Programme

A recital, by dictionary definition, is a concert showcasing a single artistic personality, whether as a performer or a composer. In reality, however, music is far more vibrant than any definition, and recital programmes are often just as lively and diverse. The most traditional recital in this year’s festival will be a solo evening with British pianist Paul Lewis. Festival audiences will surely remember his phenomenal performance of Brahms’s First Piano Concerto in 2023. This time, he returns as a soloist with a programme dedicated to German and Austrian composers, both past and present. On Antonín Dvořák’s birthday, the recital format will also be embraced by Kateřina Kněžíková and the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra under Robert Jindra. Their programme, featuring Gypsy Songs, Love Songs, and a complete performance of Legends, will celebrate both the music and the legacy of the most frequently performed Czech composer. Beyond these, other concerts within the Chamber Series, curated this year by Kateřina Kněžíková, will also revolve around the spirit of the recital. Even when they depart from its formal structure, they will remain true to its essence—their musical content.