The cycle of classical music concerts directed by its founder, Barbara Maria Willi, has been an integral part of cultural events in the Moravian capital for twenty-three years. The audience in Brno has already been introduced to a number of outstanding personalities and ensembles with whom Barbara Maria Willi regularly cooperates. This year's opening concert, traditionally held on Wednesday, 11 February, in the hall of the Convent of the Merciful Brothers with a subtitle Music in Motion offered a combination of the art of the fortepiano with flute played by Sofia Mavrogenidou and accompanied by young dancers Klementýna Anna Špičková and Adam Mišo, choreographed by David Strnad.
Sofia Mavrogenidou is a native of Brno with Greek ancestors. After studying flute with Božena Růžičková, she continued her studies in Paris, where she perfected her playing. She performs throughout Europe as a soloist and chamber musician and is also an active teacher. She also focuses on the creation and interpretation of her own compositions or songs, some of which were performed at the concert. The evening began with Dance of Salome by Mavrogenidou for solo flute, interpreting the biblical story of the Princess of Judaea. At the beginning of the concert, the author and performer created an intimate atmosphere rich in lyrical moments, oriental character and a thrilling technically demanding conclusion of the piece. The composer's works were carefully chosen to correspond thematically or in character with the dance dramaturgy. The audience enjoyed compositions such as Waltz of Tears, Gioco su tarantella/Dumka or Stati d'animo Suite, which Barbara Maria Willi accompanied on her fortepiano.
The combination of the transverse flute (of multiple types) with the fortepiano was striking in tone, but very risky in intonation, which unfortunately showed in most of the pieces. Both players tended to tune their instruments to each other during the concert, but the difference between the fortepiano and the flute was so great that this deficiency could not be eliminated. Despite this shortcoming and the occasional rhythmic hesitation in the interplay between the ladies, it should be said that at least the interpretation of the contemporary pieces captivated the audience. A welcome moment, which diversified the programme and hinted at the subtitle of the concert, was the dance performance of two young students of the Dance Conservatory Brno in Gioco su tarantella/Dumka. David Strnad's choreography incorporated folk dance elements, expressive dance and ballet figures, to which the pair of dancers added lightness, energy and the desired emotions. As a spectator, I lamented that there could have been more dance at the concert (for example, as a deliberate combination of classical music and contemporary dance). The performance of all participants was excellent. However, such a distinctive stand-alone number may have struck some viewers as too different in the context of the other pieces. The question remains whether next time it might be better to include it at the very end of the event.
The work of Sofia Mavrogenidou alternated seamlessly with the music of the old masters. Sonata in G minor BWV 1020 by Johann Sebastian Bach/Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was dominated by ornamentation and dialogue between the piano and flute, while in Handel's Sonata in E minor, the rich rhythmic structure of the movements stood out, with a fanciful touch in the third movement of the Adagio. Canzonetta by Jan Ladislav Dusík was performed in an unusual arrangement by Brno composer Miloš Štědroň and despite its new guise retained its classical character. From the oldest of the programme's composers, John Eccles, came The Mad Lover, interpreted by Sofia Mavrogenidou, which stirred the passions with its catchy melody. The opening concert of the Barbara Maria Willi presents 2026 series thus offered a wide range of dance-style music in a chamber performance that captivated the audience.
Programme:
Sofia Mavrogenidou – own work
Johann Sebastian Bach/Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach – Sonata in G minor BWV 1020
Georg Friedrich Händel – Sonata in E minor, Op. 1, No. 1b
Jan Ladislav Dusík/Miloš Štědroň – Canzonetta
John Eccles – The Mad Lover
Sofia Mavrogenidou – flute
Barbara Maria Willi – fortepiano
Klementýna Anna Špičková, Adam Mišo – dance
David Strnad – choreography
Wednesday, 11 February 2026, 7 p.m., Convent of the Merciful Brothers
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