ISSEM Valtice | 29. 6. - 7. 7. 2024

The International Summer School of Early Music in Valtice is not just about “early music”, but above all about how to play, perform and revive music, including asking how it might have sounded at the time of its creation. This approach – authentic in the innermost sense of the word – can be applied to all music, including that of the 19th century, the so-called “romantic”. The anniversary year of Czech music, full of great Romantic symbols, literally invites us to cross the thresholds of the past. But fear not, the core of our work will remain in the music of the “old”, for without the music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque, the heritage of 19th century music cannot be fully understood. And the few touches from younger epoch that we are going to make, will surely be a great diversion and a challenge to all those who let themselves be touched without prejudice by the beauty of music. For these reasons, we are opening a dance class focusing on the 19th century, enriching the offerings of the – otherwise mostly baroque – orchestra, and also preparing small surprises in other classes. All this effort will be supported by the opening symphonic concert “My Country” by Bedřich Smetana on original instruments performed by the Musica Florea orchestra. This will be balanced the next evening with a concert of works by one of the first “classic” composer of Czech music, Kryštof Harant from Polžice and Bezdružice (1564—1621), performed by the Cappella Mariana ensemble.
But our school is all about a few dozen classes filled by you, enthusiastic musicians from all corners of the country and abroad. No doubt you have already chosen where you will enroll this year, but just to be sure, I would like to point out that in addition to a number of established names, our teaching team will once again be expanded by several new faces: a singing couple Peter Kooij and Margot Oitzinger and the dancer and choreographer Bruno Benne.

See you in the summer at the latest!

Marek Štryncl
artistic director of ISSEM Valtice 2024