On Saturday, 26th August, at 2:00 PM, the Prologue of this year’s 8th edition of the Lednice-Valtice Music Festival (LVMF) kicked off at the hunting lodge in Katzelsdorf Forest. Despite the morning weather’s unfavorable conditions, around 160 visitors from both sides of the state border didn’t miss the opportunity to experience the modern cultural history of the place. The entire event was hosted by the moderator and talented musician Tomáš Koláček, alongside the festival director Jiří Partyka. Among the guests were Mayor Aleš Hofman of Valtice, Mayor Svatopluk Pěček of Břeclav, Mayor Doris Kellner of Bernhardsthal-Katzelsdorf, and City Councilor Martina Štěpánková of Valtice.
The program also included a guided tour, during which the history of the venue was presented by the historian and founder of the Association for the Restoration of Katzelsdorf Castle, Daniel Lyčka. If you wanted to taste the wine that added to our enjoyment on that Saturday afternoon, we’d like to remind you that it came from Plenér Winery and Weiß Winery in Katzelsdorf. Refreshments were provided by Mirkova Kuchyně. However, most importantly, our musical souls were thoroughly nourished and enriched. We extend our gratitude for the open-air concert amidst the embrace of nature to the Young Horn Players Ensemble from the Summer Courses in Broumov. Following that, the wine and food were accompanied by a dulcimer music performance.
The evening program continued at the nearby Obelisk Winery, with a concert by Vojta Nýdl titled “CHILD OF THE WIND” and a dulcimer music performance by Petr Gablas. A portion of the proceeds from Vojta Nýdl’s concert supports the Nedoklubko organization and, through it, families of prematurely born children.
The executed prologue will be followed by the festival itself, featuring its eight concerts scheduled for the transition between September and October. The program includes classical musical works and a dramaturgy highlighting rising stars of the concert halls. As festival director Jiří Partyka emphasized: “With the eighth edition, we’ve made an unexpected generational leap in our programming. We’re giving significant space to young artists under 25. We’ve invited performers who have achieved success in international music competitions. They will perform with renowned ensembles or even alongside their mentors.”
This year’s LVMF dramaturgy is a treat for the discerning connoisseur and simultaneously a comprehensible musical opportunity for the classical listener. The opening concert in the Valtice Castle Riding Hall on Saturday, 23rd September, at 7:00 PM, will be a special meeting featuring Czech violinist Daniel Matejča and the Brno Philharmonic under the baton of conductor Tomáš Netopil. Their performance will include pieces like Beethoven’s Fate Symphony and Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
More about the LVMF 2023 program here