The Zelenka Festival started in 2014. Every year since then, excellent artists from the Czech Republic and abroad have come to take part in this festival reminiscent of Zelenka’s outstanding Baroque music and his extraordinary contribution to the European music scene.
The Czech Bach
Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka composed a large part of his work in Dresden. However, he composed many pieces in Prague as well.
The native of Louňovice pod Blaníkem created an original and inimitable style thanks to his compositional mastery and extraordinary invention. It is not in vain that he is sometimes called the “Czech Bach.” It is no wonder that his music still amazes listeners after more than 250 years, as it is still very unconventional in the 21st century.
“Both Czech and German audiences are more and more eager for Zelenka. People perceive the power of his music across nations,” singer Gabriela Eibenová said in an interview. Festival goers will have the opportunity to admire her voice during both the opening and closing evenings of the festival.
Ensemble Inégal
The festival’s organiser is the Czech music group Ensemble Inégal, headed by conductor Adam Viktora. Every year, they play Zelenka's compositions in modern premieres as part of their concert series ‘Czech Musical Baroque - Discoveries and Surprises’. Ensemble Inégal brings Zelenka's music to important music festivals in the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Latvia, and Austria, among other places.
Meeting with artists
Before each concert, visitors can look forward to short introductory discussions with artists and musicologists about the evening’s programme. The discussions will take place in both venues; in the Grand Priory Palace it will be in ‘Kočárovna’, the ancient carriage house. All discussions start at 6:45pm and are free of charge.
For further information, please visit: http://www.zelenkafestival.cz/en/.