Smetana's Litomysl Opera Festival 12 June - 6 July 2009

PROGRAM

Friday 12 June 2009 · 20:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
CEREMONIAL OPENING CONCERT - FROM MY LIFE
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Symphony Nr. 4 in A major, Op. 90 "Italian"
Franz Joseph Haydn: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E flat major
Bohuslav Martinu: Magic Nights, H. 119 Three songs on Chinese lyrics for soprano & orchestra
Bedrich Smetana (arr. George Szell): From my Life (String Quartet Nr. 1 in E minor arranged for orchestra)
Performed by: Katerina Kneziková - soprano, Ole Edvard Antonsen - trumpet, Symphonic Orchestra of the Czech Radio
Conductor: Ondrej Lenard

Saturday 13 June 2009 · 15:00 and 20:00 hrs · Litomysl - Smetana Hall
Ales Brezina / Jiri Nekvasil: TOMORROW IT WILL ...
Opera - trial. Court proceedings against JUDr. Milada Horáková - performed on an authentic site where an actual court trial was conducted against Rector F. A. Stritesky and 23 Litomysl Students in 1950.
Performed by: Sona Cervena, Jan Mikusek, Kühn Children Choir, Canti di Praga, instrumental ensemble PurPur, Orchestra of the National Theatre Prague
Director: Jiri Nekvasil
Conductor: Marko Ivanoviæ

Sunday 14 June 2009 · 18:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
THE NATIONAL THEATRE TO SMETANA'S LITOMYSL
A festive concert to the 60th anniversary of the Smetana's Litomysl festival.
Arias, ensembles and choirs from the Czech and world operas by Bedrich Smetana, Antonin Dvorak, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovski, Charlese Gounoda, Charles Gounod, Camille Saint-Saëns, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Strauss.
Performed by: Soloists - Maria Haan, Katerina Knezikova, Marie Fajtova, Ales Briscein, Ivan Kusnjer, Miloslav Podskalsky; ensemble and orchestra of the Opera of the National Theatre Prague
Conductor: Tomas Netopil

Monday 15 June 2009 · 20:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
MAGDALENA KOZENA - LETTERA AMOROSA
Italy and Spain in music of the 17th century performed by a renowned singer and a top chamber ensemble of old instruments.
Performed by: Magdalena Kozena - mezzosoprano, Private Musicke
Artistic director: Pierre Pitzl

Tuesday 16 June 2009 · 18:00 hrs · Litomysl - Smetana's House
BEETLES and PUSS IN BOOTS
Vaclav Trojan: BEETLES
Jiri Teml: PUSS IN BOOTS - Premiere!
Two one-act operas for younger audiences.
Performed by: Instrumental ensemble, Kühn's Children's Choir
Conductor: Jiri Chvala

Friday 19 June 2009 · 21:00 hrs · Litomysl - Castle Amfitheatre
Antonin Dvorak: RUSALKA
Lyrical opera in three acts, libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil.
Performed by: Dagamr Peckova, soloists, choir and orchestra of the Operaof the Natioanl Theatre Prague
Director: Jiri Herman
Conductor: Zbynek Müller

Saturday 20 June 2009 · 16:00 hrs · Litomysl - Smetana's House
HOMMAGE A MARTINU
Josef Suk: Piano Quartet in A minor, Op. 1
Bohuslav Martinu: Piano Quartet, H. 287
Antonin Dvorak: Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op. 87
Performed by: Bohuslav Martinu Piano Quartet: Bohuslav Matousek - violin, Pavel Perina - viola, Miroslav Petras - cello, Emil Leichner - piano

Saturday 20 June 2009 · 21:00 hrs · Litomysl - Castle Amfitheatre
Antonin Dvorak: RUSALKA
Lyrical opera in three acts, libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil.
Performed by: Dagamr Peckova, soloists, choir and orchestra of the Opera of the Natioanl Theatre Prague
Director: Jiri Herman
Conductor: Zbynek Müller

Sunday 21 June 2009 · 11:00 hrs · Litomysl - Castle Audience Hall
FESTIVE MATINEE - MEREL QUARTET (Switzerland)
Concert by an excellent Swiss quarte featuring works by jubilants of the year 2009 - Joseph Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and others.
Performed by: Merel Quartet: Mary Ellen Woodside - 1st violin, Meesun Hong - 2nd violin, Alexander Besa - viola, Rafael Rosenfeld - cello

Sunday 21 June 2009 · 18:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
YOU RUBY FOUNTAIN
A premier of the author's program by Jiri Pavlica from a cycle "In the World of Children". Dance and music workshop for little listeners and their parents, during which they will not only listen to the music, but also get actively involved in the concert together with professional musicians and and their guests.
Choreography: Ladislava Kosikova
Performed by: Hradistan and guests
Artistic director: Jiri Pavlica

Monday 22 June 2009 · 21:00 hrs · Litomysl - Litomysl Castle Baroque Theatre
CASTLE NOCTURNE
Harpsichord in the works by jubilants of the year 2009. Featuring Jan Krtitel Vanhal, Jan Zach, Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf, Frantisek Xaver Richter, Joseph Haydn.
Performed by: soloists of Musica Salutaris ensemble
Artistic director and harpsichord: Vojtech Spurny

Tuesday 23 June 2009 · 20:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
Zuzana Lapcikova: ORBIS PICTUS
A world premiere of the oratorium written on text by Johann Amos Comenius.
Performed by: Zuzana Lapcikova Kvintet, Zuzana Lapcikova, Ales Prochazka,
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, Philharmony of Bohuslav Martinu Zlin
Conductor: Stanislav Vavrinek

Wednesday 24 June 2009 · 20:00 hrs · Litomysl - Piraist Church
SUSANNE RYDEN & MUSICA FLOREA (Sweden)
Baroque music performed by outstanding Swedish soprano singer accompanied by the ensemble of the authentic instruments featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Jan Dismas Zelenka, Johann Josef Ignac Brentner, Antonin Reichenauer.
Artistic director: Marek Stryncl

Thursday 25 June 2009 · 18:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
Leonard Bernstein: KADDISH
Leos Janacek: Taras Bulba - rhapsody for orchestra
Bohuslav Martinu: Rhapsody - Concerto for viola and orchestra, H. 337
Leonard Bernstein: KADDISH - Symphony no. 3 for orchestra, mixed choir, boys' choir, narrator and mezzosoprano on texts of Jewish prayer and the author.
In Czech (recitation) and Hebrew (singing) language versions.
Performed by: Jitka Hosprova - violin, Sona Cervena - recitation, Jana Wallingerova - mezzosoprano, Bonifantes Boys‘ Choir of Pardubice, Choirmaster Jan Míšek, Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, Choirmaster Petr Fiala, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Leos Svarovsky

Friday 26 June 2009 · 21.00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
21st CENTURY BALLET - A NIGHT OF THREE EUROPEAN CHOREOGRAPHERS
D.M.J. 1953 - 1977 PETR ZUSKA
A performance by the artistic leader of the Ballet of the National Theatre in Prague won numerous awards; it was chosen as the only cultural programme to represent the city of Brno during the 14th meeting of the Central-European presidents held there in 2007.
Music: Antonin Dvorak, Bohuslav Martinu, Leos Janacek
Costumes: Roman Solc
Stage set, lighting design, choreography, director: Petr Zuska

BAROCCO JACEK PRZYBYLOWICZ
A suite of dynamic contrasting images inspired by the spirit of the Baroque period, created by an important Polish dancer and choreographer.
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach, Josef Klic
Costumes, stage set, lighting design, choreography: Jacek Przyby³owicz

A MOMENT FOR THE STRAWBERRY MOUTH MARIO SCHRÖDER
This original choreography, whose author is the artistic director of the ballet theater in Kiel, Germany, was written exclusively for the Brno ensemble.
Music: Von Magnet, Phil Von, Zap Mama, Laurie Anderson
Costumes, stage set, lighting design, choreography: Mario Schröder
Performed by dancers: Soloists and members of the Ballet Ensemble of the National Theatre in Brno.
Music from playback / Josef Klic - cello solo (Barocco)

Saturday 27 June 2009 · 20:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
CONCERT BY POPULAR REQUEST - MAGIC MELODIES OF THE SILVER SCREEN
Comeback to famous film melodies featuring movies Godfather, Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, Troop, Underground, Mechanical Orange and others.
Performed: Prague Philharmonic Choir, Big Orchestra of the Zofin Palace
Choirmaster: Lukas Vasilek
Conductor: Marko Ivanoviæ

Sunday 28 June 2009 · 15:00 hrs · Chrudim - Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Georg Friedrich Händel: MESIAH
Monumental oratorium.
Performed by: Alena Hellerova - soprano, Eva Garajova - mezzosoprano, Jaroslav Brezina - tenor, Roman Janal - bass, Czech Boys' Choir BONI PUERI, choimasters: Pavel Horak, Jakub Martinec, Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
Conductor: Marek Stryncl

Sunday 28 June 2009 · 20:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
EUROPA MUSICALIS
A concert at the ocassion of a symbolic relay handover of the European Union presidency to Sweden.
Wilhelm Stenhammar: Excelsior! Concert Ouverture, Op. 13
Leif Segerstam: Symphony No. 199 "At the End of the Second Century"
Bedrich Smetana: My Country, highlights from a cycle of symphonic poems
Performed by: Symphonic Orchestra of the Main City of Prague FOK
Conductor: Royal Swedish bandmaster Leif Segerstam

Tuesday 30 June 2009 · 21:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
Giacomo Puccini: MADAMA BUTTERFLY
Japanese tragedy in two acts. Libretto by Luigi Illica und Giuseppe Giacosa.
Performed in the Italian original, with Czech and English subtitles.
Performed by: Christina Vasileva (Madama Butterfly), State Opera Prague
Director: Karel Jernek
Conductor: Jiri Strunc

Wednesday 1 July 2009 · 21:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
VIVAT OPERETA!
Famous melodies, arias, choirs and ballet performances from work by Franz Lehar (The Land of Smiles), Emmerich Kálmán (Countess Maritza) and Johann Strauss II (The Bat).
Performed by: Soloists, choir, ballet and orchestra of the State Opera Prague
Director: Petr Kracik Conductor: Pavel Snajdr

Friday 3 July 2009 · 21:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
Bedrich Smetana: DALIBOR
A three-act opera on lyrics by Josef Wenzig. 1st premiere. Performed by: Gianluca Zampieri alt. Luciano Mastro, opera ensemble of the National Moravia-Silesian Theatre Ostrava
Director: Ludek Golat
Conductor: Oliver Dohnanyi

Saturday 4 July 2009 · 21:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
Bedrich Smetana: DALIBOR
A three-act opera on lyrics by Josef Wenzig. 2nd premiere.
Performed by: Gianluca Zampieri alt. Luciano Mastro, opera ensemble of the National Moravia-Silesian Theatre Ostrava
Director: Ludek Golat
Conductor: Oliver Dohnanyi

Sunday 5 July 2009 · 10:15 hrs · Litomysl - Piarist Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross
CEREMONIAL HOLY MASS
Traditional thanksgiving service on the Czech public holiday - the Day of Sts Cyril and Methodius, the Apostles of the Slavs.
Main celebrant: Mons. Tomas Halik
Music accompaniment: Jan Hanus: Mass VII, Glagolithic, in Honor of the Czech Patrons
for bass solo, mixed choir, organ and bells.
Performed by: Jiri Sulzenko - bass, Jirina Markova - organ, Marketa Mazourova - bells, Kühn's Mixed Choir
Conductor: Marek Vorlicek

Sunday 5 July 2009 · 19:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
GIUSEPPE VERDI: REQUIEM
Performance of tje famous Verdi's Mass featuring 160 members of the American choir.
Peformed: Soloists - Jitka Burgetova - soprano, Karla Bytnarova - mezzosoprano, Tomas Cerny - tenor, Lukas Hynek-Krämer - Bass, Colorado Symphony Chorus (USA), philharmonic orchestras of Hradec Kralove and Pardubice
Conductor: Duain Wolfe

Monday 6 July 2009 · 19:00 hrs · Litomysl - 2nd Litomysl Castle Courtyard
STARS OF THE OPERATIC SKY - ANNETTE DASCH (Germany)
ANNETTE & AMADEUS
The final gala concert of the renowned German soprano singer presenting arias by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan tutte, La Clemenza di Tito, The Magic Flute etc. ...)
Performed by: Prague Philharmonia
Conductor: Alexander Joel

THE RIGHT TO CHANGE A PROGRAM AND PERFORMERS IS RESERVED.

Important Notes:

•	The final program for Smetana's Litomysl to be announced by 16 February 2009.
•	Tickets pre-sale will be launched on 4 March 2009.
•	Tickets will be distributed by end-March 2009.

Smetana's Litomysl Opera Festival Program 18 June - 5 July 2008

Smetana's Litomysl Opera Festival Program 15 June - 1 July 2007

Smetana's Litomysl Opera Festival Program 16 June - 4 July 2006

Smetana's Litomysl Opera Festival Program 17 - 4 July 2005

Smetana's Litomysl Opera Festival Program 17 - 27 June 2004