Jury
Edward Clark
Désiré Defauw
Józef Koffler
Hermann Scherchen
Václav Talich
Concerts
Opera performance
+* Otakar Ostrčil (Czechoslovakia, 1879-20 August 1935): Honzovo království (Jack’s Kingdom), musical drama in seven scenes (1934) [in memoriam].
Sunday, 1 September 1935
Karl Amadeus Hartmann (Germany, b. 1905; d. 1963): Miserae (1933-34) [14′] conducted by Hermann Scherchen [world premiere];
Slavko Osterc (Yugoslavia [Slovenia], b. 1895; d. 1941): Concerto for Piano and Winds (1933) [20′] featuring pianist Karel Reiner;
Arnold Schönberg (Austria, b. 1874; d. 1951 in the U.S.A.): Variations for Orchestra, op. 31 (1928) [21′] + conducted by Heinrich Jalowetz;
Karel Hába (Czechoslovakia, b. 1898; d. 1972): Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra (1935) featuring cellist Bohuš Heran [world premiere];
Vissarion Shebalin (U.S.S.R., b. 1902 in Siberia; d. 1963): Symphony no. 2 in C# minor, op. 11 (1929) [22′].
Monday, 2 September 1935
Henk Badings (Netherlands, b. 1907; d. 1987), Sonata (No. 4?) for Violin and Piano (1931 if No. 4) [15′ if No. 4] performed by Olly Folga-Vondens and Piet Ketting;
Boleslaw Woytowicz (Poland, 1899; d. 1980): Enfant va dormir for Soprano, flute, clarinet, bassoon, and harp (1930) sung by Marie Budíková-Jeremiášová with R. Hertl, Vl. Říha, K. Bidlo, and B. Dobrodinský conducted by Václav Smetáček;
Hans Walter Süsskind (Czechoslovakia, b. 1913; emigrated to England, d. 1980 in the United States): 4 Songs for soprano with String Quartet (1935) performed by Olga Forrai and the Prague Quartet;
Fidelio F. Finke (Czechoslovakia, b. 1891 in Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]; d. 1968 in East Germany): Concertino for 2 Pianos (1930) performed by Franz Langer and Eugen Kalix;
Alan Bush (United Kingdom [England], b. 1900; d. 1995): Dialectic for String Quartet, op. 15 (1929) [14′] performed by the New Hungarian Quartet;
Luigi Dallapiccola (Italy, b. 1904; d. 1975): Divertimento in quattro esercizi for soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, viola, and violoncello (1934) [14′] sung by Ré Korter and conducted by Alfredo Casella;
Willy Burkhard (Switzerland, b. 1900; d. 1955): Fantasia for String Orchestra, op. 40 (1934) conducted by Scherchen.
* Opera performance
Otakar Jeremiáš (Czechoslovakia, b. 1892; d. 1962): Bratri Karamazovi (The Brothers Karamazov), opera in three acts (1927)
Wednesday, 4 September 1935
Sándor Veress (Hungary, b. 1907; d. 1992 in Switzerland): String Quartet (No. 1) (1931) [17′] performed by the New Hungarian Quartet;
Goffredo Petrassi (Italy, b. 1904; d. 2003): Introduzione e Allegro for violin and 11 Instruments (1933) [7′] featuring violinist Enrico Pierangeli and an ensemble conducted by the composer;
Raymond Chevreuille (Belgium [Wallonia], b. 1901; d. 1976): String Quartet No. 4 (1934) performed by the Prague String Quartet;
Anton Webern (Austria, b. 1883; d. 1945): Concerto for Nine Instruments, op. 24 (1931-34) [8′] conducted by Jalowetz [world premiere];
Sándor Jemnitz (Hungary, b. 1890; d. 1963): Harp Sonata, op. 34 (1933) played by Emilie Rölz-Bezený;
Elizabeth Maconchy (England, b. 1907; d. 1994): Prelude, Interlude and Fugue for two violins performed by André Mangeot and Orrea Pernel.
Wladimir Vogel (Switzerland, b. 1896 in Russia; d. 1984): Variétude (Chaconne and Etude-Toccata) for piano (1934) performed by Eduard Steuermann;
Alexander Moyzes (Czechoslovakia [Slovakia], b. 1906; d. 1984) Wind Quintet in Bb Major, op. 17a (1933) [20′] performed by the Prague Wind Quintet.
Thursday, 6 September 1935 orchestral concert performed by the Czech Philharmonic
Jef van Durme (Belgium [Flanders], b. 1907; d. 1965): Poème héroïque for orchestra (1935) conducted by Zdeněk Chalabala;
Pierre-Octave Ferroud (France, b. 1900; d. 1936): Symphony in A Major (1930) [25′] conducted by Karel Boleslav Jirák;
Pavel Bořkovec (Czechoslovakia, b. 1894; d. 1972): Piano Concerto (No. 1) (1931) [19′] featuring pianist Rudolf Firkušný and conducted by Václav Talich;
Alban Berg (Austria, b. 1885; d. 24 December 1935): Lulu-Suite for coloratura soprano and orchestra (1934) [34′] sung by Julie Bächerová-Nessy and conducted by George Szell;
Alois Hába (Czechoslovakia, b. 1893; d. 1973): Cesta života (The Way of Life), symphonic fantasy op.46 (1933) [28′] conducted by Karel Ančerl.
Other events
Leoš Janáček (Czechoslovakia, 1854-1928): Jenůfa, opera in 3 acts (1896-1902)
Josef Suk (Czechoslovakia, 1874-May 29, 1935): Pod jabloní (Beneath the Apple Tree), op. 20, for alto, narrators, chorus, and orchestra (1900-01, rev. 1911,1915) [35′] [in memoriam]
There was also a private presentation featuring recordings of Alois Hába’s quartertone works in the home of Julie Bächerová-Nessy.
The following additional works were originally scheduled but were not performed
Edmund von Borck (Germany, b. 1906; d. 1944 in battle): Prelude and Fugue, op. 10, for orchestra (1934);
Roman Palester (Poland, b. 1907; d. 1989): Danse Polonaise for orchestra;
Hans Feiertag (Austria, b. 1911; disappeared in 1943) : Gebet, cantata for baritone, six-part chorus, and orchestra (1934);
Lennox Berkeley (United Kingdom [England], b. 1903; d. 1989): Overture;
? Lars-Erik Larsson (Sweden, b. 1908; d. 1986): Concert Overture No. 2, op. 13 (1934) [7′];
Carl Ruggles (United States, b. 1876; d. 1971): Sun-Treader (1926-31) [15′].
Other signifcant interpreters
Ensembles: Kolisch-Quartett.
Orchestras: Symfonický orchestr Českého rozhlasu (Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra).
Conductors: Robert Brock, Otakar Jeremiáš, Danilo Švara, Anton Webern.
Sources
Alan Bush, “The I.S.C.M. Festival at Prague,” Musical Times, Vol. 76, No. 1112 (Oct., 1935), pp. 940-942.
Louis Gruenberg, “Modern Youth at Prague, 1935,” Modern Music, vol. 13 No. 1 (Nov-Dec 1935), pp. 38-44.
Anton Haefeli, Die Internationale Gesellschaft für Neue Musik (IGNM), Ihre Geschichte von 1922 bis zur Gegenwart (Atlantis Musikbuch-Verlag, 1982), pp. 492-493.
Nicolas Slonimsky, Music Since 1900, Sixth Edition edited by Laura Kuhn (Schirmer Reference, 2001), pp. 299-300.
Lubomír Spurný and Jiří Vysloužil, Alois Hába – A Catalogue of the Music and Writings (Prague: Koniasch Latin Press, 2010), pp. 59-60.
Paul Stefan, “Das internationale Musikfest in Prag,” Musikblätter des Anbruch 17 (1935), H. 9, pp. 246–248.
(annotated by Frank J. Oteri)
