Saint-Saëns. Rachmaninoff. Berlioz. Tanguy

In the context of Western classical music, the importance of the French musical tradition is tremendous. France has been the scene of remarkable musical achievements since the Renaissance, which still holds true today, as evidenced by the program of the opening concert of this season.

The PKF — Prague  Philharmonia will present works by three French composers of different eras under the baton of Emmanuel Villaume, who is very well known for his interpretation of French music.

We will start with Incanto by contemporary composer Éric Tanguy, a pupil of the legendary Gérard Grisey. Tanguy has presented his compositions in collaboration with stellar soloists such as Mstislav Rostropovich or Emmanuel Pahud, and is one of the most respected living composers in his homeland.

We will glimpse into 19^th-century French music through the works of Hector Berlioz and Camille Saint-Saëns. Berlioz considered the Love Scene from his magnificent dramatic symphony Roméo et Juliette to be the best he had ever written. In Symphony No. 2, we will get acquainted with the art of counterpoint of the traditionalist Camille Saint-Saëns. 

The first evening of the season will be crowned with one of the most celebrated works of piano literature, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 played by our frequent guest performer, the excellent Andrew von Oeyen.

Andrew von Oeyen — piano

Hailed worldwide for his elegant and insightful interpretations, balanced artistry and brilliant technique, Andrew von Oeyen has established himself as one of the most captivating pianists of his generation.  

Mr. von Oeyen has appeared in recital at Wigmore Hall and Barbican Hall in London, Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Boston’s Symphony Hall, Zürich’s Tonhalle, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, St. Petersburg’s Philharmonia, Dublin’s National Concert Hall, Royce Hall in Los Angeles, Herbst Theater in San Francisco, Spivey Hall in Atlanta, Sala São Paulo, Teatro Olimpico in Rome, in Mexico City, Hanoi, Macau, and in every major concert hall of Japan and South Korea. Festival appearances include Aspen, Ravinia, Grant Park, Mainly Mozart, Saratoga, Schubertiade, Spoleto, Brevard, Grand Teton, Chautauqua and the Mariinsky’s “Stars of the White Nights.”

Mr. von Oeyen’s 2020-21 engagements include, among others, appearances with the Atlanta Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, PKF-Prague Philharmonia, Magdeburg Philharmonic, Kansai Philharmonic, Iceland Symphony, Orquesta Filarmonica de Buenos Aires (Teatro Colón), Krakow Philharmonic, Zagreb Philharmonic, Murten Classics Festival Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, in addition to recitals across the US and Europe and summer festival appearances in Switzerland and Italy. He will release his third album for Warner Classics in June, 2021.

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Emmanuel Villaume — conductor

French-born conductor Emmanuel Villaume has led captivating performances with the most prominent opera companies and symphony orchestras around the world. Since the 2015–2016 season he has been Chief Conductor of the PKF – Prague Philharmonia. 

He also regularly collaborates with opera houses in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Montreal, Royal Opera Covent Garden in London, Washington National Opera, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and Opéra Bastille in Paris. Emmanuel Villaume has also conducted at the Bavarian State Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro Regio di Torino, Teatro Real in Madrid and Opéra de Monte-Carlo, among others. 

Among the orchestras he has conducted so far are: Los Angeles Philharmonic; Chicago, Montreal, San Francisco, Houston and Boston Symphony Orchestras; Royal Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France and NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo. In 2008 the China National Opera House Orchestra played under Villaume’s baton during the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. 

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