academy; Simon Murphy.
Pentatone Classics PTC 5186 028 and PTC 5186 029
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Krumpholtz: Chamber Music with Harp
Performed by: Andrea Vígh (harp; Vilmos Szabadi (violin); Csaba Onczay (cello)
Hungaroton HCD 32153
Reviewer: Peter Herbert

Hummel: Piano Concerto in C, Op. 34; Rondos Brillants, Opp. 56 and 98
Performed by: Howard Shelley, London Mozart Players
Chandos CHAN 10216
Reviewer: Bill Marsden

Hummel: Potpourri for Viola and Orchestra, Op. 94; Adagio and Rondo alla Polacca for Violin and Orchestra; Variations for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 115; Violin Concerto in G
Performed by: James Ehnes, Howard Shelley, London Mozart Players
Chandos CHAN 10255
Reviewer: Bill Marsden

Dohnányi: Piano Concerto No.2; Violin Concerto No. 2; Harp Concertino
Performed by: Shelley, Ehnes, Lantaff, BBC Philharmonic, Bamert
Chandos CHAN 10245
Reviewer: Bill Marsden

Koželuh: Symphonies in A and G min; Piano Concerto in D
Performed by: Karl-Andreas Kolly, Zürich CO, Goodwin
Novalis 150 160-2
Reviewer: Bill Marsden

Dvořák/arr. Burghauser: Biblical Songs (7); Eben: Proprium Festivum; Tučapský: Mary Magdalene; Lukáš: A Prayer (Modlitba)
Performed by: Pražských smíšený sbor, M Košler
PSS001
Reviewer: Warwick Wainwright

J Feld: Oratorium-Cantata “Cosmas Bohemian Chronicle”
Performed by: s.t.b.b. SOLI, Narrator, Pavel Kühn Choir, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bogunia (Recorded live in Rudolfinum, 26 Oct.1993)
Radio Servis CR0242
Reviewer: Warwick Wainwright

Sylvie Bodorová: Juda Maccabeus
Performed by: Beňačková, Briscein, Kusnjer, narrators, Prague Philharmonic Choir and RSO, Válek
Arco Diva UP0065
Reviewer: Warwick Wainwright

Korngold: Suite: “Much Ado About Nothing”; Violin Sonata in G, Op. 6; Arrangements from Operas
Performed by: Joseph Lin (violin), B Loeb (piano)
Naxos 8.557067
Reviewer: Warwick Wainwright

DVDs

Antonín Dvořák: “Deo Gratias” A documentary about the Czech composer
Supraphon SU 7007-9
Reviewer: David Banister

Record News from Prague: by Graham Melville-Mason

Graham Melville-Mason’s regular report of record news includes both new recordings and reissues.

The report, which is by no means limited to Supraphon (although as one would expect, issues from that lable tend to dominate), is a valuable source of information to members about releases which might otherwise be overlooked, particularly those on small labels. In Newsletter 69 there is information about 11 releases on Supraphon and one on the Divine Art [British] label.

CDs of Czech and Slovak Music on Non-Czech/Slovak Labels

For members, this regular item is a valuable supplement to Record News from Prague. There is no room in a summary to list all 35 of the releases—on labels ranging from Ars Musici (Krommer: Quartets/Quintets for Oboe & Flute performed by Ensemble Pyramid) to Zephyr (Moschelles: Piano Concetos Nos. 3 & 5 performed by Hobsob/Sinfonia de Camera)—noted in this edition of the full member’s Newsletter 69.

Library Report: by Vera Marsden

This section of the Newsletter regularly keeps Members up to date on additions to the Dvořák Society’s large library of recordings, scores, videos, books and other publications.

Diary

From Newsletter 69 onwards the full current diary will published on the Dvořák Society web site, as a service to other promoters of Czech and Slovak musical life—click here for link.   www.dvorak-society.org