2024 is the year of Czech music, making Matyas’s collaboration with us dynamic, amazing, and distinctly Czech!
Matyas’s March visit was eventful! Despite a rocky start with his flight being canceled from Europe, resulting in a 36-hour road journey, Matyas arrived at JFK (instead of Newark). His US manager, Jana, was eagerly waiting to whisk him away in a flash to Philadelphia for his first concert. Despite being 10 minutes late due to the chaotic situation, the audience was understanding and supportive.
Attending my first Groupmuse at my friend JP’s! Played by Matyas Novak with lots of Smetana, also Chopin and Liszt. Now that the concert is over, I can say the Vltava (Moldau) transcription was excellent! He really captured the moods of the different landscapes portrayed in the piece, I think better than most conductors I’ve played it with!
John Koen, cellist, Philadelphia Philharmonic
Concert in Basking Ridge, New Jersey
His second concert was a solo recital at Bishop Janes United Methodist Church in Basking Ridge, NJ, where the lovely and excited audience added to the memorable experience.
Recording Day at Skillman Studio NYC
As a crowning achievement, Matyas recorded an entire album during his March trip in New York at the prestigious Skillman Recording Studio. This studio boasts clients like Lang Lang, Tan Dun, Midori Goto, and other renowned artists, making it a significant milestone in Matyas’s burgeoning career.
Visiting NYU
Following this, Matyas had a lecture and recital at NYU (New York University), providing a fantastic experience for students and professors alike. Michael Beckerman who graciously invited Matyas to perform at the university. Beckerman is renowned for his deep connections to the Czech Republic, having studied in Brno during the 1970s and receiving honorary doctorates from both Palacký University in Olomouc and Masaryk University in Brno throughout his illustrious career. His unwavering dedication to Czech music is truly inspiring, and we had the privilege of witnessing his infectious passion for composers such as Smetana, Dvořák, Martinů, Janáček, Ježek, Michna, Tomášek, Klein, Kaprálová, and many other Czech and Eastern European luminaries. During our time at NYU, we also had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Veronique Firkušná, daughter of the renowned pianist Rudolf Firkušný. This encounter was equally enriching, as Mrs. Firkušná exudes grace and kindness.
In May, Matyas and Jana met in Chicago to continue his performance journey. They were welcomed warmly by fellow Czechs who assisted with transportation and graciously hosted them in their homes. A big thank you to all those who helped!
Visiting Mr. Kyncl
During this time, Matyas and Jana had the honor of being invited by Mr. Kyncl. Matyas shared his enriching experience during this visit, highlighting Mr. Kyncl’s contributions to Czech music and art promotion in Chicago and its surroundings.
Chopin Theatre Recital
On May 8th, 2024, Matyas delivered a highly successful recital at the Chopin Theatre in collaboration with The Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities and in partnership with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago.
Matyas expressed his gratitude for the warm reception in Chicago, where he performed in front of a packed audience. He also had the opportunity to visit the T. G. Masaryk Czech School and held private concerts, further immersing himself in Chicago’s rich cultural heritage.
Lastly, the tour wrapped up in New York with a concert in a private residency in Manhattan. Matyas shared his deep appreciation for the experience, leaving the United States full of beautiful memories.
This is what Matyas said: “My stay in Chicago was amazing. As I mentioned in my previous post, there are many people with Czech roots living in Chicago and its surroundings; some still speak Czech perfectly and adhere to Czech traditions and customs. Several families offered me accommodation, so I spent time in various places and felt at home. The most important concert of my stay took place at the Chopin Theatre, which is among the significant theater scenes in Chicago. The recital was sold out within a few days, so I performed in front of a completely packed audience. Besides other distinguished guests, the Consul General of the Czech Republic Jakub Utěšený and his wife attended the concert.
T. G. Masaryk Czech School
Additionally, I had the opportunity to visit the T. G. Masaryk Czech School, which has been operating in Chicago for over a hundred years. Classes are held every Saturday for three hours, and the students are mostly children of Czech immigrants. Education is conducted exclusively in Czech, and children learn the Czech language and our culture there. As part of the teaching, I played compositions by Czech composers, which were very well received.
Finally, I held two private concerts in Chicago, attended by several dozen local listeners. I was very grateful to the hosts for the opportunity to perform directly at their homes, and I greatly appreciated the excellent and generous refreshments they provided. I already miss Chicago and look forward to visiting again!”
As we look ahead, we’re already planning performances for 2025 in Florida and Chicago, with two exciting concerts at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC this September! Stay tuned for more information soon!
