RTWSO: Bohemian Rhapsodies

Lada Valešová – Conductor
Joo Yeon Sir – Violin
Weinberger – Polka & Fugue from Schwanda the Bagpiper
Dvořák – Violin Concerto
Smetana – Excerpts from Má Vlast
Martinů – Symphony No. 2

We are delighted to welcome Lada Valešova, a Czech conductor who is making a name for herself both in the UK and in her homeland, for this celebration of Czech music, full of energy, character and unforgettable melodies.
The concert opens with Weinberger’s Polka & Fugue from Schwanda the Bagpiper, a piece bursting with humour and drive. The polka has the feel of a village dance thrown wide open for the concert hall, while the fugue adds a playful twist of invention.
Violinist Joo Yeon Sir then takes centre stage in Dvořák’s Violin Concerto. This is music that sings with lyricism and warmth, and is full of dance-like flow. Rather than flashy display, it’s about conversation and musical storytelling.
After the interval we have excerpts from Smetana’s Má vlast, including the famous Vltava, music that paints flowing rivers, legends and landscapes with remarkable clarity. The programme ends with Martinů’s Second Symphony, written in exile but still full of the rhythms and spirit of home.
A varied, colourful programme shaped by dance, memory and national identity.