Mezzo-soprano Ester Pavlu in recital, with a guest, baritone Vladimir Chmelo, presenting works by Janacek, Martinu, Dvorak, Schneider-Trnavsky, and Dusik. Accompanying on piano – Ahmad Hedar.
Program
- Leos Janacek: Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs with vocals & piano accompaniment
- Leos Janacek: Diary of One Who Disappeared
- Bohuslav Martinu: Opening of the Springs
- Bohuslav Martinu: Le Noel for solo piano
- Mikulas Schneider-Trnavsky: Keby som bol vtáčkom (If I Were a Bird), Růžičky (Roses), Nožka (The Little Foot)
- Antonin Dvorak: Gypsy Songs
- Antonin Dvorak: Rusalka - The Water Goblin
- Antonin Dvorak: Rusalka - Song to the Moon
- Gejza Dusik: Najkrajší kút (The Most Beautiful Corner)
Free and open to the public. Seats are limited, on first-come first-served basis. RSVP through Eventbrite is required. Proof of vaccination is required; wearing a face mask is strongly recommended for indoor events.
ESTER PAVLU is a Czech mezzo-soprano, a graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Pavlu was introduced as introduced as Fenena in Jose Cura’s 2017 production of Verdi’s Nabucco at the National Theatre in Prague. Pavlů portrayed the Old Woman in the world premiere of Martinů’s What Men Live By, which received the Anděl award for best classical recording of 2018. In 2019, she joined a triumphant UK tour of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with the FOK Prague Symphonic Orchestra, and received a standing ovation as Cinderella in Rossini's Cenerentola. This year she excelled in Dvořák’s Rusalka, singing both the Foreign Princess and Witch.
VLADIMIR CHMELO is a Slovak baritone and interpreter of the Italian, Czech and Russian repertoire. He has performed throughout Europe, in Tokyo and in Buenos Aires and, from 2009-2015 also at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His portfolio of leading roles reveals his versatility, from Macbeth, Rigoletto and Germont to Toreador, Hamlet and Onegin. He has worked with renowned conductors, directors, singers and pianists, including Boulez, Rattle, Szoltes, Fleming, Netrebko, Domingo and many more. Chmelo is also active as a teacher (counting Ester Pavlů among his students) and established the Prague Musical Institute which holds summer singing courses in the city of Český Krumlov.
AHMAD HEDAR is a leading Czech pianist, vocal coach and singer. He studied at the Prague HAMU. His musicality has made him a sought-after accompanist to many prominent singers. Through Run OpeRun, an organization he works closely with to make opera accessible to new audiences, Hedar has led the musical production of the Magic Flute (2016), Marriage of Figaro (2017), Rusalka (2020), and La Traviata (2021), all on the site of the former Stalin monument in Prague. In 2019, Hedar earned a fellowship at the prestigious Bayreuth festival. Since then he has been teaching at the Jan Deyl Conservatory in Prague.
This event is organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, Consulate General of Slovak Republic in New York, Consulate General of Switzerland in New York, Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association (BBLA), Dvořák American Heritage Association (DAHA), TGM Czech school in Chicago, Chicago Sister Cities International, Czechoslovak Heritage Museum and Czech and Slovak Museum and Library v Cedar Rapids.