PKF Lobkowicz Series

Horovitz. Bach. Martinů.

Lobkowicz Palace, November 11, 2019


Remarkable evenings in the magical Lobkowicz Palace attract guests to special gatherings with the curators of the Lobkowicz Collections and to fascinating discussion about subjects connecting both history and the present. The guests have a unique opportunity to meet the PKF – Prague Philharmonia’s artists and management. Refreshments provided by the head chef of the Lobkowicz Palace and a glass of wine make a welcoming and friendly atmosphere that pervades the whole evening.

Programme

6.00 pm     Welcome drink and tour of the exhibition
6.30 pm     The curators of the Lobkowicz music collection reveal its treasures through enthralling story-telling
7.00 pm      Concert by the PKF – Prague Philharmonia and soloists in the Imperial Hall
8.15 pm      Meeting the artists with refreshments provided by the head chef of the Lobkowicz Palace   

Patron of the concert: Hana Kubisová - violin

The last concert of this year’s PKF—LOBKOWICZ series offers a brilliant combination of 18th and 20th century music and provides a beautiful insight into the heart of the Bach family. Alongside music by the renowned Johann Sebastian, it will present music by two of his most noted sons – Johann Christian and Carl Philipp Emanuel – an excellent composer, improvisor and pedagogue who influenced the whole next generation of composers, including Mozart, Beethoven and Franz Schubert. The name Bach is for many a synonym for Baroque. But let’s not be mistaken! The music by Bach’s sons has already features of the gallant style and the lightness of the upcoming classical era. Tonight’s little gem will be undoubtedly the Jazz Concerto by Joseph Horovitz, written for the excellent British harpsichord player George Malcolm. Horovitz addressed him after hearing him by chance ‘swinging’ on the cembalo: “I would like to write a jazz concerto for you”, he told him. And Malcolm replied: “OK, but under one condition – the third movement will have only semiquavers without interruption!” The concerto, combining Baroque textures with swing rhythm, is brimming with the joy of music and will brilliantly enlighten the evening and provide a platform for Mahan Esfahani to showcase his utmost virtuosity and musicality.

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major BWV 1048
JOHANN CHRISTIAN BACH Harpsichord Concerto in E flat major Op. 7
BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ Deux Pièces pour Clavecin H 244
JOSEPH HOROVITZ Jazz Concerto (1965)
CARL PHILIPP EMANUEL BACH Sinfonie in G major

Mahan Esfahani – harpsichord
Jan Fišer – artistic leader

Stories from the Arts with the theme ‘Harpsichord, virginal and spinet as predecessors of the piano’. Lecture by Petr Slouka

Born in Tehran, Mahan Esfahani is today one of the leading figures in harpsichord playing of the music scene. A favourite and a last pupil of the ‘first lady of the harpsichord’, Zuzana Růžičková, he has already been extremely successful in spite of his youth. His was the first ever solo harpsichord recital at the famous BBC Proms festival in London (2011). Since then he has made solo appearances at many of the most prestigious concert halls, including the Wigmore Hall in London, the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Sumida Symphony Hall in Tokyo and the Library of Congress in Washington. His concerts have led him to China, Poland, Germany, Turkey, Estonia and Spain. After two successful recordings for Hyperion Records, which received the prestigious ‘Gramophone Award’ and ‘Diapason d’Or’, he signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon. His first two recordings for this world-renowned label were awarded the ‘BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Award’ and ‘Choc de Classica’. Mahan Esfahani studied musicology and history at Stanford University. After completing a research fellowship at New College, Oxford, he has been the harpsichord professor at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama.