Smetana 200 - A Grand Gala Celebration

We celebrate Bedrich Smetana in an entertaining gala show. With orchestra, string quartet, and opera music, and with soloists on the piano and violin.

Bedrich Smetana (2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884) is regarded as the founder of Czech music. His father, a brewer to Count Waldstein, whose Renaissance castle situated close to the Festival Hall, had a natural gift for music and played in a string quartet and introduced the music to his talented son, Bedrich who soon played both violin and piano. His skills as a pianist were in great demand at the towns many soirées, and he enjoyed a hectic social life as a young man.

He started early composing his own music both for piano, string quartet, orchestra, and later in life, opera. Internationally he is best known for his opera The Bartered Bride and for the symphonic cycle Ma vlast (My Homeland), which portrays the history legends and landscape of the composer’s native Bohemia. It contains the famous symphonic poem Vltava, also known by its English name The Moldau.

In an entertaining gala show Bedrich Smetana is celebrated with orchestra, string quartet, and opera music, and with soloists on the piano and violin. Introducing La Putyka new circus acrobats.

Live version with host. The post produced version includes film sequences.

Recording location Smetana Litomysl Festival Hall
Recording date 08.06.2024
Duration approx. 80'
Video format HD
Production Company Smetana Litomysl Festival/Czech TV/NordicStories
Distribution TV EuroArts Music International
TV Director Kristian Løkken
English title of music work Smetana: The Bartered Bride: Overture; Grand Overture D Major, Polka No.3 in F Major from Czech Dances Part I; Hakon Jarl; String Quartet No.1 “From my life”, 1st Movement; Dance of the Comedians; 2nd Movement from “Z domoviny” for violin and orchestra; Ma vlast (The Moldau)
Orchestra / Band Czech Philharmonic
Orchestra / Band Czech Philharmonic String Quartet
Conductor Jakub Hrůša
Soloist Jan Mráček, violin
Soloist Ivo Kahánek, piano
Soloist Cirk La Putyka, circus
Distribution VOD / SVOD EuroArts Music International