Libor Pesek: I only took up the baton to get out of the army
mainThe indelible Czech conductor, 86, has been speaking at his richly deserved award of the Bohuslav Martinů Memorial Medal.
Among other things:
To some extent, I remained an amateur and because of that I had time to be interested in other things as well. I always thought a little disgraceful when it was said about a musician: music is everything to him! I went to AMU just to avoid having to go to military service, only in the second year, when I saw Antonio Pedrotti at a concert in Prague, I became passionate. I went crazy about serious music because of him.
On the advantage of being a conductor? If you hear something perfect, which is rarely, you can appreciate it like no one else.
More here.
A very Czech approach!
Great artist; great colleague; great guy.
da best….
Still remember all the concerts in Leeuwarden with the Frysk Orchestra where Libor was appointed as Music Director in 1969; unforgettable concerts & more
I’m grateful to him for introducing me (via his RLPO recording) to the Amazing Asrael symphony… (His Supraphon Suk recordings are also worth hearing.)
still the best recording of Asrael, apart from Talich.
There’s a Talich recording of Asrael? Mmmmmmmm….
Damn right there is. Issued by Supraphon in 1993 together with his recording of Dvorak Stabat Mater.
there is also a very special KUBELIK recording
Sorry Norman,
Gotta hitcha w/something I learned a long time
ago at PS 221 in Brooklyn. Your headline
“I only took up the baton…” should read, “I took up the baton only…” In this case, only modifies “to get out of the army” not “took up the baton”. I bet you say, “I only had coffee for breakfast” instead of “I had only coffee for breakfast.”OK. Enough pedantry. Back to music.
Thank God someone else still cares…
Yes, up with such infraction I will not put.
I still remember, while a student at Cambridge, his coming down to the Proms with the Royal Liverpool Orch and Chorus, for one of the ultimate double-bills: Beethoven “Eroica”, and Janacek’s Glagloitic Mass. Malcolm Stewart the wonderful concertmaster. Totally magnificent interpretations, absolutely zero ego.
I still remember, while a student at Cambridge, his coming to Cambridge to conduct our student orchestra. A remarkable and energetic presence on the podium, who exuded the confidence and capability to elicit a compelling performance. Totally magnificent interpretations, absolutely zero ego.
He conducted at the installation of his friend Vaclav Havel as President of the Czech Republic.
I felt he was an excellent guest conductor with the S.F. Symphony (only saw him twice).