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The Prague Symphony Chamber Orchestra |
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The Prague Symphony Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1989 on the impulse of violist and now
artistic director Pavel Perina. It now consists of leading members of the Prague Symphony Orchestra.
Section leaders regularly perform in concerts as outstanding soloists. The classical
instrumentation is often expanded to include wind instruments and allows performance of large musical
works. Among the interesting premiers of the past seasons were Rossini´s oratorio Oedipos on Colon
or Mozart´s Don Giovanni.
The orchestra has appeared in many festivals in the Czech Republic – the Emma Destinova Festival,
the Janacek May Festival, etc… Orchestra has been a regular guest of the the Prague Spring
International Music Festival.
The orchestra has also performed abroad - in Austria in 1990 (the Festival Prague - Vienna),
in France 1991 under the baton of Petr Altrichter (the principal conductor of the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic), and also several times in Germany in 1993, Switzerland in 1994 and Spain in 1997.
The Orchestra has been a regular guest on concert stages in Spain. During the last three years the
orchestra has performed in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona and Leon with young Spanish conductors
M. Palau and A. Soriano as well as with Czech conductor V. Spurny. The orchestra collaborates
in various projects with such important conductors as Petr Altrichter, Petr Vronsky, Gaetano Delogu,
Maxim Shostakovich, Martin Turnovsky, Leos Svarovsky, and Pavel Kühn. Many soloists have also
appeared with the orchestra, including Josef Suk, Eugen Indjic, Ivan Klansky, Peter Toperczer,
Joaquin Soriano, Vaclav Hudecek, Ivan Zenaty, Bohuslav Matousek, Paul Vivanco, Joaquin Achucaro...
The Czech Radio and the Czech Television invited orchestra to participate on several projects.
The latest CDs are including newly restored spiritual works by Czech Masters of 18th century J. Zach
and J. Kozeluh (Radioservis Praha), "Bosphorus by Moonlight" - 19th century European music on the
Otoman´s Court in Istanbul (Kalan Musik) or Bach/Busoni Piano Concerto with Adam Skoumal (ArcoDiva).
There are several recent artistic achievements of the orchestra in presenting contemporary music:
two European premiers of one-act operas based on E. A. Poe's stories by American composer Russell
Currie, celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Poe´s Death. Also, the opening concert of the Prague
Spring international Music Festival Cycle Music of Prague Churches on May 13, 2000 with
K. Ruzicka´s Magnificat and M. Kopelent´s oratorio Lux mirandae sanctitatis premiered in St. Agnes
Monastery in Prague during February 2001.
The ensemble has also been participating on various crossover music projects (Jaz Coleman, Elisabeth
Troy and Natacha Atlas).
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Members |
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| Violin |
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Jiří Hurnik |
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Ericsson-Vlach Maria |
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Milan Kohout |
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Anna Jirovcova |
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Pavel Stecher |
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Jindriska Matatkova |
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Milos Havlik |
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Zdenek Jirousek |
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Marie Vankova |
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Blanka Mrackova |
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| Viola |
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Pavel Perina |
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Oldrich Smola |
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Oldrich Smola jr. |
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Eva Jirovcova |
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| Violoncello |
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Milos Jahoda |
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Helena Prihodová |
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Ctibor Prihoda |
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| Double Bass |
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David Fendrych |
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| Flute |
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Katalin Kramarics |
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Martin Klimanek |
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| Oboe |
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Jirij Likin |
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Radim Kocina |
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| Clarinet |
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Jaroslav Marek |
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Miroslav Plechaty |
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| Flute |
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Svatopluk Cech |
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Lumir Vanek |
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| French Horn |
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Tomáš Kirschner |
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Karel Smejkal |
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| Trompet |
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Josef Reznicek |
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Milan Basta |
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| Piano/Cembalo |
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Jaromir Klepac |
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| Timpani |
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Svatopluk Cech jr. |
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Recent Reviews |
Prague Spring Festival, 13 May 2000
K. Ruzicka: Magnificat for Alto, Mixed Choir and Chamber orchestra, P. Kühn, M. Volkova, Kühn Mixed Choir
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| “A perfect performance from the orchestra demonstrating their feeling for jazz
rhythms and ensuring a warm reception of this last piece from his liturgical trilogy (Celebration
Jazz Mass, Te Deum, Magnificat)”. |
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| Michael Matzner, Hudební rozhledy VII 2000 |
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Karlovy Vary, 24 August 2001
D. Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14, M. Kosik, P. Senic, I. Hrachovec
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| “The transient vision of the symphony was interpreted with a certain asceticism
in dynamics and tempo, but still highly impressive”. |
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| Zdenek Pachovsky, Hudebni rozhledy X 2001 |
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Auditorio Municipal, Leon, 4 May, 2002
Mozart: Divertimentos Nos. 137 and 138, Piano Concerto K. 415 (J. Soriano)
D. Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony Op. 110, G. Klein: Partita for Strings
Alexis Soriano, conductor
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“The conductor drew from the orchestra shades of the highest elegance…”
“…the crystal resonance and excellent phrasing ensured that both soloist and orchestra reached
a formal symbiosis, transforming the work into something more than mere notes in a score.”
“…[the orchestra] produced a pure sound founded “on one string”, lending all the shades and clarity
necessary to produce a truly invigorating rendition of both works”
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| M. A. Nepomuceno, Diario de Leon, 5 May 2002 |
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“The Divertimento was an example of sound purity brought to perfection with full
resonance, dynamic contrasts and exquisite phrasing, and with tempos carefully measured in the
Mozartian spirit.”
“The quality of the orchestra shone through in each section, particularly the last piece
(Shostakovich), in a brilliant performance from the soloists.”
“(Klein) The shimmering energy from the orchestra was transformed into a great density of sound
which flooded the auditorium.”
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| David Rubro, El Mundo, 6 May 2002 |
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