29. 7. 2022 / Piatok
29. 7. 2022 / Piatok
MIRKO KRAJČI / CELLOSSEUM
“From all musical instruments it is namely the cello, with its sound, range, timbre, possibilities, I crave to say “with its soul”, which is my most beloved instrument. It definitely dominates my chamber music. It is an instrument commanding many poetics, endless inspirations.
The CD Cellosseum presents an overview of my cello chamber music since the time of my studies to this day. The piece …and unto Dust Shalt Thou Return originated during my first year at the Academy of Performing Arts, and Duality in 2022, thus more than three decades separate them. Ciaccona was originally written for a viola solo, the cello version is slightly adapted to the technical possibilities of the instrument. The piece Cellosseum is an extensive work for eight cellos. Although it was written in 2012, it is only this project which has given rise to its sound appearance. The cellist Eugen Prochác and I agreed on a less typical way of the realization of its recording: he has recorded all the voices himself one after another. I believe the result will be a pleasant surprise for all listeners.”
Programm
- J. S. BACH / Suite No. 3 C major for violoncello solo / selection
- J. S. BACH / Suite No. 4 E flat major for violoncello solo / selection
- P. FIŠER / celtic duo for 2 violoncellos
- M. KRAJČI / Duality for 2 violoncellos / premiere
- M. KRAJČI / CELLOSSEUM for 8 violoncellos / premiere
Eugen Prochác, cello
Ján Slávik, cello
Mirko Krajči
is a laureate of the International Composers’ Competition in Fulda (Germany, 1993) and of the international conducting competition “Maestro Silva Pereira Prize” in Porto (Portugal, 2002). Finishing his conservatory studies in Bratislava with “The Best Graduate of the Year” title he continued at the Bratislava Academy of Performing Arts (composition, conducting). In 1992 he went through an educational conducting stay at the Conservatoire National Supérieur in Paris. As early as during his studies he worked as a piano accompanist, later the choirmaster of the Children and Youth Choir of the Slovak Radio. Since 1996 he worked as a programme director of the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, as well as the artistic leader of the Technik Chamber Orchestra, a position he still holds today. Presently he is the music director in the Slovak Radio, since 2006 the chief director.
As a conductor he has collaborated intensely mostly with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, but also with other orchestras. With the SRSO he has realized numerous concerts and studio recordings of both international repertory pieces and Slovak composers’ works. He has conducted in many countries and collaborated with a number of renowned soloists.
He has also dedicated himself to composing ardently. Many of his works were commissioned by festivals and institutions (Bratislava Music Festival, Slovak National Theatre, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, State Philharmonic Košice and others). He has received many prestigious prizes for his compositions: Ján Levoslav Bella Prize (1997), SOZA Award (1997), Ján Cikker Prize (2007). He has been awarded at Slovak composing competitions many times, let us mention one of the latest – he is the winner of the composing competition “Arco 2021” (he also won the first two competitions “Arco 2017” and “Arco 2019”).
Eugen Prochác
was the absolute winner of the international competition Premio Valentino Bucchi in Rome in 1990. He has performed in over 40 countries in four continents and recorded a high number of albums for Slovak and foreign music labels. He has given performances together with world-famous musicians such as Sofia Gubaidulina, Giovanni Sollima, Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Steve Hackett, Ken Hensley… He has been teaching at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava since 1990 and has led masterclasses in Portugal, France, Austria, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. He is the artistic director of the Festival of Nice Music in Banská Štiavnica.
Ján Slávik
studied the cello at the Bratislava Conservatory under Gustáv Večerný and Karol Filipovič, at the Academy of Performing Arts with Jozef Podhoranský and studied chamber music in Vienna at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst. In the year 1992 he was awrded an ArtD degree at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava where he has been working as a university teacher since 1993. In 2012 he was appointed Professor of Music Art by the President of the Slovak Republic. Ján Slávik is a founding member of the Moyzes Quartet (1975) and he has given concerts in almost all European countries, Japan, USA and Canada and has recorded more than 40 compact discs with them. As a soloist he has recorded 15 CDs. Since 2008, Ján Slávik has been working as leader of the cello section in the Slovak Philharmonic.