The opening concert of the festival will be marked by stories, fantasy, and exotic poetry. The opening evening will begin with Ravel's sensual songs, in which the famous Egyptian soprano Fatma Said will lend her voice to Scheherazade. The program will then move seamlessly to Rimsky-Korsakov's passionate suite, inspired by the timeless legend of One Thousand and One Nights. The evening will be conducted by the Prague Philharmonia under the baton of conductor Petr Altrichter, whose interpretive mastery will weave the stories into a unified and impressive whole. The atmosphere of the concert will be enhanced by the Losers Cirque Company with their movement art and subtle acrobatic elements, which will embody the characters of the main story of Scheherazade and transform the oriental fantasy into a modern stage spectacle.
The evening will also offer unique prologues and echoes: before the concert itself, there will be a surprise in the rhythm of Persian music, which will transport listeners to the world of the Orient even before the first orchestral notes are heard. After the concert, the audience will embark on a poetic walk through part of the castle gardens, including its labyrinth, where, led by actor and narrator Justin Svoboda, other stories inspired by ancient legends will come to life. The end of the evening will thus turn into a fantasy journey in which music, words, and space will come together in a single magical experience.
Artists
Fatma Said – soprano
Losers Cirque Company
Petr Horníček – director and choreographer
Petr Altrichter – conductor
Prague Philharmonia
Program
Maurice Ravel: Scheherazade (Three Poems for Voice and Orchestra), M. 41
Niklaj Rimskij-Korsakov: Scheherazade (Symphonic suite), op. 35
Without intermission
This concert is part of the Opening Festival Package, which includes three following concerts:
- A Thousand and One Nights: Shéhérazade, 17.7., 21:00, Summer Riding Hall Český Krumlov
- Vondráček & Rachmaninov, 18.7., 19:30, Castle Riding Hall Český Krumlov
- Hejl & St. Wenceslas Chorale, 19.7., 20:00, St. Nicolas Church in Boletice
The festival package includes top-category tickets with a 20% discount and access to special offers from festival partners. Available until the end of 2025 or while supplies last.