“It is artistically very beneficial for the members of the Czech Philharmonic to engage in chamber music projects in addition to their playing in the orchestra. They themselves welcome the possibility of self-realization within as well as without the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra,” says Michal Medek, in charge of Marketing & Business Development, adding, “Outstanding concerts of popular chamber music compositions are something our institution wants to offer not only to foreign visitors. We are convinced that the Rudolfinum is the right place for them.” Some ensembles have a long tradition and constant repertoire, to which the listeners like to come back (such as the Czech Philharmonic JazzBand, Prague Baroque Ensemble or Czech Philharmonic Cimbalom Ensemble), other musicians dreamt about their own ensemble for some time already, and have jumped up at this opportunity.
We contacted representatives of three ensembles, the multi-instrumentalist and singer Jiří Zelba from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the violist Jiří Poslední from the Czech Philharmonic Quartet and the violinist Marcel Kozánek from the newly formed Rudolphin Ensemble Prague.
Marcel Kozánek – Being on stage on one’s own
“Our ensemble came into being upon several impulses: for some time I had the idea of a string quintet with a double bass, which is not very common in the Czech lands. We knew each other from the Czech Philharmonic as well as various other chamber ensembles, and we agreed that the quartet complemented by the double bass was exactly what interested us and what we would like to develop. The fact that we were given an opportunity to perform at Suk Hall was a great incentive for us to finally commit ourselves.”
I have to admit that the repertoire of Rudolphin Ensemble Prague is my work; I like to make arrangements for chamber ensembles. We can play compositions from all periods of classical music, therefore our program is so varied. We prefer Classicism and Early Romanticism; our basis is Mozart’s Divertimento and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Performing chamber music is rather different from playing in an orchestra; one is on stage on one’s own. It makes us put even more effort into our development as musicians. We are delighted that the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra has allowed us to take up this professional and personal challenge.”
[Not a valid template]Jiří Zelba – Folk music as a passion
“Musicians who have a positive relationship to folklore always find each other, and when they have an opportunity, they start playing together. My brother Zdeněk Zelba and I started with folk music in the 1980s in Chorea Bohemica, where we met Jaroslav Krček who was a great inspiration for us. Slowly we became acquainted with Moravian folklore (we liked in particular Pavlica’s ensemble Hradišťan). We put together the first cimbalom band in compulsory military service; with those musicians we are friends to this day.
In the Czech Philharmonic I met the double bassist Jaromír Černík, who played folk music in the army about eight years before me; the cellist Jan Holeňa, while serving in the army, was a member of the Ondráš ensemble; Václav Prudil, who comes from Moravia, has also played folk music from childhood. The bizarre case is our violist Jan Jouza, otherwise a member of the first violin section of the Czech Philharmonic. He always wanted to try this kind of music, and so we asked him to play the viola.” (Laughter) “The ensemble was complemented by a professional cimbalom teacher, Markéta Riesová. This particular group of musicians have played in the ensemble for about three years. The ensemble has operated systematically since 2013, when it was chosen to accompany Bobby McFerrin in Prague.
Folklore is mainly fun; playing folk music at concerts is actually another genre. When we play at a concert and the audience applauds us for individual compositions, I always feel a bit inappropriate. Music shall be played for joy, for dancing. We always give classical pieces (sometimes even Baroque ones) in the first half of the concert, playing traditional folksongs in the second half. We are currently preparing a CD with compositions based on folk tunes (Brahms’s Hungarian Dances, Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, etc.), whose folk character we are recreating.”
Jiří Poslední – I am more challenged by a quartet
The Czech Philharmonic Quartet has existed for 18 years. We came into being thanks to our colleague Zuzana Hájková (of the second violin section of the Czech Philharmonic), who used to be a member of the Martinů Quartet. When she went on maternity leave, the quartet could not wait for her and she could not imagine living without chamber music. So she addressed me and the cellist Jakub Dvořák; we are essentially same age. The performers in this ensemble have changed three times, 18 years being a long time. Its current members (Štěpán Pražák, Viktor Mazáček, Jiří Poslední and Jakub Dvořák) have performed together for five years.
Chamber music comes to us absolutely naturally, and at the same time it is a necessity for us. It makes us to be alert and listen carefully to what is going on. You cannot hide in a chamber ensemble because you are fundamentally contributing to it, and you are responsible for the whole concert. Of course, this applies to playing in an orchestra as well, but I am personally more challenged by a quartet because the people’s response goes directly to me. It is a big difference when there are four or one hundred performers on the concert stage.
Our repertoire consists of compositions we like, they should not be ugly. This is a cruel concept because what is ugly for one person can be beautiful for another. In our ensemble we focus in particular on Czech composers such as Zdeněk Fibich and Leoš Janáček (we have released a new recording of Janáček’s cycle On an Overgrown Path). Of contemporary composers I most enjoy Jaroslav Krček; his work is based on folk music skillfully blended with Renaissance and Baroque motifs or jazz, but his music is still comprehensible.”
The ticket at the basic rate costs CZK 1,000; a 50% discount is offered to students, senior citizens and ZTP card holders. For subscribers of the Czech Philharmonic, we offer a ticket at a discounted price of CZK 200, for Česká spořitelna’s clients, CZK 300.
The tickets can be ordered either online from our website or by telephone at the customer service number of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra 227 059 227 (the line operates on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
