The concert of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Castle Riding Hall on Saturday 26^th July was dedicated to the works by Antonín Dvořák. Violin virtuoso Ivan Ženatý performed as a soloist and the concert was conducted by the world-famous conductor of Romanian origin Ion Marin.

The evening titled Homage to Antonín Dvořák was broadcast live for listeners of the Czech Radio Vltava. The program of Dvořák’s evening started with Carnival Overture, Op. 92. Dvořák’s Concerto in A Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 53 followed and was performed by Ivan Ženatý with the typical brilliance of his together with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. This virtuoso is considered the most important Czech violinist of the present and is the residential soloist of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. “I constantly play Czech music regardless of the fact whether it is the Year of Czech Music or another feast. I was very happy to play in Český Krumlov today with such a superb conductor and orchestra, I appreciate having been invited to Český Krumlov. It is a good thing that the festival originated and continues with ever greater success,” Ivan Ženatý, who has been a professor at the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music in the USA for a number of years, said after the concert.  How did America enrich him? “Especially in the fact that I perceive the sense of freedom, which the Americans sense in a different way compared to us in Europe, more. As far as music is concerned I consider myself a conservative person so I haven’t included any modern American compositions in my repertoire yet. But I play such pieces as, for example, Bernstein’s Serenade and Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto quite often.” In the second part of the evening graceful Ion Marin and the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra presented Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”, a composition from Dvořák’s American period which represents the highlight of his work and is considered one of the most perfect compositions of the symphonic genre ever. It is continually outstandingly popular among interpreters and audiences, which was confirmed by the evening in Český Krumlov. “I often encounter Czech music, not only works by Antonín Dvořák but also compositions by Smetana, Janáček and Martinů, it is one of the biggest music schools in the world. But nationality is not as important as the composition itself. If we organize an evening of Czech music it is more an acknowledgement of the fact that this country gave a brilliant composer such as Dvořák to the world,” said Ion Marin. The concert was dedicated to the members of the IMF Český Krumlov Friends Club. After the concert they had the opportunity to meet the protagonists of the concert, Ivan Ženatý and Ion Marin. Ion Marin shared his impressions from the concert with them, “I have cooperated with Ivan Ženatý many times already, I can say that he is an old friend of mine. As opposed to that I conducted the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra for the first time and I really enjoyed it. I am not an obstinate defender of fixed traditions so the applause between the movements of the composition From the New World did not disturb me in any way. Actually, it is correct – in the 19^th century when for example Dvořák premiered his works it was common for the audience to applaud after every movement if they liked it.” And what impression did the town of Český Krumlov make on him? “Český Krumlov is a beautiful town, literally an oasis of beauty. I thank all those who made it possible for me to perform here tonight. It is great that a music festival originated right here and has such a long tradition. It is a big success for the Czech Republic.”