A silence of anticipation descends on the Castle Riding Hall. For the first time in Český Krumlov, Lukáš Vondráček, one of today's most outstanding pianists, will sit down at the piano. An artist whose playing combines passion with deep calm and power with gentleness. Together with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tomáš Brauner, he invites listeners on a journey through the world of romantic music, from the birth of emotions to their fading away. The evening will open with the world premiere of Labyrinth by Ondřej Brousek, a composition written for the 35th edition of the festival. This will be followed by Rachmaninov's iconic Piano Concerto No. 2, one of the most famous works of the Romantic era, performed by Lukáš Vondráček, winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition and a regular guest of world orchestras. After the intermission, the concert will culminate with Maurice Ravel's orchestral version of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, a colorful mosaic of sounds in which each tone transforms into an image and each image into an emotionally pulsating dream.
Artists
Lukáš Vondráček – piano
Tomáš Brauner – conductor
SOČR
Program
Ondřej Brousek: Labyrint (world premiere)
Sergei Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op. 18
intermission
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky/Maurice Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition
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.