Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Serenade in E-flat major, K.375
Carl Reinecke
Octet, Op. 216
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Czech Philharmonic • Variations
Ondřej Vrabec conducts an octet consisting of members of the Czech Philharmonic and the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra. The chamber ensemble will perform works by W. A. Mozart and Carl Reinecke.
Duration of the programme 45 minutes
Performers
An octet composed of members of the Czech Philharmonic and the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra
Ondřej Vrabec artistic director, conductor
Karlovy Vary — Former savings bank
The kind of serenade that you will hear tonight enjoyed great popularity during the classical era. The chamber instrumentation, the light character, and the pleasant melody were well-suited for outdoor performances or celebrations of important events. At the same time, however, with this form of serenade composers did not try to create a grand work of art nor did they place too great a demand on the listener. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) composed his Serenade in E-flat Major on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Theresa. Many listeners may be unfamiliar with Carl Reinecke (1824–1910), a composer who was also active as a conductor and pianist. Reinecke worked with Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra and was a much sought-after teacher whose students included Leoš Janáček and Edvard Grieg, among others.
Performers
Ondřej Vrabec conductor
Ondřej Vrabec is an extraordinary figure on the Czech music scene. After over two decades he continues to successfully advance his artistic career as an award-winning conductor, seasoned solo horn player at the Czech Philharmonic, sought-after chamber musician, respected teacher at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and, newly, as Chiefconductor of the Carlsbad Symphony Orchestra.
He graduated from the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, supplementing his studies with numerous master classes. As a conductor, Ondřej Vrabec performs with many orchestras around the world (e.g. Japan Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic, Budapest Dohnányi Orchestra, Reykjavík Chamber Orchestra, London Soloists Chamber Orchestra) as well as in the Czech Republic, including the Czech Philharmonic (chief conductor’s assistant from 2014 to 2017). For many years he was a member of an international team of conductors at the renowned festivals of contemporary music Ostrava Days and NODO.