Our first chamber concert focuses on string instruments. Bohemian double bassist Adolf Mišek became a member of Wiener Philharmoniker in 1898 and moved to Prague after the First World War. Between 1920 and 1934, he was a soloist of the national theatre’s orchestra. The lively, dance-like trio »Nach dem Geschmack eines Junggesellen« (To the Taste of a Bachelor) composed in a folkloric style sparkles with humour and good spirits.

»The Paganini of cellos«: That is Hector Berlioz’ and Gioachino Rossini’s assessment of François Servais, one of the protagonists of the 19th century’s advancements in cello techniques. Like Paganini, he creates a comprehensive concert repertoire for his instrument, making up for the lack of compositions specifically for cello in the Romantic period. The virtuoso »Caprice« is proof of that.

»The chaconne, for me, is one of the most wonderful and incomprehensible music pieces. He writes an entire world full of profound thoughts and powerful feelings for this small instrument,« writes Johannes Brahms on the oeuvre of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Eugène Ysaÿe’s sonata for two violins solo has quite a notable dedication: To Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. Her Royal Majesty was a student of Eugène Ysaÿe’s. Elisabeth often played with her teacher and created the famous music competition »Concours Reine Elisabeth« in Brussels with him. Today, it is one of the most notable music competitions worldwide.