From Dvořak to Martinů

Recital by Czech mezzo-soprano Ester Pavlů and Slovak baritone Vladimír Chmelo, accompanied by pianist Ahmad Hedar, celebrating the 180th anniversary of Antonín Dvořák's birth and the 80th anniversary of Bohuslav Martinů's arrival in the United States.


Complimentary admission. RSVP required.

Suggested donation $20 for this special event in memory of Edward "Duke" Dellin, Chairman of the Prague Committee of Sister Cities International, who passed away October 30th. All proceeds will go toward language and cultural programs at T.G. Masaryk Czech School.


Please note that audience members are required to provide proof of vaccination and to wear masks.

 

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12/8/21 - 12/8/21

7pm


Recital by Czech mezzo-soprano Ester Pavlů and Slovak baritone Vladimír Chmelo, accompanied by pianist Ahmad Hedar, celebrating the 180th anniversary of Antonín Dvořák's birth and the 80th anniversary of Bohuslav Martinů's arrival in the United States.

The concert is organized by the Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, T. G. Masaryk Czech School, Czechoslovak Heritage Museum and Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, in collaboration with Czech Center New York and Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.


Program:
Leoš Janáček: Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs with vocals & piano accompaniment (medley of 7 songs)
Leoš Janáček: Diary of One Who Disappeared
Bohuslav Martinů: Opening of the Springs - baritone solo
Bohuslav Martinů: Le Noël for solo piano
Mikuláš Schneider - Trnavský: Keby som bol vtáčkom (If I Were a Bird), Rů?ičky (Roses), No?ka (The Little Foot)
Antonín Dvořák: Gypsy Songs (medley of 3 songs)
Antonín Dvořák: Rusalka - The Water Goblin
Antonín Dvořák: Rusalka - Song To The Moon
Gejza Dusík: Najkrajší kút (The Most Beautiful Corner)

 

A graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, mezzosoprano Ester Pavlů was introduced as Fenena in Jose Cura's 2017 production of Verdi's Nabucco at the National Theatre in Prague. Pavlů portrayed the Old Woman in the world premiere of Martinů's What Men Live By, which received the Anděl award for best classical recording of 2018. In 2019, she joined a triumphant UK tour of Mahler's Symphony No. 3 with the FOK Prague Symphonic Orchestra, and received a standing ovation as Cinderella in Rossini's Cenerentola. This year she excelled in Dvořák's Rusalka, singing both the Foreign Princess and Witch. In the 2021/2022 season, Ester Pavlů will appear as Carmen in the same-name Bizet's opera or as The Queen in Weinberger's Schwanda the Bagpiper in the Prague National Theatre; a year later she will sing Santuzza in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana.

 

Vladimír Chmelo is a Slovak baritone and interpreter of the Italian, Czech and Russian repertoire. He has performed throughout Europe, Tokyo, Buenos Aires and, from 2009-2015, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His portfolio of leading roles reveals his versatility, from Macbeth, Rigoletto and Germont to Toreador, Hamlet and Onegin. He has worked with renowned conductors, directors, singers and pianists including Boulez, Rattle, Szoltes, Fleming, Netrebko, Domingo and many more. Chmelo is also active as a pedagogue (including to Ester Pavlů) and established the Prague Musical Institute which organizes summer singing courses in the city of Český Krumlov.

 

 

Ahmad Hedar is a leading Czech pianist, vocal coach and singer. He studied at the Prague HAMU. His musicality has made him a sought-after accompanist to many prominent singers. Through Run OpeRun, an organization he works closely with to make opera accessible to new audiences, Hedar has led the musical production of the Magic Flute (2016), Marriage of Figaro (2017), Rusalka (2020), and La Traviata (2021), each on the site of the former Stalin monument in Prague. In 2019, Hedar earned a fellowship at the prestigious Bayreuth festival. Since then, he has also been teaching at the Jan Deyl Conservatory in Prague. He is currently collaborating on the production of Rusalka in Bergen, Norway.

 

Performers
Ester Pavlů, Vladim?r Chmel and Ahmad Hedar.

Tags: Music, New Europe, 2021