Thu, 12. 11. 2026, 19:00 hrs.

A2 Inspiration in Nature

Venue: Zlín Congress Centre  |  Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s.  | 

This concert is curated as a narrative in celebration of the land and of nature, the sphere in which music is spontaneously born and to which it repeatedly relates, with a programme bringing together works that approach the theme from different angles, from the soundscape of the land to the symphonic expression of man's affinity with the natural order.

The performance under the baton of Leoš Svárovský opens with Dvořák's overture In Nature's Realm displaying refined harmonies and delicate instrumentation, in which the orchestra creates changing landscapes redolent of the atmosphere of the Czech countryside. Dvořák's music comes across not as a literal sound picture, but as a reflection of the composer's close affinity with nature, which was a constant inspiration to him.

This is followed by Bruch's Violin Concerto in G minor, one of the most widely performed works in the violin repertoire of the second half of the nineteenth century. Bruch masterfully combined the melodious solo part with technical complexity and full orchestral input not merely as an accompaniment, but as an equal partner to the violin. This evening's soloist is Teo Gertler, the gifted young Slovak artist whose mature performing technique is regularly displayed in international competitions and on stage.

We conclude with the Pastoral Symphony No. 6 in F major, one of Beethoven's most striking works inspired by nature and the countryside, which goes beyond a mere illustration in sound to a musically structured expression of being in nature and living in harmony with its rhythm. The different movements of the symphony depict specific settings such as the scene by the brook where we hear the calls of a quail, a cuckoo and a nightingale; then there is the merry gathering of the country folk with its dance rhythms and dramatic passage depicting a whirlwind, downpour and rumble of thunder. The final movement transitions into a pastoral idyll reflecting the calm after the storm, ending the symphony in a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude to nature.