Antonín Dvořák Music Festival

A total of sixteen classical concerts will be performed , including a concert associated with the world premiere of the winning composition of the 8th annual composition competition, two opera performances for children's audiences and an open air project with approximately 15 to 20 concert performances and educational programmes in various locations in Příbram. A benefit concert for Villa Rusalka (not included in the project budget) will be organized as part of the HF AD. The festival also includes the 9th year of the composition competition for composers under 40, the 8th year of the art competition for primary school pupils, a big discovery game on the theme of the Year of Czech Music and the second year of the performance seminar.

Theconcerts will be held at the A. Dvořák Příbram, in the churches of St. James and St. Vojtěch in Příbram, the Gallery of Fr. Drtikol, the A. Dvořák in Vysoké u Příbram, Dobříš Castle, the Gallery of Březnice, the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Třebsko, the Barbora Steelworks in Jince and also in the premises of the important pilgrimage site - the Holy Mountain in Příbram. We are also adding the hall of the spejčar in Hvoždany to the list of concert venues.

The 55th Antonín Dvořák HF Příbram will feature:

25.4 Opening ceremony of the HF - Czech Sinfonietta
(venue: A. Dvořák Theatre, Příbram)

Czech Sinfonietta, Eva Hornyáková - soprano (SR),conductor .

The grand opening of the 55th edition will be performed by the symphony orchestra, which was founded in 2011 as a unique project in which leading Czech artists will perform at special events. This purely festival orchestra excels in each of its performances. The Příbram audience will be presented with works by B. Smetana, A. Dvořák, J. Suk and O. Nedbal.

Photo: Michal Jakubec

27.4. Suk Chamber Orchestra
(venue: Dobříš Castle, Mirror Hall)

The Suk Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1974, the year of the centenary of the birth of Josef Suk (1874-1935), and the name of the famous composer is thus linked to the name of the orchestra. The composer's grandson, violinist Josef Suk, was the artistic director until 2000, when he handed over the artistic direction to Martin Kos, the current concertmaster of the Suk Chamber Orchestra. The concert will commemorate both the 100th anniversary of Josef Suk's birth and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the orchestra.

1.5. Kristina Fialová - Benefit concert for Villa Rusalka

(venue: František Drtikol Gallery, Příbram)

K. Fialová - viola, A. Skoumal - piano

Over the last eight years, thanks to the benefit concerts for Villa Rusalka, organised by the A. Dvořák Foundation in cooperation with the descendants of A. Dvořák and A. Dvořák's descendants, the Villa Rusalka has been the venue for the concert. Dvořák's legacy has already been saved. These concerts featured V. Hudeček, J. Boušková, I. Klánský, I. Kahánek, T. Fialová, J. Bárta and many other phenomenal artists. In 2024, the leading Czech violist Kristina Fialová accepted our invitation .
The event traditionally includes the opening of the Villa Rusalka to the public in the presence of the descendants of A. Dvořák (14.00 - 17.00).

2.5. Symphonic Wind Orchestra Sint Joseph Sittard (Holland)
(venue: A. Dvořák Theatre Příbram)
Performers: Symphonic Wind Orchestra Sint Joseph Sittard, Björn Bus - conductor
The great wind orchestra from Limburg, the Netherlands, has its roots in 1899 and has performed in many countries around the world for almost a quarter of a century. In its programme we find, surprisingly, mainly Czech composers who wrote ideal compositions for this type of orchestra. Lukáš, J. Fučík, V. Nelhýbel and J. Zeman.

7.5. Indi Stivín & Alice Springs

(venue: Municipal Hall, Březnice)

Indi Stivín is currently the most successful Czech double bassist. He is a promoter of Czech music, winner and laureate of many international competitions. The programme of the concert is dedicated to the works of Antonín Dvořák - both the works created by the master and the compositions inspired by his work, the author of which is Indi Stivín. On stage with his piano partner Alice Springs, they create the magic of perfect interplay and equilibristic virtuoso stunts.

9.5. Anna Paulová & Hedvika Mousa Bach

(venue: concert hall of Špejčar, Hvožďany)

Anna Paulová is one of the most outstanding Czech clarinetists of the young generation. In 2015, she was a laureate of the Prague Spring International Music Competition, where she won 2nd prize and other special awards - the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Prize, the Gideon Klein Foundation Prize, followed by a plethora of other awards. With our leading harpist, Hedwig Mousa Bach, they form Duo Suono, an ideal combination of virtuosic musical expression and elegance.

11.5. VientoMarero Duo
(venue.)
Michaela Mecová - flute, Jiří Meca - guitar

The Meca couple have been playing together since 2009. Their repertoire includes compositions by Czech and foreign composers and they perform both in the Czech Republic and abroad. They have already played over 180 concerts together.

14.5. Alinde Quintet

(venue: Church of St. Vojtěch, Příbram)

The wind quintet was founded in 2019 by leading representatives of the young generation of performers, members of leading Czech orchestras - and soon began to win many international competitions (Bucharest International Wind Quintet Music Competition 2019, ODIN International Chamber Music Competition 2020, OPUS International Chamber Music Competition 2021 and the Antonín Dvořák Competition in Prague 2022). In 2023, Alinde Quintet was a laureate of the Carl Nielsen International Competition in Copenhagen.

16.5. Dvořák Piano Quartet

(venue: František Drtikol Gallery, Příbram)
The Dvořák Piano Quartet is one of the leading Czech chamber ensembles. Pianist Slávka Vernerová, violinist Marie Hasoňová, violist Petr Verner and cellist Jan Žďánský have been successfully engaged in chamber music for many years, individually and together. They honour the best Czech performance traditions and build their distinctive musical expression and specific sound on them. With the approval of the descendants of Antonín Dvořák and

Dvořák Society, they have received kind permission to use the name "Dvořák Piano Quartet".

Their debut at the Prague Spring Festival was followed by invitations to perform on important Czech and international stages.

In 2018, Supraphon released the debut CD of the complete Dvořák Piano Quartets. In May 2019, this album received the highest award of the prestigious French magazine Classica -SHOC de CLASSICA.

18.5. Czech Philharmonic Jazz Band

(venue: Municipal Museum/Gallery of Ludvík Kuba, courtyard, Březnice)

The traditional crossover concert in the courtyard of the Gallery of L. Kuba will this year be performed by an ensemble consisting of players of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. The CPJB has been active on the domestic scene since 2010 and its quality has already placed it among the top ensembles. The repertoire selection ranges from early Dixieland hits to jazz standards to their original compositions. The CPJB's great contribution is instrumental virtuosity, tonal culture, precise intonation or sense of dynamics. In addition to the members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, musicians from the purely jazz world play here steadily, completing the portrait of this unique band.

21.5. Dresden Philharmonic Choir (DE)

(venue: St. James Church, Příbram)

The concert will include the premiere of the winning composition of the 8th Composition Competition for Composers under 40, organised by the HF A. Dvořák: Anima Christi by the Swedish composer of Czech origin Adam Hajóssa Dedic.

25.5.
(venue: Hut' Barbora, Jince)

Katta opens up new worlds with her music; both inside the church on the traditional church organ and outside on a unique white instrument, custom-made for her. Her white organ is elegant and mimimalistic, and Katta is unmissable: a barefoot organist, angelically ethereal and earthy. Her original compositions, whether solo or orchestral, as well as her rich, simmering voice, command attention. Katta's interpretation wins over audiences beyond the traditional classical music. Her concerts are full of energy and excitement. The audience is presented with an artist who is her own person to the core. For her performance in the atypical industrial space of Huta Barbora, the artist has chosen a programme consisting of works by J. S. Bach and her own compositions combined in the Vox Organi cycle.

Photo: Tomáš Nosil Cover Supraphon2016

28 May Concert of the laureates (venue: A. Dvořák Memorial in Vysoká u Příbrami)
Performers: A. Flajšmanová - soprano, P. Divín - baritone, A. Hedar - piano accompaniment

For the seventh year in a place with "genius loci" the voices of the laureates of the International Singing Competition A. Dvořák in Karlovy Vary. The detailed programme of the concert is based on the selection of the protagonists, laureates of the competition in 2023. Dvořák's grandson - Antonín Dvořák III.

30.5. Wiener Klavier Quartett & Petr Popelka (Austria/ Czech Republic)

(venue: František Drtikol Gallery Příbram)
Since its formation in 2013, the Wiener Piano Quartet has occupied a prominent place on the international music scene and has won numerous prestigious awards. For its performance in Příbram, the quartet has invited the world's leading conductor Petr Popelka, who is also an excellent double bassist, and it is in this role that he will perform at the Příbram concert.

1.6.

(venue: Antonín Dvořák Theatre)

Performers: Prague Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, Miriam Němcová - conductor, Kateřina Burešová - soprano, Marek Žihla - tenor

Concert dedicated to the bicentenary of the birth of B. Smetana's bicentenary.
The concert will feature operatic overtures, arias and duets together with polkas by Bedřich Smetana.
The traditional "picnic" concert in the courtyard of Svatá Hora in Příbram will be performed by the Prague Conservatory Orchestra, an ensemble that has already represented the legacy of one of its most famous directors - Antonín Dvořák - at many prestigious festivals.

3.6 Day with Antonín Dvořák - 8th year - accompanying programme

A day-long event including a series of concerts and programmes for children and the general public.

In 2016, the first edition of the open air project, called A Day with Antonín Dvořák, was a great success. Approximately 1,000 children and adults took part in events presenting classical music. The success of the event grew in the following years, especially welcomed by schools. Therefore, for 2022 we are also preparing a series of accompanying events - concerts in non-traditional venues (hospital, department store, pedestrian zone, etc.), discussions with artists, interactive programmes in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. This project involves both the presentation of classical music and the linking of music with other artistic disciplines - visual arts or dance.

Pribram's Primary Art Schools and pupils of primary and secondary schools are also actively involved in the project.

4.6 Final concert of the 55th year - Josef Špaček and Miroslav Sekera

(venue: A. Dvořák Theatre, Příbram)
J. Špaček - violin, M. Sekera - piano, Arti Allegre - chamber ensemble, artistic director Ondřej Lébr
The final concert of the festival. The concert will include the presentation of the Prize of the City of Příbram and the announcement of the winner of the 9th HF AD Composition Competition for composers under 40.

Photo: Radovan Šubín

The programme also includes:

9. the annual composition competition for composers under 40 - the competition is aimed especially at young, emerging composers, which it supports and motivates in their activities. The prize, which is awarded by a jury headed by the renowned Czech composer Sylvia Bodorova, has three parts: a financial award of CZK 15,000, a guarantee of a world premiere at one of the following year's concerts and, in cooperation with Radio Classic, a presentation of the composer and his work on the broadcasts of this medium.

A play for young and old: The Year of Czech Music
In the past years, three cycles of Wandering in the Footsteps of A. Dvořák have been held as part of the music festival, which will be followed in 2024 by a travelling play on the theme of Czech composers. These competitions are developed in cooperation with the Příbram Municipal Library, where an accompanying programme will be prepared during the festival, including an exhibition of publications on Czech composers.

Opera performances for children
J. Kučera: The Gingerbread House

Cast: Children's Opera Prague

(venue: A. Dvořák Theatre, Příbram)

Since 2014, the A. Dvořák Theatre has included projects dedicated to children and youth in its programme. For the sixth time we are preparing opera performances for children, thanks to the enormous interest from primary schools - and also the feedback from the children themselves - in the form of two performances in one day.

Tied to these performances is an art competition for primary school children, which the festival is running for the eighth time on the theme of music and opera performances. The competition has already gained nationwide popularity

After the great success of the 54th edition, we are adding the second edition of the Interpretation Seminar, designed for students of elementary schools. The first edition was held in 2023 to very positive feedback. The Interpretation Seminar was led by three-time Thalia winner Jana Šrejma Kačírková, and in 2024 the seminar will be led by leading piano virtuoso Lukáš Klánský.