Bohemian Rhapsody: Haydn & Benda

18th-century Bohemia is the inspiration behind this program marking the Tafelmusik debut of Bulgarian violinist and guest director Zefira Valova.

Concertmaster of the high-octane period orchestra Il Pomo D’Oro, Valova is featured in the energetic Violin Concerto in A Major by the prolific Bohemian violinist František Benda. Hear for yourself why Valova’s new recording of this music shot to the top of the classical charts.

Opening with the Symphony in D Minor by the Bohemian/German composer Carl Stamitz, the Bohemian connection continues with Haydn, who spent formative summers in Bohemia as a young man in the employ of Count Morzin. Tafelmusik’s own Keiran Campbell takes centre stage as soloist in Haydn’s show-stopping Cello Concerto in C Major.

Our performances and recordings of Haydn symphonies are widely considered “definitive” (BBC Music Magazine) as our concert concludes with the powerful Symphony no. 44 in E Minor, or “Trauersymphonie”—a work so intensely personal that Haydn requested that the slow movement be performed at his own funeral.

Directed by Zefira Valova, violin