Martinů Twice at the Smetana Litomyšl Festival

This year’s Smetana Litomyšl Festival will offer two exceptional evenings featuring works by Bohuslav Martinů in forms that rarely appear on concert stages.

On Friday, 19 June, audiences can look forward to a remarkable event: a concert performance of the recently published first version of Mariken of Nimègue, presented by the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK under the baton of Tomáš Netopil. Four days later, on 23 June, the Second Castle Courtyard will resound with a grand showcase of opera choruses, including a selection from the opera The Plays of Mary.

FOK | Mariken de Nimègue
Friday 19 June 2026, 7.30 pm
II. Castle Courtyard, Litomyšl, CZ

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 6 in F major “Pastoral”, op. 68
Bohuslav MARTINŮ: Mariken de Nimègue, H 236/2 I 
​– the first version of the opera in a concert performance

Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK 
Tomáš Netopil (conductor)
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Lukáš Kozubík (choirmaster)

Simona Šaturová (Mariken)
Jiří Brückler ((Devil)
Bella Adamova (Virgin Mary)
Daniel Matoušek (Mascaron)
Pavel Švingr (Son of God)
Vladimír Polívka (narrator)

More information: https://www.martinu.cz/en/news/2678-fok-mariken-de-nimegue-smetana-litomysl/

Prague Philharmonic Choir | Opera Choirs
Tuesday 23 June 2026 7.30 pm
II. Castle Courtyard, Litomyšl, CZ

Bohuslav MARTINŮ: The Plays of Mary, H 236
Leoš JANÁČEK: Jenůfa
Antonín DVOŘÁK: Rusalka
Bedřich SMETANA: The Bartered Bride, The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, The Kiss, The Secret, The Two Widows, Dalibor

Prague Philharmonic Choir
Prague Philharmonia 
Lukáš Vasilek (conductor)
Veronika Rovná (soprano)
Pavel Švingr (bass)
Marek Šulc (presenter)

Smetana: Opera Choruses… AND MORE!

An attractive concert offering a selection of the most famous choral scenes from operas by Bohuslav Martinů, Leoš Janáček, Antonín Dvořák, and from no fewer than six stage works by Bedřich Smetana.

The Prague Philharmonic Choir and the Prague Philharmonia under the direction of Lukáš Vasilek – one of today’s most distinguished Czech choirmasters and conductors – present the chorus as the principal narrator of stories: from The Bartered Bride through the mysticism of The Plays of Mary to Janáček’s Jenůfa. Solo parts will be sung by Veronika Rovná and Pavel Švingr, and the evening will be hosted by the festival’s artistic director Marek Šulc.

More information: https://smetanovalitomysl.cz/en/udalosti/smetana-opera-choruses-and-more/