Camerata Chicago has received some wonderful comments following its concert at the Litomyšl Smetanova Festival in the Czech Republic on June 15, 2013.
The concert “can be described as one of the artistic highlights of this year’s Smetana Litomyšle Festival.” – Miroslav Zikmund
Camerata Chicago was “an extraordinary success – listeners applauded … with a standing ovation” – Jan Pikna, director of the Litomysl Smetanova.
The review entitled “Four programs and four standing ovations” written by Jan Pikna, director of the Litomysl Smetanova, reads: “The first four festival concerts were an extraordinary success – listeners applauded standing, rewarding the performers with a standing ovation for interesting encores. … Huge applause was heaped upon the American musicians of Camerata Chicago, who with rustic gusto paid tribute to our music by playing the Furianta from Antonin Dvorak’s Czech Suite.”
The review written by Miroslav Zikmund, entitled “America is the competition“, reads: “I could not wait to get the signature of the conductor,” says Miroslav Zikmund, a famous traveler who is more accustomed to giving out his autograph. “I loved everything about Camerata Chicago. America represents huge competition with the deployment of such an ensemble. I was intrigued by the orchestra long before the concert, as it rehearsed. The orchestra left nothing to chance, performing in front of an audience at Litomyšl as if it was performing in Carnegie Hall. The audience gave a long standing ovation and required an encore – Furianta from the Czech Suite by Antonín Dvorák. Although the concert was in the smaller auditorium Smetana, it can be described as one of the artistic highlights of this year’s Smetana Litomyšle Festival.”
The four concerts mentioned by Jan Pikna, director, Litomyšl Smetanova, with which Mr Zigmund compares Camerata Chicago: “America represents huge competition with the deployment of such an ensemble,” are:
June 13, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Gala Opening Concert conducted by Jiri Belohlavek
Bedrich Smetana: My Country, a cycle of symphonic poems
Vltava Vysehrad: From Czech Sarka’s Woods and Fields
June 14, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (Concert as on June 13)
June 15, Prague Brass Ensemble Temple Matinee, with Ales Barta, organ.
June 15, Camerata Chicago conducted by Drostan Hall, with Wendy Warner, cello.
Richard Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Joseph Haydn: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 2 in D major, op. 101
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
Antonin Dvorak: Czech Suite Movement “Furianta”
See the full Litomyšl Smetanova Festival 2013 Season.
The conductor and musical director of Camerata Chicago receiving considerable applause after the Litomyšl concert. Photo courtesy of František Renza, Smetanova Litomyšl, o.p.s. ©2013
Photo courtesy of František Renza, Smetanova Litomyšl, o.p.s. ©2013
Photo courtesy of František Renza, Smetanova Litomyšl, o.p.s. ©2013
Photo courtesy of František Renza, Smetanova Litomyšl, o.p.s. ©2013
Photo courtesy of František Renza, Smetanova Litomyšl, o.p.s. ©2013
Photo courtesy of František Renza, Smetanova Litomyšl, o.p.s. ©2013
Photo courtesy of František Renza, Smetanova Litomyšl, o.p.s. ©2013
Photo courtesy of František Renza, Smetanova Litomyšl, o.p.s. ©2013
The photos above are courtesy of František Renza Smetanova Litomyšl, o.p.s. ©2013.
