Programme

SING AT THE CONCERT WITH US!

Antonín Dvořák’s Biblical Songs will be performed in the form of an open, shared singing experience. The year 2026 marks the 130th anniversary of the first orchestral performance of the Biblical Songs, which took place in 1896 under the baton of the composer himself. Anyone who learns the work and takes part in the rehearsal may join in—individual singers, choirs, groups, and vocalists of all ages. Together, a unified choral voice will be created, accompanied by an orchestra. This model of collective performance, successfully developed by Ewald Danel since 2004, transforms the concert into an extraordinary meeting of music, faith, and human togetherness—a spiritual event that you will not only listen to, but also help to create.

Joseph Haydn (1732–1809): The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob. XX:2
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904): Biblical Songs, Op. 99

The Easter concert at the Evangelical Church of Christ will offer not only a profound spiritual experience, but also a unique opportunity for the active participation of the audience and choirs. Performed by the Slovak Chamber Orchestra under the direction of the legendary violinist and artistic director Ewald Danel, the programme will feature two exceptional works that touch the very essence of human faith, suffering, and hope.

Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ ranks among the most powerful musical meditations of the 18th century: inwardly focused and deeply emotional music reflecting on Christ’s suffering with extraordinary spiritual intensity. Dvořák’s Biblical Songs, by contrast, offer the composer’s personal prayer—simple, profoundly human, and at the same time filled with humility and trust. The combination of a string orchestra and choral sound within the church space creates an atmosphere of quiet contemplation and inner strength. This concert is an invitation to stillness in the Easter season—to contemplation that goes beyond words and touches the very core of spiritual experience.

Dear friends of singing – familiar faces and those yet to be discovered,

I would like to invite you – whether as individuals, vocal ensembles, or choirs – to collaborate with the Slovak Chamber Orchestra on a performance of Biblical Songs by Antonín Dvořák in OSTRAVA on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

In 2026, we commemorate the 130th anniversary of the first performance of Dvořák’s Biblical Songs in their orchestral version, conducted by the composer himself at the first concert of the Czech Philharmonic on January 4, 1896. The Biblical Songs were composed during Easter in 1894. For this reason, we are preparing two concerts during the Easter period in 2026 – one in Ostrava and one in Bratislava.

Anyone who learns the Biblical Songs and takes part in the rehearsal is welcome to join – individuals, choirs, vocal groups, singers of all ages. Together we will form a vocal ensemble singing in unison (lower-voice version) in collaboration with the Slovak Chamber Orchestra. We have presented the Biblical Songs in this way many times since 2004 (the 100th anniversary of Antonín Dvořák’s death), in various locations, with participation not only from adults but also teenagers and children.

OSTRAVA – concert within the “Musical Journeys” series

Saturday, March 28, 2026
Ostrava city center – Evangelical Church of Christ

2:00 pm – rehearsal in the church
5:00 pm – concert in the church

We would be very pleased if you would consider this invitation and, for organizational purposes, express your interest via the following link, preferably by the end of February:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLcPvUYQ41kmmR746jSWhbBgh-YpDnbjv7OY-zPoHV7WKZNQ/viewform

If you know of a choir or individuals who might be interested in this opportunity, we would appreciate it if you could forward this invitation to them.

The sheet music is available on the link below (for study purposes only):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lct3s0uhy58vscgynxmpe/Antonin-Dvorak-Biblicke-pisne.pdf?rlkey=hmu6j585jq2zjpkvja8sqvks2&e=1&dl=0

as well as a recording you can use to study the Biblical Songs:

Concert excerpt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQGeEaoBDSU
– from 1:26:37

Looking forward to making music together,

Ewald Danel
Artistic Director of the Slovak Chamber Orchestra