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Martinů String Quartet / Vilém Veverka (oboe) / Martin Kasík (piano) – Sunday 5 May

Martinů String Quartet
Lubomír Havlák violin and Adéla Štajnochrová violins
Martin Stupka viola, Jitka Vlašánková cello
with Vilém Veverka oboe 
and Martin Kasík piano

Bohemian Pot Pourri

Martinů   Quartet for oboe, violin, cello & piano H315
Haas   Suite for oboe and piano Op 17
Klein   Wiegenlied
Smetana   From My Homeland
Dvořák   Silent Woods Op 68
Dvořák   Humoreske Op 101 No 7
Dvořák   Terzetto in C Op 74
Martinů   Mazurka-Nocturne H325

 

Imagine being part of a relaxed Sunday evening in a spacious drawing room in a palace in Prague and enjoy, with the Festival’s Czech musicians in residence, an eclectic mix of works ranging from Dvořák’s ever-popular Humoreske, to some lesser-known Martinů for discovery, and other well-chosen bonbons.

Generously supported by Hugh & Jane Beale, Malcolm & Jenny Burns, and Jennifer Lorch

£27 | £17
(£1 children / students)

Martinů String Quartet / Vilém Veverka (oboe) / Martin Kasík (piano) – Saturday 4 May

Martinů String Quartet
Lubomír Havlák and Adéla Štajnochrová violins
Martin Stupka viola, Jitka Vlašánková cello
with Vilém Veverka oboe 
and Martin Kasík piano

Mozart   Oboe Quartet in F K370
Sylvie Bodorová   Psalms and Exhortations for Oboe Quintet (Première)
Dvořák   Piano Quintet in A Op 81

 

The Martinů Quartet returns to Leamington for three concerts, two of them with the leading Czech oboist Vilém Veverka with whom the Quartet often works. Mozart’s Oboe Quartet is a gem to be followed by the commission from The Dvořák Society of a new work by Sylvie Bodorová. Martin Kasík joins the Quartet after the interval for Dvořák’s much loved and evergreen Quintet.

Generously supported by The Dvořák Society

£27 | £17
(£1 children / students)

Martin Kasík (piano) – Friday 3 May

Smetana   Bagatelles & Impromptus
Dvořák   Suite in A Op 98
Chopin   Ballade in G minor Op 23
Chopin   Nocturne in D flat Op 27 No 2
Chopin   Scherzo in B flat minor Op 31

 

Concert given in memory of Iain Smith (Leamington Music Chairman, 2006-15) and Teresa Halikowska-Smith.

Iain Smith had a special regard for the leading Czech pianist Martin Kasík, following performances for Leamington Music as well as the Wigmore Hall, in the Leamington Hastings concerts, and the Festival in Stratford. Martin Kasík was Director of the Chopin Festival in Mariánské Lázně, which Iain and Teresa Smith attended in 2008 and greatly enjoyed. The Fryderyk Chopin Society is based in this Czech spa town where Chopin spent the summer of 1836.

Martin gives performances with the Martinů Quartet and his regular partner on oboe, Vilém Veverka, in the evening concerts on Saturday and Sunday.

Generously supported by Stefan, Milena, and Adrian Smith

£18 | £12
(£1 children / students)

Martin Kasík piano

Janáček In the Mists
Smetana Three Czech Dances
Dvořák Humoreske in G flat Op 101
Schulhoff Etudes de Jazz
Fiser Sonata No 8
Slavický Three Pieces

Martin Kasík is building a following here after concerts in the Stratford on Avon Music Festival, Music at Leamington Hastings and this return to the Royal Pump Rooms, the last concert being in 2014.

Jana Vonášková-Nováková violin & Martin Kasík piano

Smetana From My Homeland
Schulhoff Suite for Violin and Piano Op 1
Dvořák Mazurek Op 49
Suk Violin Solo from ‘Radúz and Mahulena’

Jana Vonášková-Nováková has played several times in Leamington and Martin Kasík comes for his third visit. Well known favourites bookend Schulhoff’s substantial work written in 1911 which has an alluring waltz movement and Suk’s solo written in 1900 for a play is simply ravishing. Another appetising lunchtime concert!