A kingdom of classical music
December 2009 - As every year, Prague and other Czech towns will ring with the sound of classical music. We will keep you informed over the course of the year about the program of festivals such as Prague Spring, Smetana’s Litomyšl, and many others. As a small foretaste, we here offer some upcoming concerts.
(photo: CzechTourism)
The 15th annual Prague Philharmonic Orchestra New Year’s concert will take place in the Rudolfinum, 1 January at 4pm. The orchestra will present Smetana’s The Moldau, Johann Strauss’s Blue Danube Waltz, On The Hunt, and Radetzky March, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Dvořák’s Two Slavonic Dances, Mozart’s Aria from Don Giovanni, and Puccini’s Aria from La Bohème. Conductor: Friedmann Riehl. Tickets start at CZK 1,100 and are available here.
On 6 January, don’t miss the opportunity to hear one of the most promising young sopranos at 7:30pm at the Rudolfinum. Danielle de Niese, born in Australia to parents from Sri Lanka and now living in the United States, will sing arias by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart accompanied by the Prague Philharmonia. Danielle has already appeared at the world’ most prestigious venues such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Covent Garden Royal Opera House. This is here first appearance in Prague. Tickets ranging from CZK 450 to 900 CZK can be purchased here.
The Czech Philharmonic – the Czech Republic’s most prestigious ensemble and one of the most renowned orchestras in Europe – is planning to interesting concerts in January. On 5 January, starting at 7.30pm at the Rudolfinum, the orchestra, conducted by Alexander Vedernikov, will give a New Year’s concert as part of the Prague Winter festival. On the program are Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no. 1 in A minor Op. 77 and Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 6 in B minor Op. 74 (Pathétique). Appearing on violin is Julian Rachlin. Tickets ranging from CZK 220 to 600 are available here.
On 8 and 9 January, again in the Rudolfinum’s Dvořák Hall at 7.30pm, the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Manfred Honeck, will perform Jennifer Higdon’s Blue Cathedral, the European premiere of Alan Fletcher’s Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no. 4 in G major for soprano and orchestra. Tickets ranging from CZK 220 to 600 are available here.
At 7.30pm on 12 January, the Municipal House will host the star of Milan’s La Scala opera house, soprano Nino Machaidze and her colleague, baritone and soloist Guido Loconsolo. Accompanying them in performing popular arias and songs is the Prague Philharmonia. Machaidze, who hails from Tbilisi, debuted at La Scala in 2006. Thanks to her appearance, she has been nicknamed the “Angelina Jolie of opera” and the international media try to outdo each other in praising her singing. Loconsolo has performed at La Scala since 2003. Tickets ranging from CZK 495 to 4,495 can be purchased here.
