You are cordially invited to come join us for the upcoming Summer of Bohemia Chamber Music Festival at the stunning Pompeian Room of the Doheny Mansion. These four concerts will feature 13 works that showcase the extraordinary music of Antonin Dvořák, Leos Janàček, Ernst von Dohnányi, Josef Suk, Bedřich Smetana and Bohuslav Martinů. All of these composers were influenced by Bohemian folk music. The great achievement of these composers was to join the warmth, joy and optimism of Native Czech music to the great classical forms developed by Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. Not unlike Johannes Brahms, these composers used their cultural heritage to guide and infuse their compositions with the unique melodies and harmonies of their countrymen. (Brahms was a dear friend, supporter and mentor to Dvořák) Bohemian music was also influenced by the New World. Both Dvorák and Martinu traveled to the United States to share their prodigious musical talents. Their exposure to our musical traditions inspired them to compose some of their most famous works.
Joining the New Hollywood String Quartet- violinists Tereza Stanislav and Rafael Rishik, violist Robert Brophy and cellist Andrew Shulman are some of the most accomplished chamber musicians from around the world. The guest artists are- violinist Margaret Batjer, pianist Rohan De Silva, pianist Rodolfo Leone, clarinetist Boris Allakhverdyan, violinist Roger Wilkie, violinist Jessica Guideri, violinist Susan Rishik, cellist Eric Byers, pianist Alin Allakhverdyan, and mezzo-soprano Jessie Shulman.