Events

Brandon Ridenour (USA) trumpet Mark Dover (USA) clarinet Ahmed Alom (USA) piano George Gershwin (1898–1937): 3 Preludes I. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso II. Andante con moto III. Agitato George Gershwin: I Got (Fascinating) Rhythm, arr. B. Ridenour Aaron Copland (1900–1990): Quiet City Duke Ellington / Louis Armstrong: Selections from Jazz Standards

Who doesn't know Figaro, the barber who not only gives you a beautiful haircut, but also willingly helps you with love troubles? Enjoy Rossini's brilliant melodies in a classic commedia dell'arte production directly from the Italian team.

LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 DMITRY SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 15 in A major, Op. 141 Fazıl Say piano Brno Philharmonic conductor Dennis Russell Davies

Two nations are at war, but in the middle of the battlefield, a much more intimate drama unfolds, one that could have unexpected consequences. The Egyptian princess Amneris loves the warlord Radames. However, his love belongs to the captive Aida, who no one knows is the princess of the hostile Ethiopian country. Unbeknownst to either of them, they will soon face a choice that will decide life or death...

A human soul, a pure human soul! The water fairy Rusalka longs for life above the water, for love and a human soul. The Witch knows the way, but the price is high – Rusalka loses the ability to speak, but what good is speech if she is just a wave on the surface for her beloved prince... However, the world of people turns out to be cruel and full of betrayal, which even her pure love cannot overcome.

Břetislav Lvovský: Romance for double bass and piano Miloslav Gajdoš: Zingaresca for double bass and piano David Anderson: 7 Double Bass Duets Jules Massenet: Meditation from the opera Thais, arranged for double bass and piano Giovanni Bottesini: Passione amorosa for four double basses Johann Sebastian Bach: Arioso Thomas Tomkins: Robin Hood's Dance Giacomo Puccini: Nessun dorma from the opera Turandot Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 6 Fazil Say: Memleketim for voice, piano and double bass orchestra Johann Strauss: Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka Stefan Schäfer: Rookie Arie Malando: Olé guapa Tony Osborne: Kick Start Miloslav Jelínek – double bass, Marcela Jelínková – piano, Marek Švestka – double bass, Bohuslava Çavuşoğlu-Jelínková – vocals BRNO DOUBLE BASS ORCHESTRA

Pavel Haas Quartet (CZ) Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959): String Quartet No. 3, H. 183 I. Allegro II. Andante III. Vivo Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957): String Quartet No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 26 I. Allegro II. Intermezzo III. Larghetto IV. Waltz (Finale) — intermission — Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904): String Quartet No. 14 in A flat major, Op. 105, B193 I. Adagio ma non troppo. Allegro appassionato II. Molto vivace III. Lento e molto cantabile IV. Allegro non tanto

The Prague Cello Quartet will arrive in Brno's Semilasso in October. The four-member musical group will perform with the aim of creating a better environment for children of all ages from Žabovřesky and the surrounding area. Proceeds from the Benefit Concert will go to the Salesian Youth Center in Brno - Žabovřesky, where they will be used to improve the space and facilities for children of all ages. The Salesian Center has been hosting various activities for children and adults for 30 years, and the Great Hall and its facilities are currently being renovated, which also serves as a cultural center not only for the local community.

1st concert of the subscription cycle 'Muzikobraní' by the Moravian Piano Trio Jana Ryšánková – piano, Jiří Jahoda – violin, Miroslav Zicha – cello

OPENING CONCERT OF THE MORAVIAN AUTUMN FESTIVAL WILLIAM WALTON Portsmouth Point, overture ARTHUR SULLIVAN Pineapple Poll, suite DOREEN CARWITHEN Men of Sherwood Forest, overture LEOŠ JANÁČEK Sinfonietta EDWARD ELGAR Enigma, variations on an own theme Music of the Castle Guard and the Police of the Czech Republic BBC Concert Orchestra conductor Anna-Maria Helsing

Sir Charles, thank you, thank you… A portrait of the British conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, who brought Janáček to the world (Czech Television documentary, 2010, directed by Rudolf Chudoba, 53 min.) “If I am remembered for anything, it will probably be for Janáček…” Sir Charles Mackerras (1925–2010)

Is Verdi's famous Nabucco just an opera about the desire for freedom? Jiří Heřman's production offers an engaging look at the story of the Babylonian king and the Jewish nation. It focuses on family relationships and King Nebuchadnezzar himself. The opera, full of magnificent choirs and captivating singing parts, has been one of the most popular titles in our repertoire for 35 years.

JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON IBM 1401, A Userʼs Manual, Czech premiere IBM 1401 Processor Unit IBM 1403 Printer IBM 1402 Punch card IBM 729 II Magnetic Tape Drive Erna Ómarsdóttir dance Úlfur Eldjárn electronics (www.ulfureldjarn.com) Ensemble Opera Diversa conductor Gabriela Tardonová

FESTIVAL ACCOMPANYING PROGRAM Admission to the afternoon events is free, the evening concert will be on sale later through the concert organizer. One hundred years since the birth of composer Alois Piňos and artist Dalibor Chatrný Piňosova Street in Kohoutovice, Chalabalova Elementary School gym The Rooster and the Pine is an auto-mythological story, a side story about life before and after death. What will remain of the author – his children, his work and the street named after him. In Kohoutovice, Brno, we will ceremoniously christen a bench on Piňosova Street, and then we will play compositions by Alois Piňos and his contemporaries together with preludes and interludes for the original Piňos piano by his pupils, friends and son. After five days, friendship burns brighter than false interest. So five premieres for five minutes for the Piňos piano have their irrational, tarot reason.

FRANZ SCHUBERT Sehnsucht D 636 Nachtstück D 672 Der Pilgrim D 794 Auf dem Wasser zu singen D 774 Der Zwerg D 771 Die Sterne D 939 and other songs María Cristina Kiehr soprano Pablo Márquez romantic guitar Last year, two internationally renowned artists originally from Argentina – soprano María Cristina Kiehr and guitarist Pablo Márquez – recorded and released the interpretatively unique and dramaturgically groundbreaking album Sehnsucht, in which they included songs by Franz Schubert with authentic guitar accompaniment from the period. In Schubert's time, it was common for songs with piano accompaniment to be published with alternative guitar accompaniment, often within the same edition. Schubert was no exception – during his lifetime, thirty-four of his songs were published in this way, to which another eighteen were added in the five years after the composer's death. Guitar arrangements of these accompaniments were often the work of the publishers themselves, either because they were guitarists, as was the case with Diabelli, or because they commissioned the arrangements from experts on the instrument. Today we know of about seventy Schubert songs with arranged guitar accompaniments, which have been largely neglected until now and whose historical significance we are only beginning to discover and understand.

BRONIUS KUTAVIČIUS The Last Pagan Rites, oratorio for soprano, choir, organ and horns Cantiléna, children's choir at the Brno Philharmonic Choirmaster Michal Jančík When Moravian Autumn presented the oratorio The Last Pagan Rites by Lithuanian composer Bronius Kutavičius in 2017, the concert was described as one of the biggest events of the entire festival year. In 2021, Moravian Autumn presented the work again in an extraordinary way, as a tribute to the composer, who died shortly before the festival opened. Even then, the performance was met with great interest. The audience success and the enthusiasm of the children's choir Kantiléna for performing this work made The Last Pagan Rites a permanent program item of the Moravian Autumn and Tradition: the work was again presented with great interest and success in 2023 and is also planned for 2025: this time, however, for the first time in a recently discovered and made accessible architectural gem - in Brno's historical reservoirs, whose acoustics and almost temple-like architecture will undoubtedly enhance the effect of this suggestive oratorio by Kutavičius and offer it in a new context.

Salt-ice, a tale of salt and ice (children's origami opera) for children's choir, piano and soundtrack Ruben Zahra music and direction Tricia Dawn Williams piano Barbora Seidlová narrator Students of the dance department of ZUŠ Veveří Children's choir of ZUŠ Orchidea Project leader Kristýna Drášilová The project connects children with professional artists in an interdisciplinary production that includes storytelling, music, dance, origami and video. The story, written by Susanne Felicitas Wolfová, is inspired by folklore from the Upper Austrian region, especially salt mines and ice caves. The vision of composer and director Ruben Zahra adopts paper as the main material for costumes, props and scenography through the use of origami and pop-up paper sculptures. The contemporary aesthetics of the mise-en-scène are also reflected in the choreography of Silke Grabingerová.

Worse than a scar on the face are scars on the soul. Jenůfí pastorkyňa is one of Janáček's most famous works and is a permanent part of the Brno Opera repertoire. It began with a realistic drama by Gabriela Preissová, which the composer himself adapted into an opera libretto. Although he had to significantly shorten the text of the drama, he managed to deepen the effect of the tragic story from the Moravian countryside. The prodigal and unstable Števa, the violent and yet at heart kind Laca, and above all the relentless Kostelnička, whose efforts to maintain her position and respect in the village community lead her to murder the child of her ward Jenůfa. Janáček (1854–1928) captured the individual characters in a masterful dramatic short story that is chilling, yet at the same time arouses compassion and understanding in us. The final form of the work, marked by the death of the composer's daughter Olga, was a long and thorny path. After its successful premiere in Brno in 1904, Jenůfí pastorkyňa had to wait twelve long years before Janáček's efforts were crowned with well-deserved success on other domestic and foreign stages.

BRITTEN Sonata for cello and piano op. 65 SHOSTAKOVIČ Sonata for cello and piano in D minor op. 40 FILÍPEK, MEDKOVÁ new compositions commissioned by the festival Štěpán Filípek cello Sára Medková piano

GEORG FRIEDRICH HÄNDEL Solomon (Solomon), oratorio HWV 67 Orchestra & Choir of the Age of Enlightenment conductor John Butt The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is one of the world's most famous ensembles of period instruments focused on the informed interpretation of early music. Its history began in the mid-1980s, when it was founded by a group of musicians dissatisfied with common orchestral practice. The ensemble does not have a chief conductor, but is always looking for exceptional artistic partners for individual projects. Sir Simon Rattle, Vladimir Jurowski, Iván Fischer have held the conductor's chair, and Sir Charles Mackerras has also worked closely with the ensemble.

VIKTOR ULLMANN The Emperor of Atlantis or the Denial of Death (recording of a performance given at the Ars Electronica festival in Linz 2025, 50 min.) with the participation of the Chief Conductor of the Brno Philharmonic Dennis Russell Davies and the Artistic Director of the Ars Electronica festival Gerfried Stocker After the screening, a discussion with Lubomír Spurný and Jan Dobrovský in cooperation with the Memory of the Nation.

PAVEL VRANICKÝ Octet in F major for wind octet (previously attributed to Joseph Haydn) PETR WAJSAR Elektropictures, commissioned by the Moravian Autumn festival, world premiere GUSTAV MAHLER / arr. TOMÁŠ ILLE Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Boy's Magic Horn) for baritone, wind octet and double bass Roman Hoza baritone PhilHarmonia Octet: Vilém Veverka, Monika Fürbach Boušková oboes Irvin Venyš, Karel Dohnal clarinets Václav Vonášek, Martin Petrák bassoons Přemysl Vojta, Ondřej Vrabec horns Marek Švestka double bass

MIKALOJUS KONSTANTINAS ČIURLIONIS / FRANTIŠEK CHALOUPKA: MY JOURNEY MIKALOJUS KONSTANTINAS ČIURLIONIS compositions for à cappella choir (František Chaloupka: intermezzo for clarinet and piano): Aš prašiau Dievą (I prayed to God) VL 30, VL 30a Anoj pusėj Nemuno (On the other bank of the Nemunas) VL 27 Šėriau žirgelė (I fed the horses) VL 68, VL 68a Ant kalno gluosnys (On the willow hill) VL 27b Lakštangėlė (Nightingale) VL 43 Beauštanti aušrelė (Dawn) VL 31 Kelk, dukrele (Get up, little daughter) VL 42 Bėkit, bareliai (Run, little furrows) VL 32 Kas bernelio pamįslyta (What was in the young man's mind) VL 41 Dainų dainelė (Song of Songs) VL 33 Oi giria, giria (Hey, forest, forest) VL 52, VL 53 MIKALOJUS KONSTANTINAS ČIURLIONIS compositions for solo piano (František Chaloupka: intermezzo for solo clarinet): Oi giria, giria (Hey, forest, forest) VL 276 Jūra (Sea) VL 317 Sefaa Esec Variations VL 258 Fuga in B flat minor VL 345 Prelude in F sharp major “Angelus Domini” VL 184 FRANTIŠEK CHALOUPKA opera-oratorio for clarinet, piano, soloists and choir, composition commissioned by the festival, world premiere I 25′ Anna Paulová clarinet Miroslav Beinhauer piano Aidija Chamber Choir Choirmaster Romualdas Gražinis Dramaturgy of the project Vítězslav Mikeš and František Chaloupka The concert will take place without a break.

ONDŘEJ KYAS / KATEŘINA KŘIVÁNKOVÁ Under the Sea, ballet based on the fairy tale The Little Mermaid by H. Ch. Andersen, commissioned by the festival, in cooperation with ZUŠ Veveří, world premiere music by Ondřej Kyas libretto, dramaturgy by Kateřina Křivánková choreography and direction by Gabriela Hrabalová scene and costumes by Tereza Jančová performed by students of ZUŠ Veveří conductor Jan Bělohlávek “The idea of choreographer Gabriela Hrabalová to translate the story of The Little Mermaid into a ballet form appealed to me very much – also because this Andersen fairy tale is often reduced to just an image of naive love, although in reality it carries deep existential motifs that resonate even today.

ONDŘEJ KYAS / KATEŘINA KŘIVÁNKOVÁ Under the Sea, ballet based on the fairy tale The Little Mermaid by H. Ch. Andersen, commissioned by the festival, in cooperation with ZUŠ Veveří, world premiere music by Ondřej Kyas libretto, dramaturgy by Kateřina Křivánková choreography and direction by Gabriela Hrabalová scene and costumes by Tereza Jančová performed by students of ZUŠ Veveří conductor Jan Bělohlávek “The idea of choreographer Gabriela Hrabalová to translate the story of The Little Mermaid into a ballet form appealed to me very much – also because this Andersen fairy tale is often reduced to just an image of naive love, although in reality it carries deep existential motifs that resonate even today.

ULLMANN The Broken Jug, Overture KOPPEL Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra No. 3 ROSSINI Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra JANÁČEK Taras Bulba Lenka Titzová marimba Teresa Bínová bassoon Janáček Academic Orchestra conductor Jakub Klecker

JANÁČEK Taras Bulba moderator Kateřina Jírová Janáček Academic Orchestra conductor Dominik Pernica

Anton Bruckner: Spiritual Motets (selection) Leonard Bernstein: Chichester Psalms Antonín Dvořák: Te Deum Eliška Minářová soprano Jozef Benci bass Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno Choirmaster Petr Fiala Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor Chuhei Iwasaki

SHOSTAKOVICH Antiformalistic Paradise SHOSTAKOVICH String Quartet No. 8 students and teachers of JAMU A stage concert in which students and teachers of JAMU will perform Shostakovich's sarcastic anti-regime pun Antiformalistic Paradise for soloists, choir and piano, as well as the String Quartet No. 8 in an arrangement.

After the successful production of Handel's Alcina, the top orchestra Collegium 1704, conducted by Václav Luks, returns to the Brno Theatre to explore the beauties of Mozart's music and his opera, which enjoys unwavering popularity all over the world, together with director Jiří Heřman. And it's no wonder, because The Marriage of Figaro, in addition to brilliant and sparkling music that will sweep you away with its unceasing flow similar to a mountain stream, also boasts an almost dramatic libretto. And how could it not, when the basis for Da Ponte was the play of the same name by the outstanding French playwright Pierre de Beaumarchais.

A joint project of students of JAMU, HAMU and VŠMU, which will introduce a new generation of composers. The audience will have the opportunity to hear completely new works created especially for this evening. performed by students of JAMU

MAREK PAĽA The Mountains Rumbled a cycle of Slovak folk songs, premiere BENJAMIN BRITTEN Missa in D PETR EBEN Catonis Moralia (selection from the cycle) FRANTIŠEK FIALA Mischievous Songs (selection from the cycle) LADISLAV NĚMEC Nursery Rhymes ANTONÍN TUČAPSKÝ, CTIRAD KOHOUTEK, PAVEL JURKOVIČ, OTMAR MÁCHA Magdalenka, Kantilénka and Kantiléna choirmasters Veronika Novosádová and Michal Jančík

Ferda the Ant – all kinds of work! You can easily recognize him, he has a red scarf with black polka dots around his neck, he is friends with Ladybug and the Bug. He is always in a good mood and knows how to deal with everything. The ideal hero of a children's opera. The iconic character from Ondřej Sekora's cartoons with stories from the beetle kingdom inspired the Brno composer and conductor Evžen Zámečník (1939-2018) to, as he himself said, play an opera for young and old, which had its very successful world premiere in 1977 at the Brno Opera. The two-act opera will initially introduce children to how such an opera works and then just start playing. Ferda and everyone go to the meadow for a morning warm-up, accompanied by a drunken bumblebee. Ferda helps Cricket fix his TV so he can watch hockey. The Bag Bug organizes a performance at the swimming pool, and finally Ferda flies home in a spider web airship.

Ferda the Ant – all kinds of work! You can easily recognize him, he has a red scarf with black polka dots around his neck, he is friends with Ladybug and the Bug. He is always in a good mood and knows how to deal with everything. The ideal hero of a children's opera. The iconic character from Ondřej Sekora's cartoons with stories from the beetle kingdom inspired the Brno composer and conductor Evžen Zámečník (1939-2018) to, as he himself said, play an opera for young and old, which had its very successful world premiere in 1977 at the Brno Opera. The two-act opera will initially introduce children to how such an opera works and then just start playing. Ferda and everyone go to the meadow for a morning warm-up, accompanied by a drunken bumblebee. Ferda helps Cricket fix his TV so he can watch hockey. The Bag Bug organizes a performance at the swimming pool, and finally Ferda flies home in a spider web airship.

Cellist Tomáš Jamník and Barbara Maria Willi are not only renowned as top artists. Both are also renowned as tireless initiators of musical projects, explorers of unconventional musical adventures, and are sought after for their exceptional ability to communicate warmly with the audience. "Interpreting music is like translating a book. My effort is to empathize with the composer's mind and convey a clear message and an intense experience to the listeners," reveals Tomáš. Discover the secrets of the portals, thanks to which both visionaries will quickly and comfortably transport you from the Baroque to the contemporary realm of music! Program: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH / MIROSLAV SRNKA

At the beginning was a short novella by the French writer Prosper Merimée about Don José, who deserted the army due to a foolish passion for a wild gypsy woman, became a smuggler and a murderer. Carmen, directed by Tomáš Pilar, returns to the original story and reveals additional layers of individual characters - the characters here are mainly people who came from completely different backgrounds. It is not just about Carmen's fleeting and unbridled love, which the jealous José cannot cope with. It is a clash of two worlds - the orderly, neat world of José and Micaëla, bound by predetermined rules, and the world of gypsies and smugglers living from day to day, without laws and controlled by momentary impulses. Their worlds suddenly intersect, but this difference causes tension and a clash that leads to the complete destruction of both of them. Neither of them is able to prevent it, because neither is willing or able to back down.

TIGRAN MANSURJAN Tagh No. 2 from the cycle Three Taghs for viola and percussion Orhnerg – Navapet Bari (Hymn – Good Captain) for baritone, choir and orchestra, a piece commissioned by the Brno Philharmonic and the Mendel Festival ARVO PÄRT Arbos for brass and percussion Wenn Bach Bienen Gezüchtet Hätte… (If Bach had kept bees…) for orchestra Berliner Messe (Berlin Mass) for choir and string orchestra Aksel Daveyan baritone Julián Veverica viola Lukáš Krejčí percussion Hard-Chor Linz Choirmaster Alexander Koller Brno Philharmonic Conductor Dennis Russell Davies

TIGRAN MANSURJAN Tagh No. 2 from the cycle Three Taghs for viola and percussion Orhnerg – Navapet Bari (Hymn – Good Captain) for baritone, choir and orchestra, a piece commissioned by the Brno Philharmonic and the Mendel Festival ARVO PÄRT Arbos for brass and percussion Wenn Bach Bienen Gezüchtet Hätte… (If Bach had kept bees…) for orchestra Berliner Messe (Berlin Mass) for choir and string orchestra Aksel Daveyan baritone Julián Veverica viola Lukáš Krejčí percussion Hard-Chor Linz Choirmaster Alexander Koller Brno Philharmonic Conductor Dennis Russell Davies