Jakub Hrůša, Behzod Abduraimov

Date & Time

Sun, Oct 13, 2024, 17:00

Venue

Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)

Gorgeous late-romantic soundscapes – featuring works by Josef Suk and Leoš Janáček, who are among Jakub Hrůša’s favourite composers. It is thus a matter of the heart for him to regularly introduce audiences to pieces by these fascinating composers that are still relatively unknown outside the Czech Republic. The captivating »Asrael« Symphony already delivered proof of how well this works – and Josef Suk is also being celebrated this year on the occasion of his 150th birthday with an imposing... Read full text

Info & Ticket (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)

Musicians

Jakub Hrůša	Conductor
Behzod Abduraimov	Piano
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno	Chorus

Program

»Zráni« \| »Lebensreifen« Symphonische Dichtung op. 34	Josef Suk
Rhapsodie über ein Thema von Paganini op. 43	Sergei Rachmaninoff
»Taras Bulba« Rhapsodie für Orchester	Leoš Janáček

Give feedback

Last update: Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 12:39

Similar events

These events are similar in terms of concept, place, musicians or the program.

Gewandhausorchester, Jakub Hrůša Dirigent

Thu, Jun 19, 2025, 19:30

Gewandhaus Leipzig, Großer Saal (Leipzig)

Gewandhausorchester (Orchestra), Jakub Hrůša (Conductor), Preisträgerinnen und Preisträger des Bach-Wettbewerbs Leipzig 2025 (Piano), Jonathan Müller (Trumpet)

The most valuable prize in music competitions is always the amazed and participating audience. This was no different 75 years ago, when the Bach world commemorated the 200th anniversary of the composer's death and the Bach Competition was held for the first time in Leipzig, the site of the central celebrations. Brahms, a connoisseur and admirer of Bach's music, paid homage to it in various ways. Honegger's Symphony No. 2, written during the occupation of Paris in 1941, reflects the composer's distress over the world war. The finale, infused with Bach-like polyphony, culminates in a trumpet fanfare and a chorale melody radiating hope and reconciliation.

Info & Ticket (www.gewandhausorchester.de)

Gewandhausorchester, Jakub Hrůša Dirigent

Fri, Jun 20, 2025, 19:30

Gewandhaus Leipzig, Großer Saal (Leipzig)

Gewandhausorchester (Orchestra), Jakub Hrůša (Conductor), Preisträgerinnen und Preisträger des Bach-Wettbewerbs Leipzig 2025 (Piano), Jonathan Müller (Trumpet)

The most valuable prize in music competitions is always the amazed and participating audience. This was no different 75 years ago, when the Bach world commemorated the 200th anniversary of the composer's death and the Bach Competition was held for the first time in Leipzig, the site of the central celebrations. Brahms, a connoisseur and admirer of Bach's music, paid homage to it in various ways. Honegger's Symphony No. 2, written during the occupation of Paris in 1941, reflects the composer's distress over the world war. The finale, infused with Bach-like polyphony, culminates in a trumpet fanfare and a chorale melody radiating hope and reconciliation.

Info & Ticket (www.gewandhausorchester.de)

Jakub Hrůša & Julia Fischer

Sun, Apr 16, 2023, 17:00

Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)

Jakub Hrůša (Conductor), Julia Fischer (Violin)

Aristotle once said that "The beginning is half of the whole." This concert will present a brand-new creation by Johannes X. Schachtner, who was born in 1985 into a Bavarian family of musicians. This young composer already has an extensive catalogue of works to his credit and collaborates with international artists such as the acclaimed violinist Julia Fischer, for whom the violin concerto we commissioned was written. The concerto refers explicitly to our roots in Prague, nodding to the Bohemian musical tradition that we have continued to cultivate under our principal conductor Jakub Hrůša. The forms adopted by Czech composers such as Dvořák and Janáček have inspired Schachtner to write a sequence of several connected movements rather than employ the traditional classical-romantic solo concerto structure. Jazz influences can be heard in the concerto, too – we can’t wait for its premiere! Dvořák's most famous contribution to the symphonic genre is marked by a similar sense of a new beginning: his cultural mission for his sojourn in the "New World" was to create an American national music – for in contrast to Europe with its centuries-long musical tradition, there had been no major developments in the field of classical music in the “land of unlimited possibilities”.

Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)

Jakub Hrůša conducts Beethoven

Sun, Jul 2, 2023, 17:00

Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)

Jakub Hrůša (Conductor)

Under the baton of our Chief Conductor, we take our listeners on musical soul-searchings through emotional highs and lows: We combine two sonic legacies revolving around heroes – and there is a connection between them. As Romain Rolland said admiringly of Beethoven: »You are the embodiment of heroism in all of modern art. You give us your bravery, your faith that struggle is bliss.« Due to the political events around Napoleon, numerous myths surround Beethoven’s »Eroica«. The symphony was initially dedicated to the Frenchman – but even Prometheus, who brought fire to mankind in ancient times, is a possible candidate as the hero. And it is also possible that this instrumental journey may even retrace Beethoven's own fate. For the generations that followed, the famous Helden-Symphonie has remained a powerful memory – including for Richard Strauss, who almost a century later referred to the model in a way that was both playful and serious: »Ein Heldenleben« is set in E-flat major, like the »Eroica«, and displays autobiographical characteristics. In the meantime, Strauss even referred to it as a »heroic symphony«. The result is a very haunting work: at the beginning, the protagonist confronts his adversaries – the malicious envious and presumptuous know-it-alls and supposedly the nagging music critics of that time. For peace of mind, the hero then ultimately flees the world with his beloved mate. Strauss gave numerous hints about the detailed content of the symphonic poem – but what was important to him was its central message: »It is enough to know that it portrays a hero in combat with his enemies.«

Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)

Jakub Hrůša conducts Beethoven

Sat, Sep 30, 2023, 18:00

Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)

Jakub Hrůša (Conductor)

Under the baton of our Chief Conductor, we take our listeners on musical soul-searchings through emotional highs and lows: We combine two sonic legacies revolving around heroes – and there is a connection between them. As Romain Rolland said admiringly of Beethoven: »You are the embodiment of heroism in all of modern art. You give us your bravery, your faith that struggle is bliss.« Due to the political events around Napoleon, numerous myths surround Beethoven’s »Eroica«. The symphony was initially dedicated to the Frenchman – but even Prometheus, who brought fire to mankind in ancient times, is a possible candidate as the hero. And it is also possible that this instrumental journey may even retrace Beethoven's own fate. For the generations that followed, the famous Helden-Symphonie has remained a powerful memory – including for Richard Strauss, who almost a century later referred to the model in a way that was both playful and serious: »Ein Heldenleben« is set in E-flat major, like the »Eroica«, and displays autobiographical characteristics. In the meantime, Strauss even referred to it as a »heroic symphony«. The result is a very haunting work: at the beginning, the protagonist confronts his adversaries – the malicious envious and presumptuous know-it-alls and supposedly the nagging music critics of that time. For peace of mind, the hero then ultimately flees the world with his beloved mate. Strauss gave numerous hints about the detailed content of the symphonic poem – but what was important to him was its central message: »It is enough to know that it portrays a hero in combat with his enemies.«

Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)

Jakub Hrůša, Ivo Kahánek

Mon, Oct 7, 2024, 20:00

Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)

Jakub Hrůša (Conductor), Ivo Kahánek (Piano)

»I love Czech music, and I want to share what I love with other people creatively.« Jakub Hrůša once said this in an interview, and this programme is another wonderful example thereof. The pleasure of listening is also complemented by an artist from his homeland: Ivo Kahánek is the soloist in the much too rarely performed piano concerto by Dvořák – the very composer who is always close to our Chief Conductor's heart, as he put it: »This music is like mother’s milk for me.« The symphonic piano concerto from 1876, packed with folklore, flourishes from the way the pianist and orchestra toss the thematic balls to and fro in a captivating and supple way. Before this, there is a likewise endearing piece to set the mood and thus even a double anniversary: Smetana was born in the Czech Republic in 1824 and the premiere of his comic opera »The Two Widows« took place in Prague in 1874 under his baton – a work that is set somewhere in Bohemia on an aristocratic estate and features a sparkling overture. Finally, we delve into the world of Beethoven, whose compositions are (not only) part of Jakub Hrůša’s core repertoire. Schumann described his Symphony No. 4 from 1806 as a »slender Greek maiden between two Northland giants«, as it was composed between the courageous »Eroica« and the glorious Fifth. It is a friendly work with enchanting melodies, as Beethoven was madly in love with a young noblewoman at the time – which is why a contemporary commented: »While writing this symphony, his heart must have nearly burst with joy.«

Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)

Jakub Hrůša, Behzod Abduraimov

Sat, Oct 12, 2024, 18:00

Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)

Jakub Hrůša (Conductor), Behzod Abduraimov (Piano), Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno (Chorus)

Gorgeous late-romantic soundscapes – featuring works by Josef Suk and Leoš Janáček, who are among Jakub Hrůša’s favourite composers. It is thus a matter of the heart for him to regularly introduce audiences to pieces by these fascinating composers that are still relatively unknown outside the Czech Republic. The captivating »Asrael« Symphony already delivered proof of how well this works – and Josef Suk is also being celebrated this year on the occasion of his 150th birthday with an imposing musical autobiography: the programme includes his tone poem »Zráni«, finished in 1917, revolving around human maturity and elevating love to the core aspiration of our existence. Even the conductor of the premiere was absolutely enthusiastic, as he is said to have kissed the score in front of the concert audience and exclaimed in honour of Smetana’s famous cycle: »A second fatherland!« Janáček’s grandiose work was composed at virtually the same time – the scoring of a story about a Cossack culminating in a marvellous apotheosis. Jakub Hrůša fell in love with this composition, as he explained in an interview: »'Taras Bulba' is at the centre of my musical life. I didn't choose it, it just so happened. It was the first work and I’m still in love with it.« The brilliant »Paganini Rhapsody« by Rachmaninov from 1934 – who once answered the question »What is music?« in his typically poetic language: »That which goes from heart to heart, love.« – is also an emotional companion to the two Bohemian pieces.

Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)

Jakub Hrůša, Daniil Trifonov

Sat, Nov 2, 2024, 20:00

Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)

Jakub Hrůša (Conductor), Daniil Trifonov (Piano)

»Yes, just love him, love him so much – but don’t forget that he achieved poetic freedom after years of study, go back to the foundation of his work, don’t prove his genius through the last symphony!« Schumann said this about Beethoven – and it is indeed the case that the Symphony No. 4, which Jakub Hrůša has chosen for this programme, is often treated somewhat like a Cinderella among the nine symphonies. Quite wrongly, because it is an equally masterful composition: it stands in B flat major, which is an expression of the »yearning for a better world« according to the symbolism of musical keys of a certain Mr Schubart, and is characterised by a friendly tone with many wonderful ideas. Our Chief Conductor combines it with an equally neglected piece from the pen of his beloved composer Dvořák. We will be playing the fascinating piano concerto together with the acclaimed pianist Daniil Trifonov: the wide-ranging work was premiered in Prague in 1878 and features a magnificent richness of deeply felt inspirations. We will first present the programme in Bamberg, but then also in Linz – and also travel to the birthplace of Jakub Hrůša, where we have something to celebrate: 1924 was the first time that the »Year of Czech Music« was celebrated.

Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)

Jakub Hrůša, Ray Chen

Sun, Feb 9, 2025, 17:00

Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)

Jakub Hrůša (Conductor), Ray Chen (Violin)

»Listen carefully to all folk songs! They are a treasure trove of the most beautiful melodies and open your eyes to the nature of different cultures.« Robert Schumann once noted these wise words in his collection of »Musical House and Life Rules« – and Jakub Hrůša loves to rummage through the various treasure chests of late Romanticism with its manifold folkloristic styles. He constantly includes pieces by his beloved composer Dvořák on the programme – even the lesser-known ones, as he sees him as an artist »who is always interesting, in every work«. And so we now have the rarely performed »Heldenlied« to discover: a tone poem from 1898, which grippingly revolves around different moods from happiness to sorrow. For one of the most famous violin concertos from 1878, which we have long had on our wish list, we welcome Ray Chen, a gifted virtuoso: he loves playing with us and can now immerse himself in the emotions alongside our orchestra – because the often emotionally fragile Tchaikovsky always wanted to express »all the agony and ecstasy of love« in his music. For fans of sophisticated melodic works, we conclude with a large load of these: the Symphony No. 5 by Martinů, one of Jakub Hrůša’s favourite composers, revels in his typical soundscapes – with a rich array of colours, yearning parts, pulsating rhythms and hymn-like pathos.

Info & Ticket (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)

Jakub Hrůša, Jan Bartoš

Sat, Mar 1, 2025, 20:00

Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)

Jakub Hrůša (Conductor), Jan Bartoš (Piano)

Fascinating expedition: Thanks to Jakub Hrůša, we and our audience regularly get to enjoy gems from the rich treasure trove of Bohemian music repertoire. He loves to bring the stories to the stage that the composers from there have set to music so ingeniously. Smetana in particular was a master of symphonic poems, and in this programme we play no fewer than three of them. They were all composed decades before his famous cycle »Má vlast« and are far too rarely heard in Germany. Based on literature by Shakespeare, Schiller and Adam Oehlenschläger, they revolve around different characters: »Richard III«, »Wallenstein’s Camp« and »Haakon Jarl«. They were inspired around 1860 by an encounter with Franz Liszt – who once praised Smetana with the words: »Here you have the composer with the true Bohemian heart, the artist gifted by God.« To set the mood for these dazzling tone poems, we also present two richly nuanced works: firstly Stravinsky’s magnificent wind symphonies, in his words a »ceremony in which different groups meet in short litany-like dialogues«. Our Chief Conductor has chosen these pieces, first performed in 1921, because he loves the sound of our wind section so much – and is thus able to present them in a perfect light. There is also a work from the pen of the Czech modernist composer that Jakub Hrůša has long been fond of and therefore always wants to draw attention to: together with the accomplished pianist Jan Bartoš, we will perform Martinů's imaginative fifth and final piano concerto from 1958 – a charming example of the emotional power of his music.

Info & Ticket (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)