The works of Bedřich Smetana and Josef Suk were featured in a musically revealing piano program that anticipates the upcoming Year of Czech Music 2024, when musicians will commemorate the 200th anniversary of Smetana's birth and the 150th anniversary of Suk's birth. The music of these two composers is infused with Czech folk songs, dances and the atmosphere of the Czech landscape, making it a great pleasure for listeners to hear the award-winning young pianist Matyáš Novák share the joy of interpreting these typically Czech pieces.

Introductory remarks by Michael Beckerman, Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor of Music at NYU.

PROGRAM

Bedřich Smetana: Czech Dances, Book 2 (1879)
Furiant; Slepička (The Little Hen); Oves (Oats); Medvěd (The Bear); Cibulička (The Little Onion); Dupák (Stamping Dance); Hulán (The Lancer); Obkročák (Stepping Dance); Sousedská (Neighbor’s Dance); Skočná (Hop Dance)

Intermission

Josef Suk: Six Piano Pieces Op. 7 (1891-93)
Píseň lásky (Song of Love); Humoresque; Vzpomínky (Reminiscences); Idylls; Dumka; Capricionetto

Bedřich Smetana / Matyáš Novák: Vltava (1874/2020)

Novák concluded the program with his own transcription of the world-renowned symphonic poem "Vltava" by Smetana. As it is one of his favorite compositions, he recently decided to adapt the piece for solo piano and this performance represents the American premiere.

As an encore to his brilliant performance, Novák offered the jazzy “Bugatti Step” of 20th century Czech composer/pianist Jaroslav Ježek.

“I believe that this adaptation of Smetana’s towering work captures the atmosphere of the full orchestra, and that at least for a moment, I will be able to transport the audience to the beautiful settings and narrative of the Vltava river.”

— pianist Matyáš Novák

About

MATYÁŠ NOVÁK began studying piano at the age of five. He graduated from the Imola International Piano Academy in 2022 where he studied with Boris Petrushansky. Currently, Matyáš is attending the class of Ivan Klánský at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. 

Matyáš has performed in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Poland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Serbia, Italy, Norway, Holland, France, Thailand, the US, and China. In 2017 he debuted in Carnegie Hall and released his first album Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage: Suisse. In May 2021, a classical record label Nimbus Alliance has released his CD with Mozart´s Piano concertos K. 413, K. 414, K. 415, which he recorded in cooperation with a world famous Wihan Quartet. 

Matyáš is a prize winner of many prestigious international competitions, such as XX Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition, XVI International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition, Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras, including the RTVE Symphony Orchestra, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, and has performed in venues such as Weill Recital Hall (New York), Rudolfinum Hall (Prague), National Library of China (Beijing), Bohemian National Hall (New York), TivoliVredenburg Hall (Utrecht). Matyáš is a member of the PETROF Art Family.

This event was organized by DAHA with support of the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association, NU AVE ART, and the Smetana200 project by the Czech Philharmonic & Smetanova Litomysl.

Photos: Barbora Zeigler