Hope VI. | 3. 4. 2022 | Church At Salvator

3. 4. 2022
Church U Salvátora, 7.30 pm

Closing concert - "Music for Prague"

Band of the Castle Guards and Police of the Czech Republic
Col. Václav Blahunek- conductor
Karel Dohnal- clarinet

Zdeněk Lukáš
Kyrie eleison

Vaclav Nelhybel
Concerto for Clarinet / Czech premiere /
Arioso
Dance
Cantabile

Petr Wajsar
JuliuS FuCik/ renewed premiere /

Karel Husa
Music for Prague 1968
Introduction and Fanfare
Aria
Interlude
Toccata and Chorale

Military music has a long tradition in the Czech Republic, and in times of peace, in addition to its role as entertainment, it performed educational tasks. In the 19th century, military bands played a rich role in concert life, not only with their popular solo promenade concerts, but often as the only musical ensemble or as part of local orchestras and opera performances in garrison towns. The Band of the Castle Guards and Police of the Czech Republic originated simultaneously with the renewal of the republic and musical life after the Second World War. As a component of the Czechoslovak People's Army, the orchestra was called the Central Music of the Ministry of the Interior from 1953. It has been named the Band of the Castle Guard and Police of the Czech Republic since 1990. The orchestra performs a ceremonial function in the protocol affairs of the state and the tasks associated with the events of the Ministry of the Interior and the Police of the Czech Republic. However, it also has developed a rich independent concert activity, which includes chamber ensembles, and members of the orchestra are among the top musicians in their field.

Colonel Václav Blahunek is a graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in clarinet and conducting. He has been the head of the Band of the Castle Guards and Police of the Czech Republic since 2009 and since 2017 he has also been the chief conductor of the National Wind Orchestra of the Czech Republic. In addition to active conducting activities, he also deals with history; in 2010, he completed his doctoral studies at AMU on the topic "The Symphonic Wind Band as Reflected in Czech Music of the Second Half of the 20^th Century.”

Karel Dohnal graduated at the Ostrava Conservatory and the Prague AMU and completed study-related stays in London, Berlin, St. Petersburg and Hilversum. He is a laureate of the international competitions (Prague Spring, Rome, Bayreuth, Ostend, Seville, London). He has performed in a number of European countries, North and South America and Asia, and collaborated with leading vocal and instrumental soloists and chamber ensembles (Prague Chamber Philharmonic, Talich Chamber Orchestra, Tokyo String Quartet, Bennewitz Quartet, etc.). He is a member of the Trio Amadeus and PhilHarmonia Octet. Karel Dohnal is the official player of the French clarinet manufacturer Selmer and the American company Rico.

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