THE BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ FOUNDATION THE BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ INSTITUTE THE INTERNATIONAL MARTINŮ CIRCLE CLOSING OF MARTINŮ REVISITED ’ HUMOUR IN MARTINŮ S MUSIC JANUARY—APRIL 2011 VOL.XI NO.1 HISTORIC LPs AUTOGRAPHS IN THE MÉDIATHÈQUE MUSICALE MAHLER NEW PUBLICATIONS & CDs NEW CD MARTINŮ. THE 6 SYMPHONIES contents Recorded Live 3 highlights / events BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek (Conductor) 4 incircle news Onyx Classics, ONYX4061 3CD (due for release in June 2011) 6 news International Martinů Circle Founding Members Closing Concert of the Martinů PEEPH●●LE Revisited Project 8 Martinů Revisited 2009–2010 INTO THE BOHUSLAV MARTINŲ CENTER IN POLIČKA ALEŠ BŘEZINA 10 Historic Recordings for the Library of the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation ZOJA SEYČKOVÁ 11 special series List of Martinů’s Works XI 12 festivals Martinů as a Source of Inspiration CHRISTINE FIVIAN & CECILE PIERBURG 14 research Humour in Martinů’s Music from the 1920s EVA VELICKÁ MARTINŮ OWNED a Kopecký & Co. piano that he kept at his music school in today’s Masary kova Street in Polička and on which he wrote a number of compositions. We do not know exactly 17 research when and from whom he bought the instrument, yet from 1919 he endeavoured to sell it. New Martinů Autographs in Paris When in 1932 the piano was bought by his friend, the Polička-based builder Bohuslav Šmíd, ALEŠ BŘEZINA Martinů expressed his gratitude by writing several minor piano pieces for his children bearing the dedication “To Božánek and Sonička Šmíd“. Martinů was delighted that the piano was in good hands, as is evident from the letter he wrote to Šmíd in Paris on 16 May 1932: 18 events / news “You understand that I parted with it with regret, since it is a friend that collaborated with me on my things, and it cost me a lot of effort to acquire it – I had to write a good few notes to pay for it. 19 New CDs / New Publications And it is connected with plenty of memories, hopes, disillusionments, as well as successes. But when I saw it there abandoned, I decided to sell it, and I would have been glad if it had remained in Polička as a remembrance. Perhaps it will be a nice memory for those who remain here after us…” After the war, the piano was used during music lessons at the schools in Polička and Perálec, and since 1970 it has been part of the museum collections. Lucie Jirglová events highlights (OPERAS) FESTIVAL 25 April 2011 > National Theatre, Prague, CZ www.narodni-divadlo.cz The Miracles of Mary, H. 236 Orchestra, Chorus & Ballet of the National Theatre Opera, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Kühn’s Children Choir, David Švec (Conductor) 29 April 2011 / Italian premiere 27 July 2011 of the 1st version 30 April, 3, 4, 5, 8 May 2011 ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL > Teatro Massimo, ASPEN / COLORADO / USA Palermo, Italy 30 June–21 August 2011 www.teatromassimo.it The Greek Passion, H. 372/I THE FRESCOES Damiano Michieletto (Director) 10, 11, 13 May 2011 OF PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA / H. 352 > Reduta Theatre, Brno, CZ www.ndbrno.cz Aspen Concert Orchestra The Marriage, H. 341 Tomáš Netopil (Conductor) Orchestra of the National Theatre Brno Pamela Howard (Director/Scenographer) Jakub Klecker (Conductor) www.aspenmusicfestival.com Tereza Merklová (Soprano) 28 May 2011 > The Estates Theatre, Prague, CZ The Marriage, H. 341 OPERA Jiří Štrunc (Conductor) Josef Novák (Director) Students of Prague conservatory J. K. Tyl Theatre Orchestra in Pilsen 29 April 2011 28 June 2011 – premiere > La Fabrika, Prague, CZ TEATRO MASSIMO / PALERMO / ITALY www.lafabrika.cz The Marriage, H. 341 Italian premiere of the 1st version Orchestra of the National Theatre Brno Pamela Howard (Director/Scenographer) Additional performances: Jakub Klecker (Conductor) 30 April, 3, 4, 5, 8 May 2011 Tereza Merklová (Soprano) THE GREEK PASSION / H. 372/I (BALLET) Damiano Michieletto (Director) 29 April 2011 / premiere www.teatromassimo.it > Stadttheater Bern, Bern, Switzerland Ballet on music by Bohuslav Martinů Cathy Marston (Choreography) Ballett – das Ballett des Stadttheaters Bern Camerata Bern Premiere: 3, 4, 8, 12, 13 May 2011 17 & 19 June 2011 martinůrevue12011 | 3 INTERNATIONAL incirclenews MARTINŲ CIRCLE NEWS ) NEW BIOGRAPHY ) “SYMPHONIC FANTAISIES” A NEW BIOGRAPHY of Martinů by F. James Rybka his family and to Frank, together with observations A PAINTING BY MD is due to appear shortly. The book, entitled by members of the Rybka family who all knew the Bohuslav Martinů: The Compulsion to Compose, composer. ALI MOHAMED ISMAEL is being published by the American firm Scarecrow Evidence is produced in support of the author's Press, and runs to some 430 pages with 31 photo - belief that Martinů was afflicted with Asperger's graphs. The author is the son of Frank Rybka who syndrome. Mr Rybka, who is a member of the became a close friend of the composer following the Martinů Circle, provides a welcome insight into the latter's arrival in the United States. It breaks new years following the composer's arrival in America ground in that it draws on letters sent by Martinů to in 1941. Gregory Terian ) SECOND MOVEMENT OPERA FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL appearances in Prague definitely be going ahead in 2012 arises from a com - and Brno last October with their production of mission celebrating the forthcoming Olympic Games The Knife's Tears, H. 169, Second Movement in London. Zatopek will be a 12 minute mini cham - Opera are hopeful of mounting a full production ber opera, the work of the young composer Emily of The Three Wishes, H. 175 in 2012, subject to the Howard, inspired by the legendary Czech athlete necessary funding being raised. This follows their Emil Zátopek. Some may recall that he was one of successful preview of the work at the Riverside the heroic figures of the 1948 London Olympics. The Studios in London last September. We wish them new opera will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and well with this ambitious project. will tour the UK, and is also due to be performed Another Second Movement production which will in the Czech Republic. Gregory Terian ) UNPUBLISHED SONGS THE MUCH ANTICIPATED CD collection of unpub - for the Circle in that it went ahead with the help lished early songs by Martinů, as performed by the of financial contributions from some individual IN FEBRUARY 2009, within the Martinů Revisited mezzo-soprano Jana Wallingerová accompanied IMC members (see Patrice Chevy's article in Revue project, a premiere of Martinů’s “Symphonic by Giorgio Koukl, is due to be released by Naxos no. 2/2010). Translations of the songs have been Fantaisies” (Symphony No. 6, H. 343) took place in May 2011. This recording is of particular interest provided by Karel Janovický. Gregory Terian in the Swedish town Norrköping. The Norrköping Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Alan Buribayev, a promising young conductor from Kazakhstan. The result was magnificent. Among those present at the festive concert were Czech ) AWARD Minister of Culture Václav Riedlbauch, Czech Am - bas sador to Sweden Jan Kára, and Ali Mohamed ON 17 OCTOBER 2010 the Czech Philharmonic Patron Magdalena Kožená taking the title role. Ismael, an Iraqi artist living in Sweden. Influenced Orchestra was awarded the Echo Prize by the The recording is derived from the inaugural concert by the depth of this Martinů work, Ismael created German Phonographic Academy for their recording performances of the Martinů Revisited anniversary an emotionally appealing painting entitled on the Supraphon label of Three Fragments from celebrations, given at the Rudolfinum on 11–12 “Symphonic Fantaisies” after the premiere in the Opera Juliette, H. 253 A. The orchestra was December 2008 with financial support from the Norrköping. In Autumn 2009 the painting became conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras with our Martinů Foundation. Gregory Terian a part of the exhibition “Fenomén Martinů” at the Czech Museum of Music in the Czech capital. The advent of this work once again proves how powerful and internationally comprehensible ) the music of Bohuslav Martinů is. CONCERTS BY OUR MEMBERS Martina Fialková INDIAN SUMMER in Levoča Festival 2011, In Modo Camerale (Czech Republic): www.lblfestival.eu Jana Brožková (Oboe), Ludmila Peterková (Clarinet), Saturday 1 October 2011, 7.00 pm – Péchy Castle Jaroslav Kubita (Bassoon), in Hermanovce (just outside Levoča), Slovakia Guest: Carlo Jans, Luxembourg (Flute) Martinů: Four Madrigals for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon, H. 266 (nos. 2+3) 4 | martinůrevue12011 b ] d photo zdeněk charpek photo MARTINŮ REVUE (formerly Bohuslav ) Magdalena Kožená – Martinů Newsletter) is published INCIRCLE NEWS International Martinů Circle Patron by the International Martinů Circle in collaboration with the Bohuslav [MARTINŮ REVISITED CONCLUDED) Martinů Institute in Prague with the GENERAL INFORMATION financial support of the Bohuslav WITH THE ENDING of the Martinů Revisited festivities we must express profound Members receive the illustrated Martinů Foundation Prague. gratitude to the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation and Institute for the splendid series of Martinů Revue published three times Editors events which they devised to mark these anniversaries; also to our Patron Magdalena a year plus a special limited edition CD Zoja Seyčková & Lucie Harasim, Kožená for her superb participation in two of the major events, when she took the containing world premieres, historic Bohuslav Martinů Institute performances and archival recordings Justin Krawitz (with special thanks) title role both in the first performance of Three Fragments from Juliette, H. 253 A, with the conductor Sir Charles Mackerras and also in the British premiere of the French ver- from the annual Martinů Festival not Publisher’s Office sion of the full opera with Jiří Bělohlávek directing a concert performance at the Barbi- obtainable commercially. International Martinů Circle, o.s. The IMC is supported by the Bohu - IČ: 22688846 can in London. slav Martinů Foundation and Bohuslav Bořanovická 14, 182 00 Praha 8-Kobylisy, With the completion of the anniversary celebrations one might have anticipated Martinů Institute in Prague.