Programme

Leoš Janáček (1854–1928): Sonata for violin and piano

Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849): Scherzo in B minor, Op. 31

Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840): Nel cor più non mi sento

—intermission—

César Franck (1822–1890): Sonata for violin and piano in A major

Jiří Vodička, a charismatic native of Ostrava (36 years old), was accepted to the University of Ostrava at the age of 14, where as a “child prodigy” he was able to play even the most difficult compositions for solo violin. To this day, he interprets them with a wonderful passion as a violin virtuoso, and also educates the next generation of violinists. He is now starting his 11th season as concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic, playing the violin lent to him by Jiří Bělohlávek. He is also the recent holder of the Moravian-Silesian Jantar Award for his captivating SHF concerts, when he plunged into the waters full of Italian baroque virtuosity with Barocco semper giovane. Now he will present himself as a chamber player in a duo with his long-time musician partner, first-class pianist Martin Kasík, among others. graduate of the Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava. Winning the Prague Spring 1998 and Young Concert Artists in New York 1999 opened the way for him to world concert halls and international festivals – Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonic Hall, Wigmore Hall, Tonhalle Zürich, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, De Doelen in Rotterdam, Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Auditorio in Barcelona, ​​Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Kennedy Center in Washington, etc. In addition to his concert work and chamber music, Martin Kasík devotes himself to the education of the young generation at the HAMU in Prague and the Prague Conservatory. He is the artistic director of the International Chopin Festival in Mariánské Lázně. His recordings for the companies Arco Diva and Supraphon won the highest awards in the magazines Gramophone, Repertoire and Harmonie.