Thu, 13. 5. 2027, 19:00 hrs.

A7 A Cursed Romance

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

Solo appearances by the bass trombone are something of a rare occurrence despite the instrument's great expressive potential with its deep, rich and darkly coloured tone able to sound both monumental yet intimate, and its powerful sound belying its agility and subtle timbre. It is this combination that makes the instrument unique and remarkable, deserving of greater compositional representation than it has received, and the contemporary Czech composer Ivan Zelenka's Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra is an important contribution to its repertoire. The work, first performed in 2025 at the graduation concert of Jaroslav Broža, the current trombonist with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic, was accompanied on the piano at the time, but now its full orchestral instrumentation provides scope for the work to maximise its potential musical impact.

Zelenka's concerto is flanked by two Romantic works inspired by nature and water surfaces. The opening symphonic poem The Accursed Huntsman by César Franck is based on a ballad by the German poet Gottfried August Bürger. It tells the story of an arrogant count who defies the Sabbath to go hunting, and is ultimately punished by being cursed to be chased by demons.

Our second half tonight features the orchestral suite from one of the most famous ballets, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, with a selection of scenes including the famous waltz, the dance of the swans, and the Hungarian or Neapolitan dance, depicting key moments in the ballet's story of the love of Prince Siegfried and Princess Odette and the intrigues that threaten it. Swan Lake has become one of the pillars of the world ballet repertoire ever since its premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg in 1895. Tonight's concert is conducted by Leoš Svárovský, the principal guest conductor of the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic.