In less than a month, the best of classical music, swing, and jazz will gather in Třeboň. From 11th to 15th July, the 20th annual International Music Festival Třeboň Nocturna will resound from several places in the historical center of the town. The Talich Quartet, soprano Eliška Weissová, the Hradec Králové Philharmonic, the PhilHarmonia Octet, Jan Smigmator & Tonya Graves accompanied by the Gustav Brom Radio Big Band, Jiří Stivín, and others will perform.

“We are delighted that the festival is returning in full force after the Covid years. Even now, the anniversary event is fast approaching sell-out. Visitors can look forward to top artists: Eliška Weissová has enchanted the Vienna State Opera as Kostelnička (in Janáček's Jenůfa), and she will certainly do the same next year in the role of the Foreign Princess. The Talich Quartet and Jan Smigmator have captivated Carnegie Hall in New York. The acclaimed oboist Vilém Veverka returns to Nocturna for the third time, this time with the PhilHarmonia Octet. The list of great artists here goes on and on. Every evening is an exceptional artistic experience in architecturally interesting spaces,” program director Irma Mrázková explains. 

The Třeboň Nocturna will commence on 11 July in the Třeboň State Chateau Stables with the Talich Quartet. The rarely performed Quartet movement by Antonín Dvořák and Mendelssohn’s early String Quartet in E flat major will be played. The concert will conclude with Mozart’s Stadler-Quintet in collaboration with French clarinetist Lilian Lefebvre, winner of the 2022 Prague Spring Music Competition.

On 12 July, the J. K. Tyl Theater will host outstanding young musicians, violinist Daniel Matejča and pianist Jan Schulmeister. Both perform regularly at home and abroad, have successfully participated in prestigious music competitions, and will perform works by Pärt, Janáček, Martinů, Ysaÿe, Glier, and Bartók. 

On 13 July, oboist Vilém Veverka’s PhilHarmonia Octet wind ensemble will present Mussorgsky’s Mozart in the courtyard of the Třeboň State Chateau. Later that night, one of the most original personalities of the Czech music scene, multi-instrumentalist Jiří Stivín, accompanied by guitarist Jaroslav Šindler, will perform at the Tunel Music Bar.

On Friday, 14 July, the courtyard of the Třeboň Municipal Office will belong to swing and the timeless songs of Quincy Jones, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington. Singers Jan Smigmator and Tonya Graves will be accompanied by the Gustav Brom Radio Big Band with conductor Vlado Valovič.

A new addition to the program is the Saturday afternoon multi-genre performance Harlequin at the Puppet Theater in Třeboň for young and old alike. “The winner of a number of major international competitions, clarinetist Karel Dohnal is bringing to Třeboň a unique comedy performance with music by Karlheinz Stockhausen, which has gained enthusiastic acclaim both at home and abroad,” Mrázková adds.

The Třeboň Nocturna Festival traditionally ends with a Saturday tribute to the singer Emma Destinn. This time it will be performed by soprano Eliška Weissová, Slovak baritone Daniel Čapkovič and the Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of conductor Jan Chalupecký. The detailed program and tickets can be found at trebonskanocturna.cz