Every year, the Czech Philharmonic's traditional Velvet Revolution Concerts welcome the greatest names in the world of music. This year, the renowned conductor Antonio Pappano has accepted the invitation to lead the Czech Philharmonic for the very first time. Together with violinist Janine Jansen, they promise an enthralling celebration of an important historical event through the universal language of music.
Sir Antonio Pappano, chief conductor of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and artistic director of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, who will take over the leadership of the London Symphony Orchestra next season, will perform with the Czech Philharmonic for the first time. The concerts on 16 and 17 November will feature Johannes Brahms' Nänie, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's Violin Concerto in E minor and the second series of Antonín Dvořák's Slavonic Dances.
"I am aware of the importance and symbolism of the concerts on the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. But I am also very much looking forward to performing Slavonic Dances on those evenings. I know what 17 November means for the Czech Republic and the evening concert will be a great celebration of this anniversary. Why not culminate with this wonderful music by Dvořák, so dear to the Czechs? Alongside the Slavonic Dances, there will be Brahms' beautiful mournful song Nänie with the Prague Philharmonic Choir and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's popular Violin Concerto."
— Antonio Pappano
