Archive for the ‘Recordings’ Category
Intimate Studies Reviewed
I have copied the first reviews of my new CD Intimate Studies.
The CD is available in stores now. Return to my site for regular updates on publicity, events and concerts around this release.
The reviews follow below.
Sir Charles Mackerras
I had the opportunity of listening to your excellent new recording “Intimate Studies” and I must say I admired it tremendously.
The Janácek “In the Mists” seemed to me to be played most beautifully with great feeling for the poetry of the mists being described, with an understanding of the underlying meaning of the work which is most impressive and all too rare.
The other Janácek pieces called “Intimate Studies” ( no doubt inspired by Janácek’s designation of his Quartet ”Intimate Letters”) I find absolutely fascinating. I had actually never heard any of them before and short though many of the pieces are, they are all beautiful representatives of Janácek’s mature style. I am most grateful that you were able to introduce these pieces on your recording.
All in all you are to be congratulated on a magnificent CD which gives such a splendid overview of the 20th century Czech music.
Sir Charles Mackerras.
Evening Standard, 11 March 2009, Norman Lebrecht 
Lada Valesova, Intimate Studies ( Avie )
5 stars
Mood music by four Czechs: Janácek, Suk, Martinu and, least known, Pavel Haas, a Janacek pupil who died in Auschwitz. Valesova, a professor at the Guildhall, comes up with unpublished Janacek sheets from archives, including a letter to his dead daughter.
Extraordinary stuff, magically played.
Musical Pointers (www.musicalpointers.co.uk), Peter Grahame Woolf
An important debut release by a very special Czech pianist, now teaching at London’s Guildhall School.
It is a carefully constructed and unique programme to which a great deal of thought was given, supported by generous sponsorship and support (a whole page of acknowledgments!). The disc is conceived in homage to four composers who “found time and a ‘calling’ to give themselves selflessly to the task of passing on their knowledge to the next generation of Czech composers”.
Especially valuable are some unknown little pieces by Janácek, but everything is played idiomatically and perfectly recorded in Bristol, over three days in April 2008. Production is exemplary, with notes by the pianist and Vanda Prochazka and a nice set of photos of the pianist.
I look forward to hearing Lada Valešová in live recital and in chamber music collaborations.
Upcoming Concerts March-July 2010
Wednesday 31 March, 7.30 pm, Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel
Recital with Javier Borda, bass.
Programme: Schubert: Lieder, Dvorak: Biblical Songs, Dvorak: solo piano pieces.
Tickets are £10 and can be purchased on the day before the start of the concert.
No advanced booking necessary.
Address: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, Pilgrim’s Place, London, NW3 1NG.
Monday 19 April, 1 pm, Crush Room, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Recital with Robert Anthony Gardiner, tenor, Jette Parker Programme Young Artist.
Programme: Songs by Rachmaninoff and Quilter.
Entry free but tickets must be booked in advance:
Thursday 6 May, 7 pm, Embassy of Slovakia
“ Czech Masters “
Solo Piano Recital
Programme: Dvorak, Smetana, Suk, Janacek, Martinu, Haas.
Fundraising event for charity.
Tickets are £15 including wine and must be booked with ‘The UK Friends of Czech Historic Buildings,
Gardens and Parks’. Please call 023 80445261 or email events@ukczechfriends.org
Booking form: http://www.ukczechfriends.org/media/6c9e4a3bb21e0d3bffff8036d4355564.pdf
Address: 25, Kensington Palace Gardens. W8 4QY London.
Sunday 27 June, 7.30 pm, Wigmore Hall
“Czech musicians performing Czech music”
Outstanding Czech musicians presented by the Anglo-Czechoslovak Trust.
Web link: http://actrust.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
I will perform Spring by Suk and In the Mist by Janacek.
Booking opens on the 1st of March.
Tickets: £13 £11 £9 £8
How to Book: In person 7 days a week; 10am – 8.30pm. Days without an evening concert 10am – 5pm. No advanced booking in the half hour prior to a concert.
Telephone bookings : 020 7935 2141. 7 days a week; 10am – 7pm. Days without an evening concert; 10am – 5pm. There is a £1.50 administration fee for all telephone bookings which includes the return of your tickets by first class post.
Online bookings : www.wigmore-hall.org.uk. 7 days a week; 24 hours a day. There is a 50p administration fee for online bookings, which includes the return of your tickets by first class post.
Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2PB
Saturday 3 July, Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel
Recital with Claire Wilkins, soprano.
Programme: Songs and solo piano pieces by Tchaikovsky, Bridge, Quileter and Dvorak.
Tickets can be purchased before the concert on the day.
Address: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, Pilgrim’s Place, London, NW3 1NG.
Past Concerts
23 April, 7.30 pm, Salvation Army Centre, Church Street, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN 11 9 BS:
The Real Maud
Recital with tenor Christopher Macy of song cycle Maud by Sir Arthur Somervell, poems by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Opening concert of of Voice and Verse Festival celebrating Tennyson will also feature two speakers: Margaret and John Crompton. Tickets ( £6, £5 consessions) can be booked with organisers: Convivium Music, tel: 01522 53 72 61.
3 June, 6pm, Foyer of Opera de Lille, Lille, France.
Chants du Danube
Recital with Lucie Špicková, mezzo, as a part of Opera de Lille traditional and popular Wednesday concert series. We will perform songs by Martinu, Dvorák, Gall and Smetana. Tickets can be booked on line: www.opera-lille.fr. Fnac: www.fnac.com is a partner of Opera de Lille in ticket sales, should you wish to buy your ticket with them.
Further ahead concerts:
12th October, Prehlídka interpretacního umení ( Masters of Interpretation Art ), Prague, Czech Republic
I will perform solo compositions by Pavel Haas and Anonín Tucapský, as well Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by Karel Janovicky, together with the top Czech clarinetist, soloist and radio presenter, professor at the Prague Music Academy Jirí Hlavác. Details about the venue and ticket booking will follow soon.
15th October, Queen’s College, Belfast, Ireland
Recital of Czech songs with Lucie Špicková followed by a masterclass.
10th of January 2010
Solo recital for Darlington Piano Society, to include compositions by Janácek, Martinu, Dvorák, Smetana, Haas and Suk. I will also give a piano masterclass next day.
13th February 2010, Iffley, Oxford.
Solo recital for Iffley Music Society.