This special programme is dedicated to one of the world’s foremost 20th century pianists Rudolf Firkušný. This year music lovers around the country are celebrating the centenary of the birth of one of its most famous sons –a virtuoso par excellence who was moreover one of the last direct personal links to some of the country’s greats – Leoš Janáček, Bohuslav Martinů, Josef Suk, Alfons Mucha but also president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
Rudolf Firkušný
There are musical events being held around the country throughout the year dedicated to Rudolf Firkusny but perhaps the most significant celebrations of the 100th anniversary of his birth were organized by the Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Arts in the spring –five days of events including concerts, master classes and a musicology conference. Among the guest performers were outstanding pianists of the present day – Rudolf Firkušný’s own students from the famous Julliard School of music in New York – among them Sara Davis Buechner, Carlo Grante and Dora Novak Willmington whose memories of their teacher you can hear in today’s show.
