Portál Pražana
The opening of the 74th International Prague Spring
The 74th Prague Spring International Classical Music Festival is about to start in the Czech capital.
As in previous years, the festival will feature famous foreign orchestras, as well as well-known soloists. Between the 12th of May and the 4th of June, the festival will offer a total of forty-nine concerts. Although the opening concert is almost sold out, you don't have to miss it. This year, you can enjoy the concert in Kampa Park in Prague, where it will be screened live on a large screen for the fourth time. The entrance to the screening is free.
The Love for Three Oranges
What else is there to look forward to? This year's Prague Spring will please opera lovers with one of the most famous works by the renowned Russian giant, Sergei Prokofiev, ‘The Love for Three Oranges’. This opera, composed after Prokofiev immigrated to the USA from Bolshevik Russia, will premiere at the National Theatre in Prague on the 16th of May. The event certainly promises to be a remarkable experience, as this opera was only played in Prague for the first and last time in 1963!
World premieres
There will also be three world premieres by contemporary Czech composers, which were commissioned by the festival. If you are a fan of 21st century music, do not hesitate to get tickets. There are still tickets available for two of these three concerts.
On the 19th of May, PKF - Prague Philharmonia will perform ‘Hypnos’, the first of the three commissioned compositions, written by Šimon Vosečka. The Czech composer from Vienna says, “‘Hypnos’ does not follow a particular musical programme; rather, it is about the atmosphere, somewhere on the edge of consciousness and subconsciousness.” On this occasion, Prague Philharmonia will be conducted by Ben Glassberg, a young British conductor and the winner of the prestigious Besançon Competition.
The world premiere of ‘æther’, composed by Jakub Rataj, will take place on the 24th of May, as part of the event ‘Tribute to the Theremin’. According to the writer, the title is dedicated to the electric musical instrument theremin, which is played by hand movements, but without touching the instrument itself. Even a hundred years after its invention, the theremin leaves listeners in awe.
Czech Violin Talent
We also advise you to go to Milan Al-Ashhab violin concert. This Czech violinist is one of the festival’s extraordinary talents. Last September, in a competition of sixty performers under the age of thirty, Al-Ashhab won the prestigious Fritz Kreisler Competition in Vienna. Even before that, he won the New York Concert Artists competition. On the 29th of May, this extraordinary violinist will be accompanied by Adam Skoumal at Prague Spring Festival.
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse will conclude the festival
The last two concerts of this year's Prague Spring will also be incredible. The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse will make its Prague debut along with famous soloists. This is an experience not to be missed. The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse is listed as one of the three best orchestras in France.
On the 3rd of June, the musicians from Toulouse will accompany the flutist Emmanuel Pahud in their first concert in Prague. The Swiss-French Pahud is considered to be one of the best flute performers of the 20th century repertoire. The following day, Renaud Capuçon will play Dvořák's ‘Violin Concerto in A minor’ on his precious 1737 violin with the French orchestra in the final concert.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Prague Spring 2019 (Pražské jaro 2019)
12/05/2019 – 04/06/2019
Various venues in Prague
Tickets:
On-line on the website: https://festival.cz/en/vse-o-vstupenkach/kde-a-jak-nakoupit-vstupenky/