Name: Sláva Vorlová: 130th Anniversary Concert
Start: 2024-11-26T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2024-11-26T21:00:00-05:00
Location: Bohemian National Hall

$Sl\u00e1va Vorlov\u00e1: 130th Anniversary Concert$

A concert featuring soprano, contralto, and piano, celebrating one of the most original Czech composers of the 20th century: Sláva Vorlová!
About this Event

A concert featuring soprano Tamara Morozová, contralto Monika Jägerová, and pianist Vojtěch Červenka, celebrating one of the most original Czech composers of the 20th century: Sláva Vorlová. The Lieder Society is thus reintroducing Vorlová's work into the cultural landscape with a concert marking the 130th anniversary of her birth. Join us in celebrating the Year of Czech Music with a resounding shout: Sláva!

Sláva Vorlová is one of the most original—and often overlooked—Czech composers of the 20th century. Her life and work reflect the historical currents of her time and her status as a prominent female composer in Czechoslovakia. Rooted in late Romanticism and influenced by jazz and numerology, her music resonates with warmth, intimacy, and sharp wit.

After studying in Prague and Vienna, Vorlová (1894–1973) spent 15 years in her husband’s hat factory. Following World War II, she returned to composition and gained recognition both at home and abroad. The tragic execution of her husband by the Nazis on May 8, 1945, inspired her song cycle Stesk I Nostalgia, Op. 13 (1946), dedicated to journalist Karel Čapek.

Her subsequent cycle, O lásce / On Love, Op. 17 (1947), features her own texts and marks a new chapter in her life. In Stručné úvahy / Brief Reflections, Op. 89 (1971), she humorously sets Miroslav Holub’s poems to music during a time when they were banned in Czechoslovakia. Tragically, Vorlová did not live to see its premiere. These duets explore themes of boundaries, the flood of words, and the laughter that helps us cope with scrutiny.

Sláva Vorlová (1894–1973) was a composer, pianist, and music educator. She began her studies in voice in Vienna and continued with Vítězslav Novák in Prague, focusing on piano and composition. After marrying factory owner Rudolf Vorl, she spent fifteen years in his hat manufacturing business. His tragic death at the end of World War II prompted her to pursue composition more seriously. Supported by her second partner, Vorlová achieved international acclaim, producing 92 works across various genres and advocating for women composers.