Photo, BBC/Chris Christodoulou
REVIEWED FROM LIVE RELAY ON BBC RADIO 3
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Royal Albert Hall, London
Jakub Hrůša is doing his bit for Suita rustica by fellow-Czech, the short-lived Vítězslava Kaprálová (1915-40). He took it to Berlin recently (below) and now in London (where Kaprálová once conducted the BBCSO, 1938 I think). This three-movement work, including a reference to Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, is a pleasing folksy confection, lyrical and dancing, colourful, led stylishly by Hrůša.
A lot of chat preceded the Rachmaninov, the emphasis being on the difficulty of the solo part and the Concerto’s length. Well, it’s not much longer than the ‘Emperor’ and shorter than either of Brahms’s two (depends on whose playing of course, or if any cuts). As for the technical challenges, many years ago I interviewed a distinguished pianist who includes this work in his repertoire, magnificently. Appreciating my compliments, he leaned forward, lowered his voice, and confidentially stated: “actually it’s not that difficult” and went on to detail certain problems the writing may cause certain pianists (I’ll misrepresent him if I try to explain). For most of its length, this Vondráček/Hrůša account was misguided: a first movement that found no kinship between fleet/fleeter tempos and slamming the brakes on for a laboriousness that then dragged the central movement to a yawn, with the Finale as unsettled as the first movement had been. Vondráček also had a tendency to highlight notes that came across as affectation, although technically a triumph, Vondráček able to do everything and anything that he wanted, going on to beguile (this time) with some Smetana.
Janáček’s Sinfonietta made for a short second half if with brassy bookends, extra trumpets, Hrůša keeping the five movements on the move and retaining the music’s distinctive edge, encouraging the BBCSO and its augmenters to an expressive, intense and echt response, the fourth movement especially bracing (anyone remember ITV’s Crown Court?) with the final one a little short of cumulative ceremony if joyfully uplifting.
Vítězslava Kaprálová: Suita rustica
Sergey Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.3 in D-minor
Leoš Janáček: Sinfonietta
Lukáš Vondráček (piano)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Jakub Hrůša
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0030jgp
Two great Rach PC 3s…
My dear sir, the Rachmaninov, you have the temerity to disagree with the Radio 3 presenter and his stooge guest? And absolutely right to do so! Vondracek was there only for himself and his unconvincing contrivances, not the composer. The co-presenters set a new broadcasting low for insincerity last night, proving once and for all that Radio 3 is the “home” for uncritical listening, shameless hype and irritating repetition. When signing off, we got a breathless barrage of information, none of which made any impression.
I was in the hall last night, Colin… My first time hearing Vondráček. There were some melting moments (an issue at times in the huge hall), but as a whole it didn’t really hang together, lacking sufficient shape, urgency, and pulse. Not a patch on a phenomenal Lugansky performance at the RFH last year.. The Janacek felt as though everyone was playing at their limits, and was quite exhilarating in the hall.. And yes, we children of the 70s, DO remember Crown Court (a treat whenever sick and off school)!!