Carnegie Hall

(NEW YORK, NY; November 26, 2024)— Over six days in early December, Carnegie Hall joins music lovers around the world in commemorating the 2024 Year of Czech Music, a decennial celebration that highlights legendary Czech composers. At the center of Carnegie Hall’s celebration, Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic return to the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage for the first time since 2018 for three concerts. They are joined by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Gil Shaham, and pianist Daniil Trifonov performing beloved and lesser-known concertos by Dvořák, plus music by Smetana, Gustav Mahler, and Janáček’s magnificent Glagolitic Mass featuring the Prague Philharmonic Choir.

The tradition of the Year of Czech Music began exactly one hundred years ago in 1924 with the centenary celebration of the birth of composer Bedřich Smetana. Since then, the Year of Czech Music has been held nearly every year ending in the number four. The year 2024 is the year of many anniversaries of Czech composers or composers active in the Czech lands. Of the yearlong celebration, Semyon Bychkov said: “However complex today’s world is, there is always a place for music that speaks directly to the human heart. This is precisely what the best Czech compositions offer: the capacity to transcend boundaries and ennoble with beauty, revealing human creativity to be an essential gift.”

The week’s festivities kick off at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, December 3 at 8:00 p.m. when Maestro Bychkov and the orchestra are joined by Yo-Yo Ma for Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor on a program that also includes selections from Má vlast (My Country), a singular symphonic cycle by Smetana, the nineteenth-century composer widely known as the “father of Czech music.”

The following evening, Wednesday, December 4 at 8:00 p.m., Gil Shaham takes to the stage with Maestro Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic to perform Dvořák’s vibrant, Czech folk-infused Violin Concerto on a program that also includes Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. This performance will be heard live by listeners around the world via the Carnegie Hall Live broadcast and digital series. Produced by WQXR and Carnegie Hall and co-hosted by WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon and WNYC’s John Schaefer, the concert will be broadcast on WQXR 105.9 FM in New York and streamed online at wqxr.org and carnegiehall.org/wqxr.

For the third and final evening with the Czech Philharmonic, on Thursday, December 5 at 8:00 p.m., Daniil Trifonov plays Dvořák’s imaginative and sole Piano Concerto on a program that also includes Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass, a “festive, life-affirming, pantheistic” work that the composer wrote to celebrate the spirit of the Czech nation. This performance features the renowned Prague Philharmonic Choir and soloists soprano Kateřina Kněžíková, mezzo-soprano Lucie Hilscherová, tenor Aleš Briscein, bass David Leigh and organist Daniela Valtová Kosinová.

The following evening, on Friday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m., the Prague Philharmonic Choir returns to present its own powerful all-Czech program in Zankel Hall. The ensemble—one of the world’s leading champions of Czech choral music—will present works by many of the nation’s most beloved composers, including Eben, Janáček, Dvořák, Martinů, and Jan Novák. Earlier in the week, the choir performs at a free Carnegie Hall Citywide event in Times Square on Wednesday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m., offering a program that includes seasonal selections and traditional holiday favorites, as well as “Goin’ Home”—a popular American reinvention derived from Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”

The weekend concludes with a concert by today’s most celebrated Czech string quartet—the Pavel Haas Quartet—performing an all-Czech program in Weill Recital Hall including Suk’s Meditation on an Old Czech Hymn, “St. Wenceslas,” Smetana’s String Quartet No. 1, “From My Life,” and Janáček’s String Quartet No, 2, “Intimate Letters,” on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.

* * * *

As a special musical prelude to the performances at Carnegie Hall, the week-long festival of Czech music in New York will launch at the Bohemian National Hall on Monday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m. with a chamber concert featuring four members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy, four students from the Royal Academy of Music in London, and four alumni members of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, joined by members of the Czech Philharmonic. Each quartet will perform a movement of a string quartet composed in their home country before joining together for Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings. Jiří Vodička, concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic, leads the program.

Also at the Bohemian National Hall, “Allegro Forte”—a special exhibition highlighting the artistry of Czech classical musicians through photographic portraits by photographer Štěpánka Stein and artist Vendy Mlejnská—will be featured through the end of December 2024. The collection captures the essence of the performers, offering a compelling visual experience that bridges music and art. Through its evocative imagery and thoughtful presentation, visitors can explore the deep connection between these two forms of expression.

Carnegie Hall+ Celebrates the Year of Czech Music

Carnegie Hall+—Carnegie Hall’s premium subscription video-on-demand channel—marks the Year of Czech Music with a wide variety of filmed Czech Philharmonic performances, led by Semyon Bychkov, Jakub Hrůša, and Jiří Bělohlávek in a range of repertoire that includes works by Dvořák, Smetana, and Martinů, including a seven-part exploration of Martinů’s complete symphony cycle. For more on the channel, including how best to subscribe, please visit carnegiehallplus.com.

About the Artists

The Czech Philharmonic’s history began with its first concert in 1896 with Antonín Dvořák, the most famous of Czech composers, leading a program of his own works. Since then, the orchestra’s story has mirrored the evolution of the country’s political and cultural landscape that solidified contemporary Czech identity. The orchestra made its New York debut at Carnegie Hall in 1965 under the direction of then-music director Karel Ancerl. They have returned nearly 20 times, most recently with Semyon Bychkov in 2018.

Semyon Bychkov was named Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic at the beginning of the orchestra’s 2018-2019 season. In addition to Year of Czech Music performances in Prague and New York City, Maestro Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic took all-Dvořák programs to Korea and Japan during the 2023-2024 season. In spring 2024, an extensive European tour included performances in Spain, Austria, Germany, Belgium, and France. Maestro Bychkov made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1986 leading the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his 2018 performances with the Czech Philharmonic, his podium appearances at the Hall have included concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, WDR Symphony Orchestra, The MET Orchestra, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Program Information

Monday, December 2, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Bohemian National Hall
(321 East 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021)

YOUNG INTERNATIONAL STARS OPEN NEW YORK'S CZECH WEEK
Members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy
Members of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America
Members of the Royal Academy of Music
Members of the Czech Philharmonic
Jiří Vodička, Artistic Director

WYNTON MARSALIS “Mating Calls & Delta Rhythms” and “Creole Contradanzas” from String Quartet No. 1, “At the Octoroon Balls” )
ELGAR Allegro moderato from String Quartet in E minor, Op. 83
DVOŘÁK Lento from String Quartet No. 12, “American”
DVOŘÁK Serenade for Strings

A week-long festival of Czech music in New York launches at the Bohemian National Hall with the spotlight on young talents from the Czech Republic, United States and the United Kingdom. A celebratory evening of chamber music will feature string quartets by composers from the young musicians’ respective homelands—Antonín Dvořák, Wynton Marsalis and Edward Elgar—before they join forces with members of the Czech Philharmonic to perform Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings, led by concertmaster Jiří Vodička.

Presented by the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, the Czech Philharmonic, and the Czech Center New York.

Tickets: Free with RSVP
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Tuesday, December 3 at 8:00 PM
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall

CZECH PHILHARMONIC
Semyon Bychkov, Chief Conductor and Music Director
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello

DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto in B Minor
SMETANA Selections from Má vlast

Sponsored by Ernst & Young LLP

Tickets: $118–$295
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Wednesday, December 4 at 2:00 PM
Times Square (Red TKTS Steps on Duffy Square between 46th and 47th Streets)

CARNEGIE HALL CITYWIDE: PRAGUE PHILHARMONIC CHOIR
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Lukáš Vasilek, Principal Conductor

TRAD. “Ride on, King Jesus” (arr. Hogan)
TRAD. “Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit” (arr. Dawson)
TRAD. “My Lord, What a Mornin‘” (arr. Burleigh)
TRAD. “Go Where I Send Thee” (arr. André Thomas)
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK / WILLIAM ARMS FISHER “Goin’ Home” (arr. Rosalind Hall)
TRAD. “Ding Dong! Merrily on High” (arr. Wood)
TRAD. “Adeste fideles” (arr. David Willcocks and Graham Buckland)

Lead support for Carnegie Hall Citywide is provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Hearst Foundations.

Additional support provided by Northwell Health, Official Healthcare Partner of Carnegie Hall.

FREE; No tickets required

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Wednesday, December 4 at 8:00 PM
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall

CZECH PHILHARMONIC
Semyon Bychkov, Chief Conductor and Music Director
Gil Shaham, Violin

DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto
G. MAHLER Symphony No. 5

Tickets: $71–$150
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Thursday, December 5 at 8:00 PM
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall

CZECH PHILHARMONIC
Semyon Bychkov, Chief Conductor and Music Director
Daniil Trifonov, Piano
Kateřina Kněžíková, Soprano
Lucie Hilscherová, Mezzo-Soprano
Aleš Briscein, Tenor
David Leigh, Bass
Daniela Valtová Kosinová, Organ
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Lukáš Vasilek, Choirmaster

DVOŘÁK Piano Concerto
JANÁČEK Glagolitic Mass

This concert is made possible, in part, by an endowment fund for choral music established by S. Donald Sussman in memory of Judith Arron and Robert Shaw.

Tickets: $63–$175
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Friday, December 6 at 7:30 PM
Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall

PRAGUE PHILHARMONIC CHOIR
Lukáš Vasilek, Principal Conductor
Kyle van Schoonhoven, Tenor
Members of the Czech Philharmonic

EBEN Prague Te Deum 1989
JANÁČEK Our Father
DVOŘÁK In Nature's Realm
MARTINŮ Four Songs About Mary
J. NOVÁK Testamentum

Tickets: $35, $45
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Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 PM
Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall

PAVEL HAAS QUARTET

SUK Meditation on an Old Czech Hymn, “St. Wenceslas”
SMETANA String Quartet No. 1, “From My Life”
JANÁČEK String Quartet No. 2, “Intimate Letters”

Tickets: $55, $65
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November 7—December 31, 2024

Bohemian National Hall
(321 East 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021)

ALLEGRO FORTE
Štěpánka Stein, Photography
Vendy Mlejnská, Visual Art

This exhibition, conceived as a part of the Year of Czech Music, highlights the artistry of Czech classical musicians through stunning photographic portraits by photographer Štěpánka Stein and artist Vendy Mlejnská. The collection captures the essence of the performers, offering a compelling visual experience that bridges music and art. Through its evocative imagery and thoughtful presentation, we invite visitors to explore the deep connection between these two forms of expression.

Price: Free with RSVP. For more information, visit new-york.czechcentres.cz/en/.

 

 

Ticket Information

Tickets for Carnegie Hall performances are available online at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, or by visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office at West 57th Street and Seventh Avenue.

A limited number of seats, priced at $10, will be available day-of-concert beginning at 11:00 a.m. until one hour before the performance or until supply lasts. These $10 tickets are available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis at the Carnegie Hall Box Office only. There is a two-ticket limit per customer.

Artists, programs, and prices are subject to change.

 

Photo: Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic at the Rudolfinum concert hall. Photo by Petra Hajská