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Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 8.00 pm
World-Class Orchestras

Ticket prices

4190 – 2490 Kč 

Programme

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, “Scottish”Richard Strauss: A Hero’s Life, symphonic poem, Op. 40

Those who watched this season’s New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic could not have failed to notice that at the orchestra’s helm was one of today’s most prominent conductors – Christian Thielemann. This year’s Dvořák Prague Festival is bringing that amazing combination to the Rudolfinum. Thielemann created a stir eight years ago guest conducting at the Dvořák Prague Festival for what was his very first appearance in the Czech Republic. At the time, he brought his Staatskapelle Dresden, and he declared that in his view, Dresden, Prague, and Vienna belong to the same family and breathe the same musical air. We should also hear something familiar from the music of Felix Mendelssohn and of another composer celebrating an anniversary, although not a musician of Czech descent, Richard Strauss (born in 1864 in Munich). Both composers are part of the foundation of the German repertoire, which Thielemann approaches with a tremendous imagination for sound. At the festival, we will hear first-class performances of the music of our closest neighbours, who have always influenced the Czech arts – whether as inspiration or as competition. All of that is concentrated in Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, for which the composer took inspiration from places connected with the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, and in the symphonic poem Ein Heldenleben, Strauss’s musical autobiography containing quotes from many of his earlier works. 

R. Strauss: A Hero’s Life – Wiener Philharmoniker Play
  • Dress code: dark suit
  • Doors close: 7.55 pm
  • End of concert: 10.00 pm

Artists

Wiener Philharmoniker

There is perhaps no other musical ensemble more closely associated with the history and tradition of European classical music than the Vienna Philharmonic. In the course of more than 180 years, this orchestra has experienced and influenced the course of musical history around the world. Even to this day, prominent soloists and conductors refer to the unique "Viennese Sound" as the outstanding quality that sets it apart from other orchestras.

                                               

Wiener Philharmoniker

Christian Thielemann

Since the 2024/2025 season Christian Thielemann has been Generalmusikdirektor of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Following engagements at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, in Gelsenkirchen, Karlsruhe, Hanover and Dusseldorf, in 1988 he moved to Nuremberg to occupy the post of Generalmusikdirektor. In 1997 he returned to his hometown of Berlin to direct the Deutsche Oper until 2004, when he became Music Director of the Munich Philharmonic, a post he held until 2011. From 2012/13-2023/24 he was Chief Conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden. In addition to his position in Dresden, Thielemann was Artistic Director of the Salzburg Easter Festival from 2013 to 2022.

Christian Thielemann - conductor

Rudolfinum, Dvořák Hall

The Rudolfinum is one of the most important Neo-Renaissance edifices in the Czech Republic. In its conception as a multi-purpose cultural centre it was quite unique in Europe at the time of its construction. Based on a joint design by two outstanding Czech architects, Josef Zítek and Josef Schultz, a magnificent building was erected serving for concerts, as a gallery, and as a museum. The grand opening on 7 February 1885 was attended by Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria, in whose honour the structure was named. In 1896 the very first concert of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra took place in the Rudolfinum's main concert hall, under the baton of the composer Antonín Dvořák whose name was later bestowed on the hall.