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Joaquín Rodrigo and Bohuslav Martinů Celebrated This Summer and Next Season

Jul. 08, 2009

The Summer of 2009 holds special significance for the legacy of composers Joaquín Rodrigo and Bohuslav Martinů as it marks the 10th and 50th anniversaries of these composers' passings respectively. This summer and next season the memories of these great musical minds of the 20th century are celebrated by orchestras and ensembles worldwide.

July 6, 1999 marked the passing of the beloved Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Sony Records marks the 10th anniversary of the composers' death this month with the release of a commemorative set of Rodrigo recordings, featuring musicians including Teresa Berganza, Montserrat Caballé, and Julian Lloyd Webber. A special tribute series to Joaquín Rodrigo takes place in London in October 2009 with a series of recitals by the first prize-winners of the IV Rodrigo International Piano and Violin Competition followed by the Iuventus Orchestra of the Chopin Academy performing the four Rodrigo guitar concertos in Warsaw in November.

Bohuslav Martinů passed away on August 28, 1959, leaving behind a rich life of musical compositions that still are performed and enjoyed by countless musicians today. Despite living through the shattering times of the first half of the 20th century, Martinů remained a cheerful, versatile man of energy and creativity. Particularly influenced by the French composers of the time and Czech folk music, Martinů also often referred to his extra-musical interests and hobbies in his music such as animals, flying, soccer, swimming and boxing.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bohuslav Martinů's death, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra has devoted their 2009/2010 season to the composer's work, including performances this fall of his Concertino for Piano and Orchestra and Nonet for ensemble. The Prague Spring Festival 2009 recently honored the composer with a multitude of performances of his works including Nipponari performed by the Prague Philharmonia led by Jiří Bělohlávek and featuring mezzo-soprano Dagmar Pecková. The Czech National Museum currently hosts an exhibition about Martinů's life and work, and theatres in Prague and Brno are mounting productions of Martinů's stage works including the National Theatre Brno's production of The Amazing Flight, "Ballet mecanique"this fall performed by Bohemia Ballet and Ensemble of the Dance Conservatory Prague under the musical direction of Jakub Klecker. Schott also commemorates this 50th anniversary with a new series of Martinů study scores.

For more information on Joaquin Rodrigo, visit www.joaquin-rodrigo.com and www.schott-music.com.

For more information on Bohuslav Martinů, visit www.martinu.cz, www.schott-music.com and www.universaledition.com.

Joaquín Rodrigo
Fantasía para un gentilhombre (1958)
for guitar and small orchestra
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22'

Concierto de Aranjuez (1940)
for guitar and orchestra
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20'

Bohuslav Martinů
Concertino (1948)
for piano and orchestra
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22'

Nipponari (1963)
seven songs for woman's voice, viola and small orchestra
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24'

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