Czech Philharmonic
Semyon Bychkov, Chief Conductor & Music Director
SYCHROV CASTLE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Wednesday 24 June 2020
Live broadcast on demand available via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ceskafilharmonie/
MENDELSSOHN A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM OVERTURE
AND SCHERZO, OP. 21
HAYDN TRUMPET CONCERTO IN E-FLAT MAJOR
Soloist: Stanislav Masaryk
BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 5, OP.67
Performing to an audience in excess of 500 seated only 20 centimetres
apart and without face coverings, the Czech Philharmonic’s concert on
Wednesday 24 June celebrated the re-opening of galleries, museums,
cinemas and theatres in the Czech Republic. Held just outside Prague in
the grounds of the neo-gothic Sychrov Castle, it is the first concert where
no social distancing was required either between performers – everyone
involved was privately tested before the concert – or audience.
Conducted by Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov in
his first appearance with the Orchestra since the start of the pandemic,
the concert honoured the doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals
from across the Czech Republic – who formed a large proportion of the
invited guests – for their ongoing fight against the pandemic. Attesting to
the importance of the occasion, the concert was attended by Czech
Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek.
Since the beginning of the lockdown, the Czech Philharmonic has
presented three benefit concerts streamed live internationally – in
collaboration with Czech TV, Czech Savings Bank (Česká spořitelna) and
Škoda Auto – raising funds for hospitals, the charity ŽIVOT 90 and the
People in Need Foundation (Člověk v tísni). As soon as it became
possible for audiences in the Czech Republic to attend concerts, the
Czech Philharmonic launched a summer-long series of chamber concerts
at their home the Rudolfinum in Prague where they anticipate playing to
full houses once again from September when they launch their 125th
season.