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Concert details | Lada Valešová | UK Friends of Czech Historic Buildings, Gardens & Parks
Lada Valešová will give a solo piano recital of music by Dvořák, Pavel Haas, Janáček, Martinů, Smetana and Suk in aid of The UK Friends of Czech Historic Buildings, Gardens and Parks in London on Thursday 6 May 2010
The UK Friends of Czech Historic Buildings, Gardens and Parks have a concert on 6 May 2010 featuring Lada Valešová (piano). All proceeds of the recital will go towards the restoration of the Czech architectural heritage.
Details of the concert are as follows:
Thursday 6 May, 2010
Slovak Embassy, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens, LONDON W8 4QY, 7.00pmLADA VALEŠOVÁ plays CZECH MASTERS
Dvořák: Dumka, Op 12/1 (B 136) & Furiant, Op 12/2 (B 137)
Smetana: On the Seashore, Op 17
Suk: Spring, Op 22a
Janáček: In the Mist
Martinů: Spring (Jaro), unpublished (H 127 ter)
Pavel Haas: Suite, Op 13
Tickets cost £15 (including a glass of wine) and can be booked post, telephone (023 8044 5261) or by e-mail from events@ukczechfriends.org. You can download a concert flyer with ticket order form from the Friends web site … more >>.
• About Lada Valešová
Now London based, Lada Valešová graduated from Prague Conservatoire and Prague Music Academy. As well as being an active performer on the concert platform, she is a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her web site is ladavalesova.com.
Lada Valešová’s CD for the Avie label, Intimate Studies, was very well received by the critics. Jonathan Woolf for Musicweb International, said “…This is a delightful recital, warmly and sensitively played. The programme is unique though thematically similar to the MDG, but the musicianship and perception are altogether in another class …” more >> and Geoffrey Norris for The Daily Telegraph wrote “…Valešová plays with heart-warming sensibility and tonal refinement …” more >>.
We reproduce here Graham Melville-Mason’s review in the Dvořák Society Newsletter (No 89 October 2009) —
Haas: Suite for piano (Op.13) | Allegro moderato (1938)
Janáček: V mlhách (In the mists) | Intimate Studies (Pieces in Kamila Stösslová’s Album)
Martinů: Film en Miniature (H.148) | Jaro (Spring) (H.127 ter)
Suk: Spring (Op.22a)
(Lada Valešová - piano)
Avie AV 2142“LADA VALEŠOVÁ is already well known to many members of our Society, who will join me in welcoming this fine CD of Czech piano music from her. … Her programme on this disc is well chosen and beautifully executed; one cannot fail to be impressed by her technical and musical ability throughout.
“Shades of Janáček lie over the Suite of Pavel Haas from 1935 but it’s elements of polyrhythmic treatment, strong rhythmic pulse and touches of jazz (Danza) recall his near neighbour Martinů. The brilliant unnamed piece, given the title of its tempo indication (Allegro moderato), was intended for an edition of modern dances which war and the composer’s death prevented completion. Following her spirited account of the final movement of the Suite, this comes as no less a performance, again rhythm now tinged with humour is entertainingly evident.
“Lada’s views from In the Mists are suitably atmospheric but it is her presenting the lesser known pieces from the Album for Kamila, here called Intimate Studies that provides the greater interest. Written in Písek and Hukvaldy, they consist of sketches for projected pieces and pieces for specific occasions, all related to the composer’s infatuation with Kamila and include the better known Čekám Tě (I wait for you). Eleven of the thirteen short pieces (including Janáček’s last composition) are recorded here and given wonderfully sensitive performances and it is fascinating to hear echoes of elements found in the substantial, Stösslová inspired, late works of Janáček.
“Lada is equally at home with Martinů as she is with Haas and the six pieces which make up the Film en Miniature written in Paris and Polička in 1925 are given attractively idiomatic performances right from the first notes of the opening Tango to the end of the lively closing Carillon. Both Spring pieces from Martinů and Suk complete this disc in equally strongly differentiated performances which continue the pleasure of listening right to the end. …”
GRAHAM MELVILLE-MASON
• About The UK Friends of Czech Historic Buildings, Gardens and Parks
This charity campaigns to raise funds for the repair and conservation of the substantial legacy of historic buildings and their contents, artefacts, gardens and parks in the Czech Republic, an important part of Europe’s cultural heritage. No fewer than 40,000 buildings are listed as of architectural or cultural significance, in addition to 200 conservation zones in historic towns and as many as twelve sites are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage monuments. In addition many important historic gardens and parks survive. This marvellously rich cultural heritage suffered grievous damage under the long years of Communist rule. The Czech’s are well aware of these riches and enormous efforts have been made since the Velvet Revolution of 1989. But the task is enormous because the Czech architectural heritage is so rich.
To find out more about the campaign or to make a donation, please visit the charity’s web site www.ukczechfriends.org.
