Bohuslav Martinů Days 2026

This year, the Bohuslav Martinů Days festival presents a programme that boldly crosses the boundaries of pure concert art towards the theatre stage. The Martinů Hall at the Liechtenstein Palace and other concert venues will host five evenings from 11 November to 8 December. The audience will experience a unique comparison of two versions of a single work performed by two world-class cellists, as well as theatrical productions featuring actor Martin Myšička, concertmaster Josef Špaček and other outstanding soloists.

“This year’s festival is exceptional for its wide-ranging programme. Alongside a unique opening, where we will hear Martinů literally ‘at work’, and a grand staged finale, we are also proud to welcome international guests. The Pardubice Chamber Philharmonic will be led by the charismatic Joseph Bastian, who serves as chief conductor and artistic director of the Munich Symphony Orchestra, and he will be joined by the German violinist and exclusive Sony artist Niklas Liepe. This year’s festival will thus offer exceptional variety and first-class performances,” says Irvin Venyš, director of the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation, inviting audiences to the festival.

Bohuslav Martinů ‘at work’: One concerto, two versions of the same work

The opening evening on 11 November in the Martinů Hall will feature a unique programme. Bohuslav Martinů’s Cello Concerto No. 1 exists in three versions in total. This single concert will feature its first and third versions – the first from the composer’s time in exile in the US and the later revision, in which he developed his original ideas further. The differences are not limited to details of the instrumentation; the overall expression, rhythm and balance between the soloist and the orchestra also change. The solo parts will be performed by cellists Petr Nouzovský and Vilém Vlček, accompanied by the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Kružík.

A tradition that refuses to be frozen in time

The concert on 24 November will bring together the names of Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, Bohuslav Martinů and Vít Zouhar. These four composers and the magic of their different eras are linked by a shared creative approach – they engage with the legacy of the past with respect, but also with playfulness and irony. A striking and, for the festival, unique dramaturgical highlight is the inclusion of Zouhar’s composition Ritorni, which opens the door to lovers of new music. Martinů’s Concertante Suite for Violin and Orchestra will be performed by the German violinist Niklas Liepe, accompanied by the Pardubice Chamber Philharmonic, conducted by Joseph Bastian.

A Czech tradition with an American accent, performed by the elite of the piano and violin world

The programme on 2 December traces the famous pedagogical lineage spanning three generations – Dvořák, Suk and Martinů – complemented by works by Bedřich Smetana and Leoš Janáček. This Czech tradition is then set in contrast with the American experience, represented not only by the works composed in exile by Dvořák and Martinů, but also by the Hollywood elegance of Brno-born Erich Wolfgang Korngold. This exceptional repertoire will be brought to life by a virtuoso duo: Jiří Vodička, concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, on violin, and pianist Martin Kasík, renowned for their profound musicality and almost telepathic ensemble playing.

When the Violin Represents the Soul: A Grand Finale of Theatre and Jazz

The closing evening on 8 December in the Martinů Hall will offer an exceptional fusion of music and theatre in the form of two stage works that reflect on human frailties with both a light-hearted touch and deeper undertones. Igor Stravinsky’s gripping The Soldier’s Tale straddles the line between musical theatre and spoken word. It tells a timeless story of a man who trades his soul for wealth. The key role of the narrator will be taken on by Martin Myšička, whose interpretative precision and distinctive delivery will be complemented by the virtuoso performance of violinist Josef Špaček in the role of the ‘devil’s violin’.

The second half of the evening will feature Bohuslav Martinů’s Kitchen Revue – a jazz ballet also known by the subtitle The Temptation of Saint Pot, in which kitchen utensils come to life in place of people. Both works share a sense of humour with a sharper undertone and require absolutely precise interplay between music and words. This will be ensured by a top-class ensemble, in which Myšička and Špaček will be joined by Miroslav Sekera, Irvin Venyš, Stanislav Masaryk, Ivan Vokáč and other soloists under the baton of conductor Ondřej Vrabec.

The festival programme also includes the 30th anniversary edition of the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Competition in the categories of singing and cello, which will culminate in a free-to-attend Winners’ Concert on 22 November in the Martinů Hall at the Liechtenstein Palace.

More information: www.martinufestival.cz
Media contact: Radka Prošková | +420 608 274 417 | radka.proskova@gmail.com