Concert 12. 5. 2021, Municipal House – Smetana Hall, Prague
Opening concert of the Prague Spring International Music Festival
Bedřich Smetana: Má vlast
Anchoring all this was the craftsmanship that Luks and his ensemble bring to everything they do. Every phrase is thought through, no nuance overlooked, precision and intensity balanced with a sense of liveliness and spontaneity. This gives the music an immersive quality that was just as beguiling with Smetana as it is with the group’s standard repertoire from two centuries earlier.
Along with all that, Collegium 1704 brought something unique to Má vlast – a spiritual dimension. No matter how talented, no visiting orchestra could play with the sense of reverence that characterized this performance. In the hands of a native conductor, it was more than a piece of music. It was a source of renewal, a living history that took listeners on a journey of pride and inspiration. Frank Kuznik, Bachtrack
