The forty-eighth year of the international music festival Moravian Autumn was opened by the Czech Philharmonic under the baton of its chief conductor Jiří Bělohlávek. Leoš Janáček, Josef Suk and especially Antonín Dvořák are among the fundamental composers of the orchestra – which performed their compositions brilliantly.
The ceremonial evening was opened with the Czech national anthem played by the orchestra; Jiří Bělohlávek conducted it at a brisk pace and without unnecessary pathos. At the same pace, the conductor started the performance of Fairy Tale, an early piece by Josef Suk – one of the most essential orchestral pieces of Suk it was originally composed as scenic music accompanying the play Radúz and Mahulena by Julius Zeyer. The orchestra seemed to be fantastically focused, the harmony and unity of the Czech Philharmonic was apparent throughout the whole concert. The unison crescendos at the end of the first movement were especially impressive; the orchestra dynamics respected the harps and the harmony could not be more precise.
The Dvořák-like second movement gave the impression that Suk had probably not been avoiding folk motifs to such an extent as sometimes presented in professional literature. The moralizing imprint of Antonín Dvořák is clearly visible in Suk’s Fairy Tale and it prepares the audience for the style of music in Slavonic Dances in the second part. The funeral music in the third part was truly moving only to obtain an almost Mahler-like gravity. The kettledrum player was brilliant caring for adequate dynamism even during the loudest moments. The concert leader managed to perform the well-known solo part wonderfully. Josef Suk wrote his Fairy Tale like a real fairy tale; however, even in its sugary happy-ending the composition loses nothing of its impressiveness and depth and the Czech Philharmonic orchestra performed it brilliantly.
The Wandering of a Little Soul by Leoš Janáček is very different from the composition perspective; it seems to be in harmony with Suk in many aspects. The composition exists in several versions with various endings; moreover, it was also used by Janáček as part of his opera From the House of the Dead. For the festival, the adaptation of Leoš Faltus and Miloš Štědroň was chosen.
The solo part was performed by one of the prominent Czech violin player of his generation and, at the same time, one of the concert masters of the Czech Philharmonic Josef Špaček. Compared with Suk’s Fairy Tale performance, this performance was more energetic and the passion of the violin player corresponded perfectly with the orchestra; the harmony was outstanding. In the slightly avant-garde parts the ostinato rush of the bassoon players as well as the ethereal celesta resonated brilliantly. The extraordinarily dissonant harmony of the brass section did not go beyond the sound cohesive frame of the orchestra. Janáček’s composition full of contrasts was superb. Josef Špaček was thrilling and the excited audience made him play a bonus. In the solo piece by Eugéne Ysaye, whose sonata he played for the Brno audience less than two months ago, he stood out again.
After the break the second part of Slavonic Dances by Antonín Dvořák was performed; the execution proved the detail and routine production. The Odzemek was light, the Mazurka was affectionate and noble, the Dumka was properly pensive, and the Špacírka was almost Beethoven-like symphonic from the beginning but later on it proved to be a precisely performed treat. The majestic Polonaise did not lose its vivacity and in the Presto, the perfect dotted rhythm was captivating. In the brilliant orchestration of Dvořák melodies go smoothly from one instrument to another – the wooden wind instruments took the opportunity and excelled due to the firm compactness. The Sousedská had a kind-hearted opening and as the final movement of the evening it definitely met the expectations of even the most exacting audience.
All in all, the dramaturgy was not original, but the works of Leoš Janáček, Josef Suk and Antonín Dvořák belong inseparably to the Czech Philharmonic – the orchestra opened it’s a hundred and twentieth season a few days ago with an almost identical programme. The Janáček Theatre was absolutely full and the performers were awarded with standing ovations. The Moravian Autumn start of the season was very promising.
Josef Suk: The Fairy Tale opus 16, Leoš Janáček: A Wandering of a Little Soul, violin concerto, Antonín Dvořák: The Slavonic Dances opus 72, music production Jiří Bělohlávek, Czech Philharmonic. October 3rd 2015 The Janáček Theatre, Brno. Part of the Moravian Autumn Festival.
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