Smetana & Schulhoff

Composers do not paint landscapes with brushes and canvas, but with notes and instruments. Today, you will hear how three such men brought the nature, traditions and myths of their fatherland to life. Smetana’s famous Má vlast (My Fatherland) is an ode to the country of his birth, Czechia. With its colourful tones, The Moldau is the best-known piece within the set, but the other symphonic poems are no less impressive in their evocation of the Bohemian landscape.

Chief conductor Jun Märkl brings these vistas and traditions to life. The evening opens with Erwin Schulhoff’s scintillating arrangement of Beethoven’s famous Rage Over a Lost Penny, a work characterised by energy, virtuosity and playful rhythms. This is followed by Schulhoff’s 1912 vocal symphony Landschaften, a recently rediscovered masterpiece in which the composer captures scenes of nature in warm, expressive tones. Kozelj’s enthralling mezzo-soprano further adds to the profundity of this musical journey on an evening full of virtuosity and refinement – perfect for all who long for spring in the dark days of winter.