1935 Prague
Sep 1, 1935 – Sep 8, 1935
Prague
Festival info
Start: Sep 1, 1935
End: Sep 8, 1935
Locations: Prague
Hosting member(s)
From a contemporaneous review
“The success of the Festival with the general public must have eclipsed all previous records. The size of the audiences and their enthusiasm were remarkable. This was alike a tribute to the works and performances, which reached a very high standard throughout. Generally speaking, one could say that the works were, with three exceptions, excellent examples of their type. Among the many varied styles represented it was astonishing to discover how many skilful composers are now writing music.”
— Alan Bush: “The I.S.C.M. Festival at Prague,”
Musical Times, Vol. 76, No. 1112 (Oct., 1935), p. 940.
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 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)