- Hans Weber
- November 1, 2024
Pavel Šporcl caused a commotion in front of the Municipal House
The most famous Czech violinist Pavel Šporcl does not tolerate pompous gestures. However, he took the celebration of his new album Homage to Jan Kubelík in the Municipal House in a big way and arrived at the place in a historic convertible driven by an Indian servant, just like the violinist Kubelík himself in the old days and played Drdlův Souvenir right in front of the Municipal House. Leona Machálková, Vojta Dyk, Petr Janda, Jan Maxián, Jan Vondráček, Martin Zbrožek and the mayor of Prague 1, Petr Hejma, who took over the baptism, also came to support the album and brush up on their violin skills. The program was accompanied by one of the most famous Czech presenters, Alexandr Hemala.
On the new album for the world-famous company Hänssler, you will hear Kubelík’s first violin concerto, which the author himself played in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House in 1917. The second work on the album is a violin concerto by the composer whom the violinist Kubelík highly respected, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. Both violin works will be presented by Pavel Šporcl on the upcoming Tribute to the Masters II tour, with which he will tour the whole country.
It would be a great shame if an artist of such stature and an ardent Czech patriot fell into oblivion. “Kubelík was an absolute superstar of that time, something like today’s pop stars. His performances were almost mystical, he knew how to conquer and enchant the audience. He had his Indian servant and moved to different castles. But he didn’t have time for their maintenance and financial matters connected with the operation, and that’s why he almost went bankrupt towards the end of his life, and all he had left was his violin and an apartment in today’s Kubelíkova street,” says violinist Pavel Šporcl.
.On his Tribute to the Masters II tour, which had its ceremonial start at the launch of the album, Pavel Šporcl will play both violin concertos recorded on the new album at each concert. “It’s quite unconventional in a way, playing two violin concertos in a row at one performance, but conceptually it makes sense and it’s a challenge for me. Kubelík enjoyed playing Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, and my tour is therefore a Tribute to (these two) masters,” explains the violin virtuoso. Listen to the music that even the British Queen Victoria listened to and find out when Pavel Šporcl is performing in your city at https://poctamistrum2.pavelsporcl.cz/.
JK
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