CONTEMPORARY COMPOSED IN THE ENSEMBLES FESTIVALS CONCERT SERIES What is happening in the field of contemporary composed music in the Czech Republic? You hold in your hand a publication whose aim is to answer this question by presenting the work of those who make these activities possible and push them forward: on the one hand, ensembles focused on contemporary music, on the other, festivals, concert series, organisers and associations. We tried to approach everyone on the Czech scene for whom contemporary notated music is, if not at the centre of their attention, then at least an important part of their activities. All the responses were positive, for which we are very grateful. The presentations are ordered alphabetically, with the same space for everyone: one page in Czech and English. The texts were polished by our editors, but the content of each individual contribution was left up to the discretion of the individual subjects – everyone said what they wanted Deadline: August 2017. NOT FOR SALE. to say about themselves. This publication, which the Czech Music Information Centre offers freely for Translation: Ian Mikyska distribution in both paper and electronic form, captures Published by the Czech Music Information Centre the state of the matter in the summer of 2017. Supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, Inevitably, it will gradually become dated. It is my hope, City Council and the Foundation of the Czech Music Fund however, that this will happen due to the establishment of new ensembles and events. In fact, I hope that Besední 3, 118 00 Praha 1 circumstances will force us to prepare a new edition www.musica.cz e-mail: [email protected] soon – and that it will be appropriately thicker. tel.: 257 312 422 Petr Bakla Czech Music Information Centre

32 30 29 28 26 25 23 22 20 12 18 13 19 15 11 14 10 16 21 24 27 31 17 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Ensemble Marijan Echofluxx Festival Dunami Ensemble Days Music ofContemporary Contempuls OrchestraBrno Contemporary Berg Beauty ofToday Ateliér ’90 Agosto Foundation OrchestraAgon Strings ofAutumn Solaris3 Prague MusicPerformance Prague Modern Ostravská banda Ostrava days NODO MusicOlomouc Musical Present Music inContext Music Forum HradecKrálové MoEns MI4 Meetings of New MusicPlus Konvergence ISHA Trio Forfest fama Q Ensemble Terrible

[email protected] facebook.com/Agon-Orchestra-224212777775293 ENSEMBLE FOR NEWMUSIC AGON ORCHESTRA (Fall oftheHouse ofUsher D. Lang,M.Gordon). The orchestra presented several operasby P. Glass also saw aconfluencewithNew York basedcomposers (E.Sharp, J.Zorn, Bierhanzl (dramaturgyandproduction) becametheleadingfigures.Thistime (1998), Petr hisdeparture KofroňAfter director andconductor) (artistic andIvan discofM.Smolka. critically acclaimedCDs.Theperiodculminated inaportrait director.artistic Records At thistime,Arta andAudio Egopublishedaseriesof home andabroad, Petr Kofroň Smolka the becametheconductor andMartin activitydevelopedK. Stockhausen. 1989, After theirconcert onstagesboth at from S.Reich, abroad G.Scelsior –J.Cage,M.Feldman, Pärt, A. conditions, itpresented piecesby P. Kofroň, M.Smolka, M.Pudlákand as aplatform for theup-and-cominggenerationofcomposers. Insemi-official inthe1980s Orchestra Ensemble)started The Agon (originallytheAgon Česká nová hudba60.let Records, [CzechNew Musicofthe1960s] (Arta 1994) Records, (Arta 1991)Agon Discography: – 30Years. M. Adamčiak. In2015, Orchestra series,Agon CzechRadiobroadcast asix-part and F. Zappa.Typornamento isanalbumofrealisationsgraphicscoresby Orchestra played aprogramme ofI.Acher, J.Cage,B.Eno,P. Kofroň, M.Nejtek and settings ofpoemsby I.M.Jirous. At the2012 PragueSpring,theAgon There were new versions of songsby F. Topol, M.Hlavsa, thegroup DG307 inspiration for theorchestra was musicfrom theunderground rock scene. National Theatre,2003,and Petr Kofroň: Titan Symphony (CzechMusic Information Centre,2015) Typornamento (GuerillaRecords, 2012) Magorova Summa [Magor’sSumma](GuerillaRecords, 2009) Obešel jápolípět[I Walked Through Five Fields](Guerilla Records, 2009) [ThePassion ofJesus] (KnihyPašijové Hana,2004) hry Filip Topol Orchestra &Agon (IndiesRecords, 2001) Smolka (Audio Ego,1998)Martin Red &Black(Audio Ego,1997) a koncepty [GraphicScoresandConcepts](Audio Ego, 1996) Grafické partitury , PragueState Opera,1999,

In thePenalColony, Archa Theatre,2005).Amajor

La Belleet laBête,

2 / 3 in MariánskéRadčice. acoustics, willtake placefrom the22ndto the24th ofSeptember 2017 Ecology Gathering”,aimedatindividuals interested inecology, theory, and environment. Theinternational interdisciplinary colloquium, “Soundworms directed towards thepossibilitiesoftransformation ofthesocial andcultural works toart thepublic,itfocuses onprocess andcollaborative forms, improvised andecology. music,soundart, Rather thanpresentingclosed Currently, the Foundation ispreparingsmaller projects, againturningto international context. form, emphasised sceneto theconnectionoflocalexperimental its art practice.Eacheditionofthefestival,artistic despite its unique themeand interventions inpublicspace,usingarangeofgenresandtools ofcontemporary filled withlive audio-visualinstallations,site-specific performances, works, and use ofawiderangeexpressive meansandsituationalcontexts, whichitthen andmovement-based The festivalfilm, visualart, art. was characterised by its Interpretation festival, whichfocused onmusicalimprovisation withforays into In 2014 and2016, theAgosto Foundation organisedthemulti-genre vs. with societal changes. activityto approachartistic thecomplex challengesthatareindeliblyconnected individuals whocontribute to andsocialdevelopment, personal andwhouse educational element.Ithasestablishedagrantsystem groups to and support places anemphasis oninnovation, experiment, andespeciallyprojects withan continuing development through aninterdisciplinary approach. Thefoundation organisation. Itfocuses oftheir onsocialandculturalprograms andthesupport The Agosto Foundation was establishedinPrague2013 asaprivate agosto-foundation.org FOUNDATION FOR THESUPPORT OFCULTURAL PROJECTS AGOSTO FOUNDATION atelier.webzdarma.cz AND MUSICOLOGISTS; TŘÍDENÍFESTIVAL ASSOCIATION OFCOMPOSERS,PERFORMERS ATELIÉR ’90 The concerts alsoincludeselected worksThe concerts by composers from abroad. anniversaries, as well anddiscussions. celebrating important asseminars by thesealsofeature itsmembers, avant-gardists piecesby 20thcentury Třídení, TřídeníPlus(Two-Day, Three-Day, Three-Day Plus).Inadditionto works small festivals –Dvoudení, are organisedinadditionto individual concerts These tasks areaccomplished Since1993,performers. mainlythrough concerts. of works by andmutualinternational itsmembers exchanges ofpiecesand Most ofAteliér ’90’sactivitiesconsistofthepresentation andpublication with ideologicallyalliedgroups inother spheresofculture. robbed placeinCzechmusicalculture. Itcollaborates them oftheirdeserved fosters thelegacyofthosewhosenon-traditionalandnon-conformist positions itprotectsart, minority, and radicalstreamsagainstmainstreamconservatism It aimsto establishconceptionsthataiddevelopments andapplicationsfor new the exchange, confrontation andrefinementof poetics andpositions. exploratory in Pragueandactive intheCzechRepublic. Itsmissionisto create spacesfor tradition ofavant-garde societies, associationsandcreative groups. Itisbased interest inprogressive music.Itbuildsonthe trendsincontemporary art The associationbringstogether various musicalprofessions, linked by their board for thedurationof theassociation’sactivity. Ateliér ’90isledby anelected board –MarekKopelent hasbeendirector ofthe unconventional ofitsexistence. contemporarystylistictrendsisthemainimport to organisemusicallife of initsspirit.Creative freedom andsupport of thetotalitarian Composers’ Union (Svaz skladatelů) andothers’ endeavours beginning of1990, whenitstood indirectoppositionto thepractices concentrating onnon-traditionalcontemporary music.Itwas establishedatthe Ateliér andmusicologists ’90isanassociationofcomposers, performers

4 / 5 NOD EXPERIMENTAL SPACE, DLOUHÁ 33,PRAGUE 1 OCTOBER 2017 –JUNE2018 today’s listeners. the role of themediainpromoting andpresentingcontemporary musicto The final evening willopenthe “Where is topic of Today’s MusicHeading”and andelectro-acoustic Jan Trojan musicexpert (MusicandSound). and Film),actor andpoet Václav Kopta andsounddesigner, (MusicandPoetry) (In theRhythm ofJazz),director Kubala andcinematographer Martin (Music (ThePowerlyricist andproducer ZdeněkMerta ofWords), flute player JiříStivín fields,or expands thelimitsofthisgenre.Theguestswillbecomposer,artistic whose work connectstheworld of contemporary classicalmusicwithother It willbebasedaround theguests,extraordinary figuresinCzechculturallife, The topic ofthe2017–2018 seasonis“The21st Infinite Horizons”. Century’s Prague Philharmonia. and world premieresofchamberpieces,incollaborationwithplayers from the music andget to seebehindthe scenes. Theseriesregularlyprogrammes Czech those whowant to delve deeperinto thespecificenvironment ofcontemporary atmosphere attheNoDExperimentalSpaceinPrague,andareintended for all interesting guests.Thesixevenings perseason take informal placeinavery from theworld with ofcontemporary musicintheform ofaconcert-discussion produced by thePKF–PraguePhilharmoniaorchestra, presentsselected topics series(Krásadneška inCzech)dedicated toThis concert music, contemporary pkf.cz/krasadneska CONCERT SERIESBY PKF–PRAGUE PHILHARMONIA OFTODAYBEAUTY

berg.cz ENSEMBLE FOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC BERG ORCHESTRA RECORDINGS OFNEW CZECHMUSIC:nuberg.cz SELECTION OFPROJECTS: berg.cz/projects The orchestra hasalsodeveloped anumberofeducationalprogrammes. Television, recordings italsooffers ofnew Czechmusiconitswebsite. of Autumn festivals. Inaddition to recordings for CzechRadio,CDsand Gallery, theDOX andthePragueSpringStrings Centre for Art Contemporary institutions intheCzechRepublic, includingtheNationalTheatre, theNational Mirka Eliášová, theSKUTRdirector duoandothers. Itcooperates withleading –SpitfireCompany,with leadingCzechartists 420PEOPLE,choreographer The orchestra hasproduced anumberoforiginalprojects incollaboration and forms. other art experimental theatre,film,visualart combinesmusicwithcontemporary dance, during construction.Itoften industrial spaces,galleries,oroneofPrague’snew underground trainstations music outsideofitstraditionalspaces,having inanumberof performed The BergOrchestra isalsoaninternational pioneerinpresentingcontemporary Poèmesymphoniquelegendary for onehundredmetronomes. An Index ofMetals der Aa’scinematic own version ofHeinerGoebbels’music theatre international working composers, often withthemdirectly. ThisincludesBerg’s by theorchestra. Ithaspresented anumberofCzechpremieresby leading generations. Morethanahundredpieceshave beendirectlycommissioned and premierednew piecesby Czechcomposers, predominantlyoftheyounger onto theCzechmusicalscene.Sinceitscreation,ithasregularlycommissioned Since 2001, theBergOrchestra‘s seasonshave own concert breathedfreshair , avideooperaby Fausto Romitelli, orGyörgyLigeti’s Up-close, GeorgFriedrich Haas’concert-length

Schwarz aufWeiss In Vain, , Michelvan

6 / 7 Currie, who will perform pieces byCurrie, whowillperform LouisAndriessen andDave Maric. the season,BCOwillbejoinedby phenomenalScottish percussionist Colin by Roland Dahinden,Elliott Sharp, Petr BaklaorMariánLejava. For theendof From . Thiswillleadto withpieces two extraordinary concerts pieces from significantcomposers, onthe topic of For Czechoslovakia and tradition, attheVillaTugendhat. For 2018, theorchestra hascommissioned andCzechoslovakia”)The CSeason(“Cfor Century was launched,asis ramifications, andcontributes to theestablishmentof new traditions. traditions ofCzechoslovak, CzechandSlovak musicalculturewithinternational whichrecapitulate1968), thebest theBCOhaspreparedaseriesofconcerts foundation oftheJanáčekAcademy, and50years sincetheoccupationof 70yearssince theMunichAgreement, sincethecommunistputschand CultureandthedeathofLeoš Janáček,Exhibition ofContemporary 80years (100 years sincetheindependenceofCzechoslovakia, 90years sinceThe prestigious festivals. Ontheoccasionofmultipleanniversaries of2018 In 2017, theBCOenters itsseventh seasonwithmultipleinvitations to concert founder, director andprincipalconductor artistic oftheBCO. to thedisseminationofCzechworks beyond theborders. Pavel Šnajdristhe to develop projects thatwillmake thecityofBrno visible,aswell as contributing follow intheactivitiesconnected withtheinnovation ofmusicalculture.Itaims The BCO’sbasicmissionisto foster thelegacyofBrnoeseavant-garde and audience, butalsoto composers, whomitincites to create new works. architecture,forms (film,visualart, dance),itaims to beattractive not only to its dramaturgy andoriginalprojects, suchascombinationsofmusicandother art around theworld, withoccasionalforays into the20thcentury. Withitscompact musicfromof performing theworld intheCzechRepublic andCzechmusic OrchestraThe BrnoContemporary (BCO)was establishedin2011 withtheaim bcorchestra.cz ENSEMBLE SPECIALISINGINCONTEMPORARY MUSIC BRNO CONTEMPORARY ORCHESTRA

contempuls.cz INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OFCONTEMPORARY MUSIC CONTEMPULS by the Contempuls associationasanewly independent subject. was originallytheorganisinginstitution,butsince2017, thefestival isorganised Pudlák andPRmanagerLenka Hradilková. TheCzechMusicInformation Centre taking over in2016. Themanagementisthencompleted by director Miroslav was inchargeoftheprogramming for seven thefirst editions,withJosefTřeštík of 2015 and2017), predominantlyintheLaFabrika theatrespace.Petr Bakla Contempuls hastaken placeyearly inNovember, since2008(withtheexception projects thatgobeyond themaindramaturgicalline. Lab, whichgives spaceto young ensemblesandcomposers, aswell asspecific international awareness. Thefestival hasnewly establishedthe Contempuls The festival thuscontributes to theinfiltrationofCzechcontemporary musicinto ensembles andsoloistsalsoget a chanceto inaninternational perform context. To thisaim,thefestival commissionsatleasttwo pieceseachyear. Czech byperformances leadingensemblesfrom both theCzech Republic andabroad. The missionofContempuls isalsoto presentCzechcomposers andensuring . organising principleisensuringhighquality by performances specialised progressive, as isthestandard inevery European metropolis. Themain The aimisto presenttheaudiencewithpiecesthatarevaluable andstylistically music. ofmodernart oftherecenthistory essential piecesoftherepertoire usually not olderthanten years, even thoughContempuls regularlyreturns to the developments ontheworld scene.Thefocus ofthefestival isonnew pieces, aimfortalents. Theorganisers carefullyconsidered programming whichreflects toensembles andsoloists,aswell younger, asgivinganopportunity lessknown Its maingoalisto introduce thePragueaudienceto internationally renowned Contempuls isaninternational festival musicinPrague. ofcontemporary MEZI

8 / 9 of allthe AHUV Creative Centres Showcase oftheNew Music– compositions inCzechContemporary by members andScientists (AHUV) of MusicalArtists The Society ofCzechComposers, amemberoftheAssociation ofthefestival:Co-organisers for youth by livingCzechcomposers. Children for every year, Composers. Itconsistsoftwo concerts composed ofmusic afield:Composers music schoolsbothfor Children – inPragueandfurther anniversary. In2007, seriesincollaborationwithelementary itinitiated aconcert for celebratinganimportant thoseamongitsmembers several concerts portrait In additionto thefestival, theSociety ofCzechComposers alsoorganises seen over 1700 new pieces. generations, from oftheCzechRepublic. allcorners Since1990, thefestival has of Czechchamberinstrumentalandvocal music,created by composers ofall Music isawidelyconceived, traditionalannual“confrontational exhibition” experimental work andelectro-acoustic compositions. TheDays ofContemporary neo-classicism andthe60savant-garde, butalsoheadingtowards post-modern focus. Thesearemostlyworks arisingfrom thetraditionsoflate Romanticism, recommended by acommittee, cover muchground intheircharacter andstylistic themselves, whoalsopropose Theworks, theperformers. whichare The piecesareproposed –following thegiven criteria –by thecomposers for SacredMusic,the“Přítomnost” Society for Music). Contemporary the OlomoucandOstrava Creative Centresandother organisations(theSociety Musical CentrePilsen,theClubofMoravian Composers Brno, the dramaturgyincludeSociety for WindMusic,theWestern Bohemian organised incooperationwithCzechRadioVltava. increating Bodies takingpart Czech composers athomeandabroad. November 2017 willseeits28thedition professionalAssociation ofCzechComposers Prague,avoluntary organisationfor The Days Musicfestival ofContemporary hasbeenorganisedsince1990 by the ahuv.cz FESTIVAL DAYS OFCONTEMPORARY MUSIC

kytarovyinstitut.cz frantisekchaloupka.com MEZINÁRODNÍ FESTIVAL SOUDOBÉHUDBY DUNAMI ENSEMBLE and smallwindinstruments Edgar Mojdl–piano,toy piano, melodica, percussion Michal Indrák–keyboards Lucie Vítková –accordion, voice Lucie Páchová –voice, cithera,objects Radim Hanousek–saxophones František director Chaloupka artistic –electricguitars, Members: Groove (RadimHanousek) orNext Phase(Pavel Zlámal). of various genres,aswell asleadingtheirown ensembles,suchasDustinthe The musiciansoftheensemblework inboth composed and improvised music recorded by CzechRadioOlomouc. as apiecefor four saxophones andtwo boy was sopranos.Theperformance the MusicOlomouc2016 festival. Thischamberopera-installationisconceived Chaloupka’sDunami alsoperformed ChatavJezerníkotlině, commissioned by was recorded andbroadcast by CzechRadioVltava. attheJiříMyronand performed TheatreinOstrava in2012. Theperformance in 2011. Thepiecewas commissionedby theNew OperaDays Ostrava festival Eve andLilith The DunamiEnsembleplayed itsdebutinthechamberopera-installation by composer František Chaloupka, whoestablishedtheensemble

10 / 11 It willfeature film aninternationalfestival, short experimental musicanddance. Echofluxx 18 will againbeheldatParalelní Polis inthefirst week ofMay, 2018. encapsulating adventurous ofmany disciplineswithinonefestival. art oftheideal,itthenattempts toShort inculcate thisawareness sociallyby preference whichturnsinnocently inmultipledirections. isfor atime-based art andespeciallythatwhichrisksfailure, its and music.While embracingallart, movement —anongoinghedgeagainsttheexclusivity ofdiscipline-specificart Conceptually, theEchofluxx festival represents theforward motion ofthe Fluxus site, theevent isfreeto thepublic. are documented onvideoatthefestival site. Held onthe3rd floorofthehost Orchestra (CZ),JaapBlonk(NL)andmany more.Since2011, all presentations Hoitenga (DE), fama Q(CZ),TheMaciunasEnsemble (NL),OpeningPerformance The HongKong New MusicEnsemble(CN),Terrible (CZ),Camilla Recent have performers of visual andkinetic art. includedPhillNiblock(USA), ensembles, improvisational worldwide, withoccasionalexhibitions artists film festival,short a venue for soundpoetry, experimental musicanddance Roulette Intermedium inBrooklyn, thefestival hasevolved into aninternational the directionofDr. andco-founder of DanSenn, aninterdisciplinary artist since 2015, whenthefestival moved to Paralelní Polis in Prague7. Under inception in2011, ithaswas heldatthe Trafačka Arenain Prague9,closed Echofluxx is produced by FMEráofPrague(efemera-ephemera.org). At its echofluxx.org AND EXPERIMENTAL VISUAL OFNEWMEDIA, ART, ECHOFLUXX FESTIVAL marijan.cz SMYČCOVÉ KVARTETO PRO SOUDOBOUHUDBU ENSEMBLE MARIJAN Ivo Medek–drums,JanKavan –‘cello,SáraMedková –piano Members: Netherlands, , Slovakia, Poland, UkraineandtheUSA. GrabenFest WienorOstrava Days ofNew Music,andatmany other events inthe Autumn, V:NM Graz,Ad libitumWarszawa, WienerFestwochen, Krakow, Audio Art throughout Ithasperformed Europe,visual artists. atfestivals like Warsaw works oftheBrno-basedAssociationQandoften with The ensembleispart (Fires), OT301, Soundscapes,Octový syndrom (VinegarSyndrome) orTASTES. ofseveralalso theauthors team-composed multimediaprojects, suchasOhně piecesandimprovisations,In additionto concert are theensemblemembers Lucie Vítková. Vermelho, Vinny Golia,VítZouhar, DanDlouhý,Tomáš Hrůza,Lukáš Medekor suchasIvacollaborates Bittová, withother artists CarminaEscobar, Gabriela Páchová andPetr Pařízek actingaspermanentguests.Theensembleregularly the line-upsettled onIvo JanKavan Medek, andSáraMedková, withLucie Jan Kavan (‘cello,vocals, electronics) andMarkéta Dvořáková (piano).In 2009, weremembers Ivo Medek(percussion, insidepiano,toys, vocals, performance), events into Thefounding multimediaperformances. whichturntheconcerts a numberofpieces,theensemblealsouseselectro-acoustic musicandscenic all composers from thecircle oftheso-called Brnoschoolofcomposition. For the edgesofimprovisation andcomposition written by whoare itsmembers, The ensemblewas establishedin1999 withafocus musicon onperforming

12 / 13 the Department ofComposition anditsdirector,the Department HanušBartoň. ofContemporary MusicatHAMUanditsdirector,Department Iva Oplištilová, and conductor by MarekŠedivý.Theiractivitiesare supported thenewly established The ensemblewas founded by composers Jakub RatajandJanRyant Dřízal and featuring JohnKelly andMatthew Fairclough from GreatBritain. Prague audienceto theCeltic carnyx hornwithlive electronics, ataconcert bassoonist andconductor Pascal Gallois,andayear later, it introduced the the auspicesofContempuls festival, withFrench ETpreparedaconcert Pavel from Zlámal.Italsoworks abroad: withsignificant artists in2016, under music to collaborate withthem,suchasviolinistDavid Danelorimproviser The ensembleregularlyinvites specialisingincontemporary Czechperformers (MeetFactory, Venuše ve Švehlovce, Pianka Daliborandothers). andarenotforms seenby audiencesasbelongingto ofart theacademicworld audiences. To thisend,they atvenues perform thatfocus onpresentingnew works. atHAMU, Inadditionto theensemblealsotriesto concerts reachother develop cooperationbetween composers andconductors performers, onnew The goalofETwithintheAcademy andto isto connectvarious departments of 2015. Itsdramaturgyfocuses onworks by young composers, mostlystudents. atMeetFactory, concert itsfirst The ensembleperformed Prague,intheautumn seem terrible now canoncebecomebeautiful…ornot. Terrible refusesthegenredivisioninto highandlow, goodandbad.Whatcan future. Itisopento experiments andforays forms. into other Ensemble art The ensembledealswithmusicofthe21st –ofthepresentand century Music andDanceFaculty oftheAcademy inPrague(HAMU). ofPerforming Arts Ensemle Terrible HAMUiscomprised mostlyofstudentsandgraduates ofthe ensembleterrible.cz ENSEMBLE FOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC ENSEMBLE TERRIBLEHAMU [email protected] CONTEMPORARY MUSICSTRING QUARTET FAMA Q Balázs Adorján –‘cello David Danel,Roman –viola, Hranička –violins, OndřejMartinovský Members: The quartet isalsoactive inthefieldofcontemporary musicrecording. universities intheCzechRepublic andSlovakia, Romania andTurkey. foras guestsinseminars atschoolsand music performance contemporary of thePerforming theJewish Archiveas part project. fama acted Qmembers of M.Srnka atthePhillipsCollectioninWashington,concert DC)andinPrague inJapan,Romania andtheUSA(aportrait notablealso performed concerts Gallery, Evenings ofNew Music(Bratislava), SPACE Festival andothers. Ithas Moskva, Afyonkarahisar KlasikMüzikFestivali, New MusicattheSlovak National Quiberon, Festival deMúsicalaMancha,You:rope Together, Magister Ludi New MusicDays 2013 Košice, Israel Festival Jerusalem,LesMusicalesde Exposition ofNew MusicBrno,MusicOlomouc,Forfest Kroměříž, ISCMWorld Pilsen, Janáček’sMay Ostrava, New MusicMarathon,Třídení,Defiant Requiem, as PragueSpring,Contempuls, Ostrava Days ofNew Music,Smetana Days Umělecká besedaandTheBeautyofToday. atfestivals Ithasperformed such series Přítomnost,The quartet isafrequent guestofthePragueconcert composers from both theCzechRepublic andabroad. P. M.Pudlák, M. Marek, Zemek-Novák) andto premieringworks by young Czechcomposers M.Kopelent, (K.Husa,J.Klusák, of important I.Loudová, Lutosławski, andothers. Nono,Scelsi,Kurtág Itisalsodevoted to theworks avant-garde,20th century suchasSchoenberg,Webern, Cage,Feldman, Ligeti, piecesbychamber music.Thequartet regularlyperforms theclassicsof are drawn from thebestCzechorchestras andconnected by apassionfor Fama isaPrague-basedstringquartet active Quartet since2005.Itsmembers

14 / 15 Rebecca Herchenröder Rust (organ)and many (‘cello), Martin others. Orchestra, LSUWindEnsembleorsoloists Friedrich Edelmann (bassoon), ensembles Konvergence, ISHATrio, MatysQuatet, Solaris3,Brno Contemporary invitedThe performers for thisyear includetheMoravian Madrigalistschoir, the the expectations anindividualmay have from theworld ofart. questions were discusseddirectedof art, atthecurrentdevelopment and ofart International years Cooperation”.After ofmappingtheroots ofthecurrentstate thistimewiththesub-heading“Possibilities of Currents inContemporary Art”, the three-day international biennaleundertheacademiccolloquium “Spiritual Olomouc Archdiocese. Thisyear’s festival willincludeanother instalmentof of Education,Youth theCzechCommissionfor UNESCO andthe andSports, The festival ofCulture,theMinistry isheldundertheauspices oftheMinistry abroad inthe2017 willtake part edition,includingguestsfrom 14 countries. associationsfrom both theCzechRepublicLeading institutionsandartistic and of four cities:Kroměříž, Olomouc,BrnoandBratislava. culturallyimportant Czech Television. Theattractionofthefestival isunderlinedby theenvironments works by composers, contemporary whicharerecorded for CzechRadioand festival featuring includesanumberofexhibitions premieresof andconcerts Festivals for Europe for theirEuropean project EFFELabel2017–2018. The and was repeatedly chosenby ofEurope the international for jury Festivals, FORFEST CzechRepublic isalaureate oftheAward oftheCzechMusicalCouncil forfest.cz WITH AFOCUS ONSACRED ART INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL FOR CONTEMPORARY ART FORFEST ishatrio.cz MEZINÁRODNÍ FESTIVAL SOUDOBÉHOUMĚNÍ ISHA TRIO Sára Medková –piano Kristina Vaculová –flute Lucie Rozsnyó –soprano Members: New York. 2018 inPrague,Brno,Olomouc,Berlinand season,thetriowillperform concert met withfavourable responsesboth from thepublicandcritics.In2017– Both ofitspublishedrecordingsUSA. – AncientStories and HallinLosAngeles.Theensembleregularly tours inEuropeConcert andthe Music,Schrattenbachof Contemporary Olomoucortherenowned Roy O.Disney Janáček International MusicFestival: Life, Work, &ContributioninTexas, Days InternationalPrague, Charterhouse MusicFestival, JanáčekBrno,theLeoš Krakow,Audio Art Smetana Days Pilsen,Meetings ofNew MusicPlus,Přítomnost attheinternationalThe triohasperformed musicfestivals Moravian Autumn, They assoloistswithleadingorchestras allperform athomeandabroad. International Competition Brno,theJ.SukInternational Competition andothers). Germany, Argento Concorso –Italy, Yamaha –CzechRepublic, theLeošJanáček categories (AngloCzechoslovak Trust Praga, Uelzen– GreatBritain,Concertino awards atanumberofinternational competitions inboth soloandchamber contemporary, received whichtheensemblespecialisesin.Thetrio’smembers both athomeandabroad. includespiecesfrom Thetrio’srepertoire Baroque to in Brno.Itsoonestablisheditselfasoneoftheleadingensemblesitskind The ISHATrio was founded in2007 attheJanáčekAcademy ofPerforming Arts

Love Stories –were

16 / 17 Jan Tuláček –guitar violoncello, Ondřej Melecký–doublebass,Eva Hutyrová –piano, Irena Štochlová director, –violin,OndřejŠtochl –viola,artistic SebastianTóth – Zuzana Bandúrová –flute, JiříMráz–clarinet, Viktor MatějVlk, Mazáček, oftheesemble: Members a chanceto have theircompositions performed. several years, Konvergence gives studentcomposers from around theworld APAP festival inNew York. InitsCall-4-Scores,whichhasbeenrunningfor MusicOlomouc. In2014, Konvergence represented theCzechRepublic at the as PragueSpring,ExpositionofNew Music,Forfest, OperaSchrattenbach or Takemitsu, Kaija atfestivals Saariahoandothers) andregularlyperforms such Breier,Rataj, Albert Jakob Ullmann,GermánToro-Pérez, GeorgeCrumb,Toru (e.g. MarekKopelent, Pavel Peter ZemekNovák, HanušBartoň, Graham,Michal ensemble haspremiereddozensofpiecesby Czechandinternational artists pantomime andother forms.that connectmusicwithdance,visualart, The In additionto purelymusical programmes, Konvergence alsoproduces projects Plachká (1981). generation: Tomáš Pálka (1978), OndřejŠtochl (1975) andMichaela Pálka founded in2002,andiscurrentlyformed ofthreecomposers ofthemiddle of Konvergence’s TheKonvergence concerts. composer’s association was which allthepieceswork asawholeandsensitive interpretations arehallmarks known composers for in the Czechaudience.Dramaturgicallycompact concerts and internationally. Itinitiates thecreationofnew piecesanddiscovers little- abroad. Itfocuses onthenewest work beingdoneinthisarea,both domestically eponymous ensembleandother ensemblesfrom both theCzechRepublic and featuringorganises ayearly both seriesofchambermusicconcerts, itsown Konvergence isawell-known andrespected composer’s association,which konvergence.org COMPOSERS’ ASSOCIATION ANDCHAMBERENSEMBLE KONVERGENCE newmusicplus.jamu.cz INTERNATIONAL MUSICFESTIVAL MEETINGS OFNEWMUSICPLUS of theJanáčekAcademy inBrno. ofPerforming Arts The festival isorganisedby AssociationQincooperationwiththeMusicalFaculty Koch, Pascal Gallois,AmeliaCuniandmany others. Moss, MarekCholoniewski, CatherineTunnel, IanPage, ErnstReijseger, Hans Sheppard, Gareth Davis, Franz PhillNiblock, Hautzinger, Rohan deSaram, David Joode, JonathanPowell, Alessandro Bosetti, Marco Ciciliani,CarinLevine, Peter IvaGolia, LászloHudaczek, Bittová, Marcus Popp, DaanVandewalle, de Wilbert or SmashEnsemble,andsoloistslike NickCollins,David Rosenboom, Vinny mention theensemblesCalifornia EarUnit, ZeitgeistEnsemble,Aeolian Trio toOf alltheperformers pass through thefestival over itstwenty years, we can before themainevent. format,its “starter” whichseesyoung Czechcomposers andmusiciansperform developments internationally. Inrecentyears, thefestival hasalsoestablished the goalsoffestival isto confront trendsinCzechcontemporary musicwith onwards.specialising inmusicfrom thesecondhalfof20thcentury Oneof in Brno,thefestival haspresented dozensoffirst-rate soloistsandensembles multimedia projects. Over itstwenty years ofcontinuousactivity, basedmostly and focuses oncontemporary music–both composed andimprovised –and The festival (Setkávání nové hudby PlusinCzech)was establishedin1997

18 / 19 and ŠtěpánFilípekon‘cello. withMilanPala andJanBělohlávekperforms onviolins,Stanislav Vacek onviola Víšková, Lukáš MikorAlexej Aslamas.Currently, the Miloslav Ištvan Quartet violin chair,first for example, was at various timesoccupied by JiříKlecker, Ivana The changeableline-uphasincludedanumberofexcellent –the performers composers oftheBrno-basedGroup A(Skupina A). Jan Novák’s stringquartets followed, andin2013, acompilation ofworks by all ofMiloslav Ištvan’s stringquartets. In2012, adiscwithexiled composer’s In the2009–2010 CD,which season,theensemblepublisheditsfirst featured Österreichischer Rundfunk. wascritics andaudiencesalike. broadcast by Theconcert CzechRadioand ofthe“Begegnungmitdemnachbarn,” whichwas ratedas part highlyby wasMoraviae. theirperformance Oneofthequartet’s mostsuccessfulconcerts Music, Meetings ofNew MusicPlus,JanáčekBrno,Forfest orConcentus in particular, attheinternational performances festivals ExpositionofNew included premieresfor theBrno-basedStudioofContemporary Music,and, These Since then,thequartet hasputonanumberofinteresting concerts. by theBrnoesecomposer Miloslav Ištvan. founded featuring in2008andgot pieces itsnameontheoccasionofaconcert ofcontemporary music.Theensemblewasspecialising intheperformance The Miloslav Ištvan isastringquartet formed Quartet ofyoung performers, mi4.cz OF THE20THAND21ST CENTURY STRING QUARTET SPECIALISINGINMUSIC MILOSLAV IŠTVAN QUARTET (MI4)

moens.cz ENSEMBLE FOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC MOENS Balázs Adorján – ‘cello, Hanuš Bartoň –piano,MiroslavBalázs Adorján –‘cello,HanušBartoň Pudlák–conductor director,Kamil Doležal–clarinet, artistic David Danel–violin, Members: (Prague). KlangspurenSchwaz,zeitgenössische Musik, Trieste PrimaandContempuls MusicFestival,neuer Musik(Cologne),Dartington Weimarer Frühjahrstage für (Bratislava), New MusicMarathon(Prague),Roaring Hooves (Ulanbaatar),Forum Grenzen (Hamburg),PragueSpring,ExpositionofNew Music(Brno),Melos-Étos atinternationalThe ensemblehasperformed festivals includingFliessende Records, CDsofmusicby Czechcomposers (Arta StudioMatouš).portrait new works. Numerous recordings were madefor CzechRadio,aswell as and initstwenty years ofexistence, ithaspremieredmorethanahundred year,Every theensemblecommissionsnew piecesfrom Czechcomposers, of graphicscoresorconceptualpieces. (Lithuania, Finland,Hungary, Japan,Germany) orprojects withrealisations L.Andriessen,NewG. Kurtág, Complexity), works from other countries focusesoften onindividualcomposers ormovements (M.Kagel, S.Reich, projects,music ofthesecondhalf20thcentury. thedramaturgy Inconcert complementedrepertoire, by selected works by composers from abroad and ensemble. Musicby Czechcomposers contemporary forms thebasisof a platform for professional intheform performances ofastablechamber a group ofPrague-basedmusiciansandcomposers whowanted to establish have beenactive ontheCzechmusicalscene since1995. Itwas formed by underthenameMondscheinEnsembleuntil2001,MoEns, whoperformed

20 /21 RADIO BROADCASTS ON CZECHRADIOVLTAVA HALL OFTHEHRADEC KRÁLOVÉ PHILHARMONICORCHESTRA MUSICAL FORUM HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ 2017 |24 OCTOBER –2NOVEMBER 2017 J. MacMillan. Circulating Ocean among others, P. Lieberson’s not butalsotheireyes. onlytheaudience’sears, The2017 editionwillfeature, design, visualstyle,animations,video projections andchoreographiesengage The festival faculties attheuniversity collaborates anditslight withartistic Philharmonic andtheJanáčekOstrava. the PragueRadioSymphony Orchestra, PragueSymphony Orchestra, theBrno resident HradecKrálové PhilharmonicOrchestra, thefestival hasalsohosted Vladimir Tarasov, Lauren FlaniganorChristoph Sietzen. Inadditionto the byperformances , David Geringas,Tatiana Grindenko, V. Silvestrov, T. Dun,P. Vasks, J.Widmann,H.Zender andmany others, and K.Penderecki, S.Reich, Pärt, K.Saariaho,E.P.A. Schnittke, Salonen,A. G. F. Haas,H.W. Hillborg,G.Kancheli, M.Lindberg,W. Henze,A. Lutosławski, Dalbavie,M. A. B.Dean,P. Eötvös, O.Golijov, S.Gubaidulina,H.K.Gruber, Czech premieresofworks by J.Adams, L.Andriessen,J.Corigliano, recipients of PulitzerorGrawemeyerstages, often awards. Thefestival hasseen The festival programming reliesonworks thatcausedastirontheworld’s by CzechRadioandtheEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU). isthenexported backacrossThe musicalimport theborders through broadcasts orchestral works from abroad composed around theturnof21st century. the festival hasbrought to HradecKrálové arepresentative panoramaof Philharmonic Orchestra incooperationwithCzechRadioVltava. Since2005, The MusicForum HradecKrálové festival isorganisedby theHradecKrálové hfhk.cz INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY MUSICFESTIVAL MUSIC FORUM HRADECKRÁLOVÉ by T. Hosokawa and Neruda ,W. Kilar’spianoconcerto, The Confession ofIsobelGowdie by

souvislosti.eu CONCERT SERIES MUSIC INCONTEXT so thatitscharacter andoriginalityarebrought outasmuchpossible. isindependentandpresented inanappropriate concert so on.Every space, music oraspecificapproach to composition (e.g. aleatoric techniques) and movements), extra-musical foundations, figure,inspirationin ethnic aliterary of theirobjective (e.g.sacredmusic),historical context (e.g.avant-garde interpenetration ofoldandnew music;piecesarechosenbasedonthesimilarity heavily reflectsa focus onideologicalorhistorical context. This leads to the butalsomorestandard-format whoseprogrammingother artists, concerts writers and incollaborationwithvisualartists, music andtheatre,concerts musical accompaniments to silentfilms), betweenexperimental performances Music inContext withacinematiccomponent (suchas haspresented concerts a potential interest ingetting to know new musicandculturemoregenerally. cultural model,whichisnot limited form, to andthusattractthosewith oneart worlds. Themainideabehindtheproject isanattempt to create acomplex where thenewest cinematic,theatricalorliterary musiccanmeet theartistic, wants to create aplatform inwhichtheseintersections canbefound. Aplatform other areasandexperience creation.MusicinContext other spheresofartistic create theirown world, theirown “bubble”from whichthey rarelyventure into individual aficionadosofthenewest works (and,in fact, thecreators themselves) fact thattoday, activityisseldompresented incontext. artistic leadsto Thisoften context inwhichitwas written. Thewholeproject triesto bringattention to the or presented inconnectionwithanideologicalcontextof art, orthehistorical season,withinwhichmusicisconfrontedlong concert eitherwithanother form The MusicinContext (Hudbavsouvislostech) project isconceived asayear-

22 / 23 interesting alternative to festivals focused exclusively oncontemporarymusic. and attempts to connectvarious TheMusical Presentpresentsan forms ofart, and others. Thanksto thewiderangeofdramaturgy, educational activities inOstrava,the MunicipalLibrary Ostrava University, theJanáčekConservatory regionalinstitutions,suchas theNationalMoravian-Silesianimportant Theatre, featureAnother important ofthefestival arecollaborationsandconnectionswith for thefestival. ofthedramaturgyismadeuporiginalprojects createdA largepart specifically byperformances renowned ensemblesfrom theCzechRepublic andabroad. by composerscontemporary performed top-class ensembles,thereare a conceptionfor the stageandvisuals.Thefestival features piecesby The festival isexceptional have in itsmultimediafocus. Alltheconcerts administered by theJanáček’sMay festival since2010. it alsoincludedtheGeneracecomposers’ competition, whichhasbeen of composers from around theCzechRepublic. Sincethefestival’s beginning, composers, buttherangeoffestival graduallyspreadto encompass thework The festival hasarichhistory. Inthepast,itpresented mostlyOstrava-based ofthefestival. formperformances anaturalpart and audiovisual andmultimedia scientific positions.Exhibitionsofvisualart from forum philosophicaland whichreflectsoncontemporary art an artistic workshops for childrenwithafocus onthedevelopment ofcreativity, andalso ofcontemporary musicinseveral courses performance specialisations,creative ofcontemporary music, It presentsawideplatform includingconcerts Centre Ostrava association,hasbeenheldannuallyinOstrava since1974. The MusicalPresent(Hudebnísoučasnost)festival, organisedby theCreative hudebnisoucasnost.cz INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL FOR CONTEMPORARY ART THE MUSICALPRESENT musicolomouc.cz INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OFCONTEMPORARY MUSIC MUSICOLOMOUC Gitarrenquartett, Auditivvokal Dresdenand PHACE Ensemble. Ensemble. 2017Mondrian EnsembleorQuasars by willseeperformances Aleph guests includeÖsterreichische EnsemblefürNeueMusik, Ensemble Lux, the BergOrchestra, PragueModern,fama QorKonvergence. International The festival haspresented leadingCzechensemblesincludingOstravská banda, other citiesintheOlomoucregion. Reduta HalloftheMoravian Philharmonic. Someprogrammes arealsotoured to take Centreandinthe placeinthePalackýMost oftheconcerts University Art include lecturesby discussionsandworkshops. composers andperformers, intention isto increasethenumberofworld premieres.Accompanying events Most ofthepiecesatfestival areplayed intheirOlomouc premiere,butthe The programme solorecitals,chamber, offers choralandorchestral concerts. intheorganisation. MusicOlomouc society alsotakes part the festival was organisedby thePalacký University inOlomouc,today, the abroad andcommissionmorecomposers to write for thefestival. Until 2011, the moreavant-garde musicofthe21st century, invite from moreperformers over asdirector anddramaturg.Hisintention was to directthefestival towards asdirectorserved for sixyears. In2015, composer took andpianist MarekKeprt The festival was establishedby composer andmusicologist JanVičar, who andasmanyperformers world premieresaspossible. The festival accomplishes thisaimthrough creative dramaturgy, excellent and raiseawareness ofboth Czechandinternational contemporary music. avant-garde music,whoseaimisto fillthegapincultureonoffer inOlomouc MusicOlomouc isaninternational festival experimental ofcontemporary and

24 / 25 Kanhäuserová orPetr OdoMacháček. KatharinaMichal Pěchouček, Schmitt,Pavel Svoboda, JiříAdámek, Ivana directors andset suchasJiříNekvasil, designers David Bazika, JanHorák, Festspiele, initiates itoften thecreationof new productions by approaching NODO hascollaborated Bühnen ortheSchwetzinger withWuppertaler SWR Oresteia. Samimi Mofakham, Petr Cígler, František Chaloupka, andIannis Xenakis’ Petr Kotík, Rudolf Komorous, MojiaoWang, Richard Ayres, GyörgyLigeti, Idin operas by Smolka, JohnCage,Salvatore Bernhard Lang, Sciarrino,Martin premieres; several operaswere NODOcommissions.Thefestival haspresented in theatresandindustrialspaces.NODOpresentsworks intheirCzechandworld Republic, Poland, Austria, Great Britain, Germany, the US, Iran and China working presented atNODO,whichsaw composers andcompanies from theCzech threeinstalments(2012,In itsfirst 2014, 2016), 15 operaticproductions were ofmusicaltheatreinthe21stimport century. explores new expressive possibilitiesandmethods inoperaandquestions the contribute to thedevelopment oftheoperaticgenreandoperaassuch.NODO Jiří Nekvasil inhisintroduction to instalment.The thefirst festival’s missionis to Ostravská bandawere fundamentalinspirationsfor theNODOproject,” wrote unique atmosphereonstageandinthehalltop-class by performances projects atthetheatre.“Theaudienceattendance atOstrava Days 2011, the by NMST director JiříNekvasil andDitaEibenová, whowas inchargeofspecial Ostrava Days, music.NODOwas focused initiated predominantlyonconcert the CzechRepublic. NODObeganin2012, anditalternates withthebiannual National Moravian-Silesian Theatre(NMST). Itistheonlyfestival ofitskindin the Ostrava Center for New Music (seeopposite page)incooperationwiththe NODO –New OperaDays Ostrava isaninternational operafestival produced by newmusicostrava.cz FOR CONTEMPORARY OPERA INTERNATIONAL BIANNUAL FESTIVAL NODO –NEWOPERADAYS OSTRAVA

newmusicostrava.cz FOR NEWANDEXPERIMENTAL MUSIC INTERNATIONAL BIENNIALINSTITUTE ANDFESTIVAL OSTRAVA DAYS and scores ofcontemporary music. films.Italso possessesarich archiveco-produces documentary ofrecordings inPrague’sForum Karlín), publishesacademictitlesandCDs and concert attheLincolnCenter in Newa series ofconcerts York, athree-orchestra Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava (festivals Musik, suchas ,März withtheOstravská bandaorthe OCNM alsoorganisesstand-aloneconcerts Canticum Ostrava choirwas founded in2003,alsoattheOD’sinstigation. orchestra composed of85young musicians from Europe andtheUS.The chamber orchestra in2005,andONO2017 –aninternational symphony OCNM, theorganisingbody, alsoestablishedtheOstravská bandainternational showcareers, signs ofanoriginalapproach to art. by world-renowned composers aswell asthosewho,atthebeginningoftheir composition ofmany new pieces,includingorchestral ones,andpresentsworks focus onthework ofP. Bakla,P. Cígler, M.RatajorSrnka. ODinitiated the J.WalsheG. E.Lewis, Mincek, A. andothers. Asfor Czechcomposers, we M.Smolka, P.B. Lang,E.Sharp, R.Riehm,K.Schwertsik, Glass,P. Ablinger, M. R.Abrams, P. K.Saariaho,R.Ayres, L.Andriessen,R.Saunders, Niblock, Lucier,instructors A. includeCh.Wolff, R.Mitchell,T. Murail,F. Rzewski, P. Kotík, Czech andworld premieres.Composers whoattended thefestival asguestsand compositions onwards, from the2ndhalfof20thcentury predominantly in institute isfollowed by aten-day festival, ofinnovative witharound 22concerts to workwith theopportunity withtheleadingexponents ofnew music.The environment focused on orchestral composition andprovides itsresidents and graduates ofprestigious universities. Theinstitute isawork andstudy from around theworld –composers, musiciansandmusicologists,students The three-week institute inAugust isattended by about35residentcomposers organisation Ostrava Center for New Music(OCNM). composer, conductor andflautist Petr Kotík. Theorganisingbodyisthenon-profit and thefestival. They have beenheldevery two years since2001, ledby The Ostrava Days (OD)arecomprised oftwo closelyrelated events: theinstitute

26 / 27 Contemporary MusicFestival.Contemporary and festivals includingPrague Spring,musicadhoy in MadridortheHuddersfield New York, Akademie derKünste inBerlin,Vredenburg MusicCentreinUtrecht, at venues like theParis Conservatoire, CarnegieHall ortheLincolnCenter in Days, theorchestra atanumberofindividualconcerts, has alsoperformed opera biennaleaswell. Inadditionto itsrole asresidentorchestra atOstrava Since 2012, Ostravská bandahasacted as the operaorchestra for theNODO dedicated to theBanda. inspirecomposers toperformances write new pieces,many ofwhichare G. Ligeti, P. B.Lang,P. Bakla,Ch.Wolff, Cíglerandmany others. The orchestra’s P. Kotík, Lucier, A. T. Murail,K.Saariaho,S.Sciarrino,W. Rihm,M.Smolka, andcompositions by today’scentury composers suchasL.Andriessen, The Ostravská banda’sextensive includeskey repertoire works of the20th equality whichisalsounusual,”sayscertain theorchestra’s founder, Petr Kotík. meets againandgets down to work. Sincethegroup isnot local,thereisa theBanda break, alongerorshorter also ontheenergyofsituation–after musicians. Itisbasednot onlyonmutualprofessional respect,but andpersonal Ostravaalso ofcourse andPrague,creates aspecialrelationshipbetween the ensemble iscomposed, withplayers from New York, Berlin,Budapest,and “The specialthingaboutOstravská bandaistheway we work. Theway the Vrabec, BrunoFerrandis andJosephTrafton. also works withconductors Roland Kluttig,JohannesKalitzke, Rolf Gupta,Ondřej intense director periods.Inadditionto Petr rehearsal artistic Kotík, theorchestra capabilities to master themostcomplex instrumentaltechniques andwithstand music(alsoassoloists),renownedspecialising incontemporary for their The orchestra’s hailfrom members Europe andtheUS,mostlymusicians page). Itisformed master ofabout36musicians,ledby ConradHarris. concert as theresidentchamberorchestra for theOstrava Days festival (seeprevious Ostravská bandawas establishedin2005by theOstrava Center for New Music newmusicostrava.cz INTERNATIONAL CHAMBERORCHESTRA OSTRAVSKÁ BANDA

pmpif.org INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ANDINSTITUTE PRAGUE MUSICPERFORMANCE to and supporting individuals andprojectsto withdiverse needs. andsupporting benefit events contributing for charitablepurposes with theaimofartistically teachers. inorindependentlyorganises Inaddition, PMPtakes part to work and andanopportunity withthemostprominentscholarships artists afford to studyattheworld’s top both musicschoolsandacademies,PMPoffers today’s mosttalented from young around artists theworld. For thosewhocannot inwhichitintroducesPMP presentsthematicallyoriented thepublicto concerts the world. from theCzechRepublicthe mostprestigiousinstitutionsand artists andaround ambition to with becomeanorganizationofinternational acclaiminpartnership Bydgoszcz, Poland, andothers. Through thesecollaborations,PMPfulfilsits Youth Orchestra inDebrecen,Hungary, MusicFestival theContemporary in Naples, theYoung Musicians’SummerAcademy andtheKodály ZoltánWorld in Polička, NAT Studio and SiamSinfonietta inBangkok, MaggiodellaMusicain Society Film Archives inBrno,theOurMartinů inPrague,theIndustraGallery oftheCzechRepublic, ofForeign theNational Affairs inPrague,theMinistry Arts inPrague,the AcademyCzech Philharmonic,theNationalGallery ofPerforming institutionsandagenciessuchasthe PMP closelycollaborates with other art arts, film,or endeavoursliterature. suchasthefine to includeother fieldsofart Neubauten,Einstürzende Pere Ubu,Adrian Belew and others. However, PMPalso Fleisher, Tamás Vásáry, BradMehldau,EsperanzaSpalding,Thurston Moore, Knox, Phantasm,MurrayAlfred Brendel,Garth Perahia, AndreiGavrilov, Leon ,,andalternative have music–ourguestartists included workshops, lectures,andasummerschool.Theprojects primarilyfocus on patronage over theorganization.Throughout theyear, PMPorganizesconcerts, pianistIvan Moravec artists, graciouslyassumedartistic aviolinistJosefSuk, in2010.Czech pianistJanBartoš distinguished At itsinception, thelegendary professor ZenonFishbeinoftheManhattanSchoolMusicinNew York and Prague MusicPerformance (PMP)was founded by renowned pianistand

28 / 29 with Pascal GalloisandMarián Lejava as guestconductors since2011. Swierczewski ontheprecinctsofPKF–Prague Philharmonia, The ensemblewas founded in2008 by theFrench conductor Michel invited to presentworkshops oncontemporarymusicperformance. I. Troupová, E.Sušková ofPragueModern areregularly and others. Members R. Hardy, M.Cluver, J.Janssen, F. Sarhan, S.Winkler, J.Powell, J.Talich, J.Bárta, Prague Modernalsoworked withP. Gallois,C.Desjardins, R.Kluttig,M.Lejava, K. Vincourová, oractressesF. M.Othová (visualarts) Ardant Bennent. andA. suchasJ.Švankmajer (film), fields andmultimediacollaborationswithartists M. Smolka, M.Srnka, O.Štochl). PragueModernisalsoopento various art (O. Adámek, P. Bakla,F. Chaloupka, J. Kadeřábek, M.Nejtek, M.Rataj,J.Rybář, renowned avant-garde composers aswell asto themusicofCzechcomposers ofPragueModernpaysThe repertoire equal attention to theworks ofworld- by L.Berio,G.Grisey, Schönberg,M.Armanini,P. A. Plimley andR.Ueda. Pascal Gallois.In2015, 2016 and2017 recordings followed further withworks released aCD(Stradivarius) featuring works by DaiFujikura underthebaton of In 2011, PragueModerntoured Slovakia andRomania andin2014, they MusicOlomouc, SpaceFestival (Slovakia) orPoznań MusicSpring(Poland). de Quiberon, CaféFest Budapest, Contempuls Prague,PraguePremieres, Musica Strasbourg,BesançonInternational Music Festival, LesMusicales atprestigiousfestivalsPrague Modernhasperformed andvenues suchas some ofthebestyoung Czechinstrumentalists. for theirrecording ofDaiFujikura’s works isaflexible-sized ensemble featuring for new music”andawarded the“CoupdeCoeur”by theCharlesCros Academy Prague Modern,celebrated by musicjournalistsas“thebestCzechensemble praguemodern.cz ENSEMBLE FOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PRAGUE MODERN

solaris3.cz PIANO TRIOFOR MUSICOFTHE20THAND21ST CENTURIES SOLARIS3 Anna Veverková Levický –piano –violin,ŠtěpánFilípek‘cello,Martin Members: best CzechandEuropean ensembles. areexperiencedmembers musicwhowork ofcontemporary performers withthe for pianotrio.Despite therecentestablishment oftheensemble,allits themselves asaplatform promoting Czechmusic contemporary andperforming European musicofthe20thand21st to centuries.They profile alsotry With itsfocus, Solaris3countthemselves amongtheensemblesperforming of New MusicPlusinBrno. from the20thcentury. At theendof2017, atMeetings the triowillalsoperform the Psychological Changeconference, wherethey willpresentmodernistworks Yun’s piano trio. For the autumn of 2017, Solaris3 is preparing fora performance fascism andcommunism,for whichthey Korean perform composer Isang which attempts to persecuted documentthework orconstrainedby ofartists Forfest series, festival. oftheCesta(Journey) concert Theensembleisalsopart aprogrammeperformed titled ofthe Brno aspart Also in2016, attheSummer attheOldTown thetrioperformed Hallfestival in Latvian composer Péteris Vasks. and Germany, andconsisted inacombinationofeurhythmics withthemusicof popela eurhythmics group. Together, they collaborated onalong-term project, The Solaris3pianotriowas founded in2016 attheinstigationofFlow (OntheJourney ofAsh),whichtook placeintheCzechRepublic, Slovakia concert. This year,Štěpán FilípekandHisGuests 2concert. thetrio as part ofthe The World InsideUsandAround Usaspart Cestou

30 / 31 STRINGS OF AUTUMN MULTI-GENRE FESTIVAL CONNECTING TRADITION WITH EXPERIMENTATION strunypodzimu.cz

The Strings of Autumn festival is a meeting place for contemporary music, jazz, world music and projects beyond genres, all connected by an absence of compromise in artistic quality. It has been a feature of the Prague cultural scene since 1996. Beginning as a small concert series as part of the programme at the Prague Castle, the project gradually developed its characteristic dramaturgical openness, connecting (seemingly) disparate musical worlds. In 2004, the festival left the Prague Castle after eight years and partnered with several new co-organizers, including the National Theatre, the National Museum (Czech Museum of Music) and the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation – Vize 97.

In 2017, the festival enters its third decade with a number of innovations and a new creative team, without giving up on the long-tested festival recipe: a selected mix of jazz, classical music, tradition and experiment. The dramaturgs have added some spices to this solid foundation, in the form of world folk and folklore, country and hip hop, thus creating a unique programme. This edition of the festival will include accordion and bandoneon virtuoso Richard Galliano, the legendary Bang on a Can ensemble with Julia Wolfe, Herbie Hancock, or the multi-genre Irish-American group The Gloaming. The festival will also present settings of Shakespeare sonnets by Gavin Bryars or the recent winner of the Angel prize in the world music category, Jiří Slavík with his original project Mother Tongue in its live premiere. The accompanying programme includes a unique opportunity for all fans of contemporary music: a discussion with Julia Wolfe.

21ST EDITION PRAGUE, 20 OCTOBER – 9 NOVEMBER 2017 / 29 32