Concert Season 2025

JIŘÍ MELCELIUS: VESPERAE MARIANAE

The Marian Vespers by Jiří Melcelius, a now largely forgotten but once renowned Czech Baroque composer and member of the Premonstratensian order at the Royal Canonry of Premonstratensians in Strahov, represent a significant rediscovery. This composition was unearthed only a few years ago in the music archive of the University of Warsaw. The discovered manuscript, dated 1683, originally came from Breslau (now Wrocław), which was part of the Czech Crown in the 17th century. 

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of Melcelius's birth, the La Bilancetta ensemble, which has long been dedicated to his works, prepared the modern premiere of Vesperae Marianae in 2024. These Vespers will be performed in a unique liturgical setting, combining the La Bilancetta ensemble with the local Strahov Schola.

---

LA BILANCETTA

The early music ensemble La Bilancetta was founded in 2011, focusing on a broad repertoire spanning from the 12th to the 18th century. Their medieval programs feature music from Spanish collections such as Cantigas de Santa Maria and Llibre Vermell, Italian sources like Codex Modena, Codex Mancini, Laudario di Cortona, and the Chansonnier du Roi, as well as pieces preserved in Czech archives. Their Renaissance repertoire includes reconstructed vespers by Spanish composer Diego Ortiz and music from 16th-century Spanish cancioneros. Their early Baroque Italian program features works by A. Falconieri, S. Rossi, and T. Merula, while their French Baroque repertoire includes pieces by E. Moulinié, J.-B. Lully, M.-A. Charpentier, L. Caix d'Hervelois, and M. Marais, among others.

The ensemble employs a variety of period instruments across its programs. Baroque music features violins, Baroque guitar, theorbo, harpsichord, and viola da gamba. Renaissance performances include organ positivo, viols, cornetto, and Renaissance guitar. Medieval music is brought to life with instruments such as viola d’arco, guiterne, organetto, medieval lute, and harp. Vocal elements, both solo and polyphonic, are integral to all their programs.

La Bilancetta has a particular focus on the works of Jiří Melcelius (1624–1693), a Strahov Premonstratensian whose compositions are preserved primarily in the Kroměříž music archive. Over the years, the ensemble has introduced several of his works in modern premieres (initially under the name Consortio Melcelii), including:  

• Missa absque Nomine (2012)  
• Vesperae Canonicae Minores (2013)  
• Requiem Aeternam (2015)  
• Missa Canonica and the motet Hic est vere Martyr (2020)  
• Vesperae Marianae (2024), their latest premiered work.  

Vilém Vlček – Cello  

Vilém Vlček, recipient of the Jiří Bělohlávek Award 2023, is renowned for his technically effortless yet deeply expressive artistry.  

In 2023, he won two prestigious international competitions: the Krzysztof Penderecki Cello Competition in Krakow and the International Instrumental Competition in Markneukirchen. His previous achievements include victories in the renowned Rahn Musikpreis Instrumental Competition (2022) and the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Competition (2021).  

Even before these successes, Vilém performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Czech Philharmonic, Kammerorchester Basel, Kaunas Symphony Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK, Pilsen Philharmonic, North Bohemian Philharmonic, Württemberg Philharmonic Reutlingen, and others. He has collaborated with esteemed conductors such as Jiří Bělohlávek, Petr Altrichter, Jiří Rožeň, Jonathan Bloxham, Nicolas Ellis, Wolfgang Emmanuel Schmidt, and others. His career has taken him to over 30 countries, performing in prominent venues such as the Grand Hall of Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Tonhalle Zürich, Kammermusik Saal of the Berlin Philharmonic, and Dvořák Hall at the Rudolfinum.  

Vilém’s chamber music experience includes his work with the Kukal Quartet, his scholarship with the Academy of Chamber Music (AKH), and collaborations with acclaimed artists such as Leonidas Kavakos, Steven Isserlis, Sergio Azzolini, Rainer Schmidt, Claudio Martínez Mehner, Tomáš Jamník, and Alfred Brendel.  

Highlights of the 2024/2025 season include debuts with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic, Prague Royal Philharmonic, and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Gorzów, Poland. He will also return to perform with Sinfonietta Cracovia and the German Clara Schumann Philharmonic. Vilém will present a recital program with pianist Marek Kozák as part of the Prague Symphony FOK Chamber Series at the Convent of St. Agnes and the Eternal Hope Festival. Additionally, he is preparing to release his debut recording project, featuring the complete works of Bohuslav Martinů for cello and piano, on the Supraphon label.  

Born in 1998 in Prague, Vilém began playing cello at the age of six under the guidance of Martin and later Mirko Škampa. Since completing his secondary education in 2018, he has studied at the Musik-Akademie in Basel with Professor Danjulo Ishizaka. Alongside his studies, he has attended masterclasses with notable cellists including Yo-Yo Ma, Frans Helmerson, Steven Isserlis, Peter Bruns, Richard Aaron, and Alisa Weilerstein. Since 2023, he has also served as Danjulo Ishizaka's assistant at the Universität der Künste in Berlin.  

Vilém plays an instrument crafted by Lorenzo Ventapane, made between 1830 and 1850 in Naples.  

---

Marek Kozák – Piano  

Marek Kozák is celebrated for his impeccable technique, sense of proportion and dynamic gradation, rich tonal palette, profound musicality, and deep respect for the musical score. On stage, he exudes refined interpretative elegance, captivating audiences with his ability to convey the composer’s intent with humility and without ostentation.  

Marek’s musical journey is marked by success in international competitions. In June 2021, he became a laureate of the prestigious Géza Anda International Piano Competition in Zurich. He was a finalist in the Busoni Competition in Bolzano (2019) and won the European Piano Competition in Bremen (2018). In 2016, he achieved second place in the Prague Spring Competition, where he also received an award for his performance of Adam Skoumal's Juggler.  

Marek frequently collaborates with leading Czech orchestras and performs internationally. He is also a sought-after chamber musician, working with partners such as soprano Simona Šaturová, cellists Václav Petr and Vilém Vlček, and violinist Jan Novák.  

Marek’s passion for exploring overlooked piano works led to his performance and recording of piano concertos by K. Kovařovic, V. Kaprálová, and P. Bořkovec. His critically acclaimed album *Forgotten Czech Piano Concertos* was released by Supraphon in March 2024.  

Marek Kozák is a graduate of the piano class of Professor Ivan Klánský at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (HAMU) and is now actively involved in teaching at the Gymnasium and Music School of the City of Prague.

Collegium 1704  

The Prague Baroque Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble Collegium 1704 was founded by harpsichordist and conductor Václav Luks for the Bach – Prague – 2005 project. In 2008, the ensemble launched the Music Bridge Prague – Dresden, a project rooted in the rich cultural traditions of both cities, which in 2012 evolved into Collegium 1704’s second concert series at Rudolfinum in Prague.

Recent invitations for Collegium 1704 include prestigious venues and festivals such as the Salzburg Festival, Berliner Philharmonie, Theater an der Wien, Wiener Konzerthaus, Lucerne Festival, BOZAR (Palais des Beaux-Arts) in Brussels, Warsaw’s Chopin Festival, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Zaryadye Hall in Moscow, a residency at the Opéra Royal in Versailles, and the Bachfest in Leipzig. In May 2021, under Václav Luks' direction, Collegium 1704 opened the Prague Spring International Music Festival with a performance of Smetana’s symphonic cycle *Má vlast*. The ensemble also contributed to the historical feature film *Il Boemo*, directed by Petr Václav, about the life of composer Josef Mysliveček.

The ensemble’s recordings are highly praised by audiences and critics alike, earning repeated awards such as the Diapason d’Or, CD of the Month & Editor’s Choice, and nominations for Gramophone Magazine’s CD of the Year. Their acclaimed albums include recordings of Josef Mysliveček's violin concertos, Bach’s Mass in B minor, Zelenka’s Sonatas, and the world premiere of Zelenka’s Missa Divi Xaverii. Notable recent achievements include the first complete Czech recording of Handel’s Messiah (2019) and a three-CD set of Rameau’s opera Les Boréades, which won the Trophées 2020 award and the Edison Klassiek 2021 prize from Dutch music critics as the best opera recording of the year.