Czech Ensemble Baroque: Requiem by poet and composer Adam Michna z Otradovic

10 November 2022, 1:00
Czech Ensemble Baroque: Requiem by poet and composer Adam Michna z Otradovic

The Christmas song Chtíc, aby spal or the composition Nebeští kavalérové, which became part of the church repertoire – these are compositions by Adam Michna z Otradovic, which are almost obsolete, while the author’s name is disappearing from them. In addition to his collections of songs on Czech texts, Michna’s spiritual works stand somewhat in the background. The Czech Ensemble Baroque with conductor Roman Válek wants to bring this area of Michna’s work closer to the audience in Brno.

In September, the music cycle BACHA NA MOZART! (WATCH OUT FOR MOZART!) entered its eleventh season with a concert at Petrov. The third concert of the season will also take place in the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. “It is said that Michna is as important to Czech music as Schütz was to the Germans, or Monteverdi to the Italians. I would add that the inspiration of the Italian compositional technique is very clear. For Michna, instrumental sonatas are an important unifying element, introducing the individual movements of the Mass or inserted between them: they thus take on the effect of ritornellos of the kind used by Claudio Monteverdi in his sacred compositions. Both composers make extensive use of rhythm and declamation, lending some passages a downright dance-like character. In short, I invite the audience to a concert that will introduce them to a Michna who is a bit unknown, but nevertheless very typical”, says conductor Roman Válek.

The concert will feature the Missa pro defuncs, or Requiem, and Missa I., which is very rarely performed, but because of its high compositional quality Czech Radio chose it to record it in the first domestic recording. The recording will follow the concert a day later. 

PROGRAM:

A. V. Michna z Otradovic: Sacra et litaniae – Missa pro defuncs, Missa I.

SOLOS: R. Kružíková, T. Válková, L. Karafiátová, J. Kubín, J. M. Procházka

CEB/ photo file archive

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