Záznam z koncertu v pařížském Maison de la Radio et de la Musique odvysílala v úterý 26. dubna 2022 francouzská rozhlasová stanice France Musique. Pod taktovkou Václava Lukse slavil v Bachově mistrovském díle ohromný úspěch zejména tenorista Sebastian Kohlhepp jako Evangelista. Recenzenti ocenili také basistu Matthiase Winckhlera jako Ježíše a barytonistu Christiana Immlera v roli Piláta, i další sólisty – sopranistku Sophie Junker, kontratenoristu Benna Schachtnera (v Praze a Drážďanech se partu ujala Julia Böhme) a tenoristu Tobiase Hungera. 

Tímto koncertem Collegium 1704 zahájilo 3. dubna 2022 turné po čtyřech evropských koncertních domech, zároveň šlo o vůbec první vystoupení souboru v Paříži. Další provedení Janových pašijí se konaly 12. dubna v pražském Rudolfinu, 13. dubna v drážďanském Annenkirche a 15. dubna v Konzerthaus v Dortmundu.

In the upcoming season, Collegium 1704 continues the project “Discover Czech Illustrators”. In the brochure, in concert programmes, on posters and online banners, we will be encountering the works of an artist whose name is mostly connected to theatre productions: Matěj Forman. Collegium 1704 is happy to introduce him also as an illustrator who is able to capture the fragility, poetry, and fullness of life.

The project which joins baroque music and contemporary visual arts was launched in Season 2020/21 by collaboration with outstanding illustrator and designer Michal Bačák. The first visuals featured one of his most famous illustrations, Pheasant at Stromovka, and the collaboration continued in Season 2021/22 by pieces created especially for Collegium 1704: Dahliosauri, Apollo and Daphne (presented during Designblok in Prague), and Orpheus. The Spring part of the season was accompanied by Bačák’s flower illustrations.

Thanks to the concert in support of Ukraine, Chiaroscuro veneziano (held on 22 March at the Rudolfinum in Prague and on 23 March in Annenkirche, Dresden), we managed to contribute 250,000 CZK to the SOS Ukraine fundraiser of the Czech non-profit organization People in Need. Thanks to all made a donation and supported the venture!

On 10 March 2022, Collegium 1704 & Collegium Vocale 1704 together with Ensemble Pygmalion performed in a concert that took place as part of EU leaders’ summit in Versailles.

On 9 March 2022, we celebrated the 285th anniversary of the birth of the composer Josef Mysliveček. The launch of the unpatientely expected teaser to the movie Il Boemo with the famous Czech actor Vojtěch Dyk as Mysliveček has been postponed due to the situation in Ukraine. The premiere of the film will take place in the second half of 2022.

In the season 2022 of the chamber concert series of Collegium Vocale 1704, we would like to invite you again to the Open rehearsals, where you can experience the final stage of rehearsing and preparations for the concert. Open rehearsals take place the day before the concert, the upcoming one is on Wednesday 20 April 2022 from 2 to 4 pm in Vzlet.

On 5 and 6 February 2022, the two premieres of the opera Alcina by G. F. Händel took place in Janáček Theatre Brno, performed by Collegium 1704 & Collegium Vocale 1704 conducted by Václav Luks. The title role of Alcina was presented in two alternations: Pavla Vykopalová from National Theatre Brno and Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin, who performed with Collegium 1704 also at the Missa 1724 at the Rudolfinum on 15 February 2022. Other roles are performed by Kangmin Justin Kim, Mirella Hagen, Krystian Adam, Václava Krejčí Housková, Monika Jägerová, Tomáš Král and others.

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The opera production follows the successful and acclaimed performance of Vivaldi´s Arsilda at the Slovakian national theatre in Bratislava in 2017. Koproducers are similarly Opéra Royal de Versailles and Théâtre de Caen. In Brno, there are three performances coming on 12, 13 and 18 February followed by three shows in Versailles on 11, 12 and 13 March and two in Caen on 5 and 6 May 2022.

What is the biggest challenge for the role of Alcina? What emotions does the character go through? How does the singer feel working with the director Jiří Heřman? You will find out from the interview with the Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin, that is going to perform Alcina.

“In singer´s life, there are many challenges – we live every day knowing, that our instrument lives in our body all the time. When something is not right, emotionally, physically or mentally, it could be difficult to focus on the voice. On the other hand, sometimes, when everything goes wrong, singing could be an ally and friend.” This is Karina Gauvin´s answer to the question, what is the singer´s biggest challenge, in an interview for Harmonie magazine from June 2021 (published in the Czech language).

Conductor Václav Luks speaks about the musical preparations of the opera in an interview for Harmonie magazine from February 2022. “It is necessary to ask, what was the autor´s message and what emotions did he intend to rise in his spectators and try to achieve a similar effect with today´s audience.  Our possibilities are unlimited without the need to cripple the piece itself.”

What is the central idea of Brno production of Alcina? It is the fatal relationship – love, answers the stage director Jiří Heřman.

Opera event of the year – that is the description of the new production of Alcina from the reporter in the Czech TV. Visit one of the first stage rehearsals!

The recording of Collegium 1704 won the price of Holland music critics Edison Klassiek 2021 in the category of opera. The tripple CD Les Boréades by J.-Ph. Rameau was recorded at the beginning of 2020 in the Opéra Royal in Versailles and it was published by Château de Versailles Spectacles. It is only the second complete recording of this monumental piece in history – the first one was issued in the 1980s and conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner.

Edison Klassiek is being awarded annually since 1960 and it is the most prestigious Holland award reflecting the achievements in the field of classical music. Members of the jury – journalists and promoters – appreciated at the Les Boréades the beauty of the sound of the orchestra and the performance of the soloists, they also highlighted the unique and inspiring energy of Václav Luks.

The other holders of the 2021 awards are for example Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen with London Philharmonic Orchestra for the CD with music by Beethoven, Verdi, and Wagner, in two categories succeded Italian orchestra Il Giardino Armonico.

Six Brandenburg Concertos by J. S. Bach performed by Collegium 1704 conducted by Václav Luks will be broadcasted online by ARTE Concert. You can enjoy them from Friday 17 December 7 pm on!

The concerts were recorded in June 2021 in the Köthen Castle – in the Mirror Hall, where they were presented for the first time.

The cut-out, which was part of the programme of the concert for children at Vzlet, can be downloaded from our website! The author is the graphic designer and illustrator Karolína Bendová, the collaborator of Collegium 1704. She prepares the evening concert programmes and brochures for the seasons, she creates posters and online banners as well. She is also the author of comic strips and illustrations for books.

You can post the photo of your Christmas decorations with the angel to the comments on our Facebook or Instagram!