Project “Harlequin”

The audience of the International Music Festival Český Krumlov will witness a unique project – the performance of the avant-garde composition Harlequin for solo clarinet by Karlheinz Stockhausen interpreted by clarinetist Karel Dohnal (7th August).

This work is currently only performed by four performers in the world as it is extremely difficult to perform. Besides a perfect rendition of the musical score it is also necessary to master the choreography, facial expression and dance. Karel Dohnal not only proves by his original interpretation of the composition that he belongs among the top interpreters in his field but also that he has a great comedic talent. Karel Dohnal has, for example, cooperated with the Tokyo String Quartet, soprano Edita Gruberová, and a number of Czech as well as foreign orchestras and soloists. He is a member of the Prague Clarinet Ensemble, Trio Amadeus, and PhilHarmonica Octet. He has recorded several CDs of solo as well as chamber repertoire. He regularly teaches courses in the Czech Republic and abroad. He is a member of the Prague Clarinet Ensemble, Trio Amadeus, and PhilHarmonia Octet. In the years 2009–2010 he was a guest clarinetist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London. Accordionist Jiří Lukeš will perform at the concert with Karel Dohnal. The core of his activities is the interpretation of mainly contemporary solo and chamber music, including his own compositions. He has staged several premieres and performed them in concert. Since June 2010, he has been a member of the dramaturgy committee of the contemporary music composers’ association Přítomnost (The Present). Let us add to the program that the decorations in the Masquarade Hall also include characters from the Italian commedia dell’arte so the musical-stage performance of the composition Harlequin in this setting is more than characteristic.



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