Sunday Afternoons with DAHA: Dvořák’s Cello Concerto

DAHA commenced a series of virtual events for the 2020-21 Season on Sunday, October 18th, with an archival recording of Dvořák’s world famous Cello Concerto originally performed March 26, 2017 by renowned cellist Marcy Rosen and the Aaron Copland School of Music Orchestra under the baton of the late conductor Maurice Peress, founding DAHA Board Member and Music Advisor. Originally broadcast March 26, 2017, the American period masterwork - the most celebrated of cello concertos to this day - was played before a capacity audience in the historic Bohemian National Hall, “Národní Budova,” built in 1896 for the New York Czech and Slovak community.

Czech Masterworks Performed by Aeolus Quartet

On Sunday, February 2nd, the award-winning Aeolus Quartet returned to perform a program of Czech masterworks, including Antonín Dvořák's Piano Quintet in A Major, Opus 81, one of the jewels of chamber music repertory. The program also included a selection of Dvořák's love songs from The Cypresses cycle as well as a colorful set of international dance pieces by Erwin Schulhoff.

Dvořák: The Chamber Music Survey with the Apollo Trio

On Sunday, September 22nd, DAHA presented the fourth concert in its continuing series of Dvořák’s complete chamber works with a performance by the exciting Apollo Trio. The selections included Dvořák’s Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major, dreamlike with dramatic moments; his Trio No. 4 - the beloved “Dumky”; and the contemplative “Silent Woods” for cello and piano.

Spring Musicale: 2019 Edition

The spirited ArtsAhimsa ensemble returned for its ninth season with chamber works by Antonín Dvořák and Johannes Brahms on Sunday, April 14th. The richly varied repertoire – ranging from solo instrument to quintet – included Dvořák’s inventive Humoresques Opus 101 nos. 1 and 7 (the latter arranged for violin and piano by Kreisler); selections from Dvořák’s “Dumky” Trio; the rarely heard Dvořák String Quartet No. 5 in F Minor, Opus 9; plus the Piano Quintet in F Minor, Opus 34, composed by Dvořák’s mentor, Johannes Brahms.

MARTINŮ’S OPERA JULIETTA IN CONTEXT

Marking the US premiere (in Czech) of composer Bohuslav Martinů’s memorable Julietta, the Dvořák American Heritage Association, New York University and the American Symphony Orchestra presented a colloquium in which leading experts examined the many facets of Martinů’s operatic masterpiece – a work that combines edgy surrealism with extraordinary lyrical power.

Inspired by Bohemia: A Musical Journey with Aeolus Quartet

On Sunday, January 27th, Aeolus Quartet performed Bohemian composer Heinrich Biber's Passacaglia, the last of his renowned 17th-century Rosary sonatas, a work which provided inspiration for the program’s enigmatic journey through joyful, sorrowful, and glorious musical expression. The theme was reflected in Osvaldo Golijov’s Tenebrae and Beethoven’s monumental Op. 131 as well as Alexandra Bryant's world premiere, Mysterium.

Jarmila Novotná, My Life in Song: Book Launch and Musical Tribute with House of Time Ensemble

On Wednesday, October 10th, DAHA hosted the exclusive American introduction of the memoirs of Czech-American opera star and film actress, Jarmila Novotná (1907-1994). William V. Madison, editor of the publication, spoke of the international triumphs of this multi-talented celebrity, who acted as a cultural ambassador for the Czechoslovak nation throughout her career - beginning in Prague with her opera debut as a lyric soprano at age 17 and including 16 years with New York's Metropolitan Opera.

Dvořák: The Chamber Music Survey with Martinů Quartet

The brilliant Martinů Quartet from Prague performed to a full house at the third annual concert in DAHA’s Dvořák Chamber Music series on Sunday, September 23, 2018. The inventive central seating arrangement in the Grand Ballroom of the historic Bohemian National Hall enhanced acoustics and intimacy as the renowned musicians played.

Performance of Dvořák’s Saint Ludmila Oratorio Simulcast at Bohemian National Hall

On September 15th, the Dvořák American Heritage Association joined in celebrating the centennial of the founding of Czechoslovakia with a special simulcast of the Dvořák Prague International Music Festival 2018 and its gala performance of the rarely heard oratorio Saint Ludmila by ‪Antonín Dvořák, as it was broadcast live from Prague on Czech TV

Spring Musicale: 2018 Edition

The tradition of Sunday afternoon musicales continued on April 15th as the spirited ArtsAhimsa ensemble returned for its eighth season with chamber works and song from the world of Antonín Dvořák, his contemporaries, and students.

CZECH COMPOSER FOCUS: BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ

Casting new light on the US-based musical activities of Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959), musicologist Jon Meadow presented a lecture/recital exploring the composer's special relationship with the viola, historically a somewhat under-appreciated instrument. Violinist Laura Jean Goldberg and violist Danielle Farina played selections from Martinů's Three Madrigals for Violin and Viola, composed in New York City, and from the chamber music that inspired his work, Mozart's Duo in G for Violin and Viola.

Holiday Caroling

On Sunday, December 10th, the Dvořák American Heritage Association presented a festive, sing-along musical celebration featuring traditional Czech carols, attracting a large and appreciative family audience. The performers – adopting a spontaneous, informal program format to encourage participation - included Michael Beckerman, piano; Laura Goldberg, violin; and Klara Zikova, mezzo-soprano.

DVOŘÁK: THE CHAMBER MUSIC SURVEY

DAHA’s concert of Sunday, September 24th ended with a standing ovation for the superb New York Philharmonic musicians and friends. It was the second annual concert in DAHA’s multi-year survey of Dvořák’s complete chamber works.

EXPLORING DVOŘÁK’S AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AND MORE

On the eve of Antonín Dvořák’s birthday, DAHA celebrated the 125th Anniversary of the great composer's arrival in America with a large and enthusiastic audience. The festive music offerings included: Dvořák’s Sonatina for Violin and Piano, Opus 100, written in New York and premiered by the composer’s children, plus selected Humoresques for piano combined with readings from Josef Kovařík’s Three Years with the Maestro: An American Remembers Antonín Dvořák.