Vladimir Jurowski conductor
Sofia Fomina soprano
Adrian Thompson tenor*
London Philharmonic Choir

Janáček Taras Bulba
Janáček Eternal Gospel
Suk Symphony 2 (Asrael)


In May 1904 the celebrated Czech composer Antonin Dvorák died, and his protégé Josef Suk was shaken to the core. Suk’s immediate response was creative: he wrote three movements of a symphony, producing long, Dvorákian, lyrical themes intensified by his own yearning chromatic harmonies. But a year later, Asrael, the ‘Angel of Death’ visited Suk once more: it took his wife, Otylka. Suk was distraught. But he pushed on. He fashioned two final movements as a memorial to her; after a furious scherzo the yearning had turned to resolution as Suk found comfort in the transcendental and uplifting renewal of the natural world.


This concert will be broadcast at 7pm on Wednesday 24 February.

*Unfortunately the tenor Michael König is indisposed and we are grateful to Adrian Thompson for stepping in for this concert at short notice.

FREE Barlines post-concert event | Central Bar, Level 2 | Royal Festival Hall
An informal discussion with Vladimir Jurowski following the evening’s performance of Suk’s Symphony 2.

To hear selected movements from this concert, select a track below to open the music file. (Windows Media Player required.)
Janacek: Taras Bulba - The Death of Andri

Feature in Classic FM Podcast
Click here to listen to Classic FM's podcast discussing the Czech festival in London that this concert is part of.


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Audio Samples:
Audio Sample 1: Suk Symphony 2 (Asrael) Movement 1. Audio Sample 2: Suk Symphony 2 (Asrael) Movement 4.