IV. CONCERT OF SEASON 2023

ABOUT THE CONCERT

The programme for this concert, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of our orchestra, will take a trip back in time to music led by great conductors Zdeněk Košler, Libor Pešek, Paul Freeman, Ennio Morricone, Marcello Rota, Vince Mendoza and Steven Mercurio. All have dedicated a considerable amount of time to the orchestra, helping to shape its development, while also bringing us the glamour and glitz of Oscar and Grammy awards.

A former student of Leonard Bernstein, our current Music Director Steven Mercurio is also a composer and arranger. You can look forward to hearing his work, Mercurial Ouverture, dedicated to the CNSO during this concert. We trust that the other works will bring back wonderful memories of the various stages of our ensemble’s existence.

Programme

Antonín Dvořák – Symphony No. 8 in G major Op. 88 “English"
Nino Rota – The Sweet Life (La Dolce Vita)
Ennio Morricone – The Hateful Eight (Oscar - Best Original Score)
Vince Mendoza – To the Edge of Longing (Grammy Music Award)
Bobby Shew – Nadalin
Joe Zawinul, arr. Lalo Schifrin – Birdland

Performers

Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Steven Mercurio, conductor
Jan Hasenöhrl, trumpet

CNSO - Czech National Symphony Orchestra

Performing and continuously growing for 26 years, the CNSO has earned an enviable reputation among both Czech and Europe’s top symphonic ensembles. Renowned for its versatility, the orchestra annually presents a broad programme ranging from classical music concerts to contemporary genres, film scores, jazz and musicals.

Composers, conductors, and performers such as Ennio Morricone, Lalo Schifrin, James Morrison, Branford & Wynton Marsalis, Pino Donnagio, Giuliano Taviani, José Carreras, Danny Elfman, Vince Mendoza, Giuseppe Tornatore, Carl Davis, Steven Mercurio, Marcello Rota, Christian Lindberg, Chick Corea, Vladimir Cosma repeatedly come back to Prague to either record with the orchestra or perform in the beautiful Smetana Hall at Prague’s Municipal House, the home concert stage of the orchestra. Highlights from recent concert seasons include a European tour with the legendary Ennio Morricone, and a Prague concert with Anna Netrebko.

Successful tours have taken place over the British Isles, USA, Canada, France, Spain, Dubai, Japan, Mexico, China, Korea, Oman, Australia and New Zealand.