Mráček plays Berg

This interview was conducted at the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra’s concert in the Rudolfinum’s Dvorak Hall on Monday, 18 January for Radio Weekly’s column “Radioraport”.

Berg’s concerto, subtitled “To the Memory of an Angel”, is quite a different nut after the great romantic works you’ve been performing with PRSO to date. What attracts you about it?

This concerto has several aspects worthy of reflection and attention. For one thing, it is one of Berg’s “bestsellers” along with his operas Wozzeck and Lulu; he wrote it in the year he died, in 1935, so we are talking about the very peak of his composing activity. This opus was a highly personal matter for him – he found inspiration in the tragic death of eighteen-year-old Manon Gropius, the daughter of his great friend Alma Mahler. The whole concert is thus a bit brooding, grey and nostalgic. It belongs in the classic repertoire of all world-class artists.

Aside from the aforementioned girl’s death, the work also draws on the pain of the darkness of Hitler’s rise.What effect does it have on a young artist when they encounter such boundless sadness and despair?

I have to say, and also knock on wood, that personally I have not yet ever encountered such hopelessness and pain, but I have had several unwanted opportunities to perform on stage on not-so-happy days and it’s no pleasant thing. At such moments you can’t enjoy cheerful themes and sad ones are even sadder than usual. Many artists have had to play a concert on a day when, say, a family member has died, which I can’t even imagine, but… that’s also part of being a professional artist. Indeed, many great works were born amidst hardship, pain and suffering.

Let’s take a look now at your life – and for contrast let’s concentrate on happy aspects. What important events have taken place since last September, when you brought great joy to yourself and all of us by winning the 8th annual International Fritz Kreisler Competition in Vienna?

There’s been quite a lot. I guess the most important new thing is the agency that decided to represent me. I have them to thank for a lot of new dates being added to my calendar. Then in November I recorded my debut CD accompanied by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Judd and also including pianist Lukáš Klánský. It features solely the works of Antonín Dvořák (Violin Concerto, Mazurek, Romance, Romantic Pieces). In this way I wanted to draw attention to a Czech composer, soloist, orchestra and pianist in one package, because the CD will be released by the Swiss label ONYX and will thus be focused on foreign markets.

Are you planning any other competitions or are you already fully satisfied with the number of trophies you’ve collected?

I definitely plan to keep competing as long as I’m able. I wanted to apply for some in 2016 but unfortunately they all clash with concert dates, so next time I’ll have to write them into my diary further in advance and with a thick red underline. I definitely have to try the Queen Elisabeth…

What about your repertoire? Have you added anything?

I’m constantly expanding my repertoire; I’ll mention only the most interesting pieces. In terms of concerts, I learned Beethoven’s D minor last year, which is probably the greatest symphony of all time. I’m totally in love with it. I first performed it in April of last year in Klagenfurt, Austria accompanied by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra. In December I did it in Poland with Filharmonia Kaliska and conductor Adam Klocek. The perfection of that composition stems from its utter simplicity and extremely rich musicality.

I then expanded my chamber repertoire to include, for example, Bartók’s Contrasts for clarinet, violin and piano trio and the typical romantic Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor by Johannes Brahms. I also added the concert rhapsody Tzigane by Maurice Ravel and Schubert’s Rondo in A major to my repertoire.

Have you already met the conductor, Vásquez?

Christian Vásquez |foto: Wolf Marloh

We haven’t met yet but I’m sure we will find the same musical language, even just because of the small age difference. I’m really looking forward to our concert very much!

Can you outline your ideas about the coming months and years to us?

I’d like to finish my studies, which brings us back to the topic of recent news. A full calendar carries certain disadvantages as well: Due to being frequently indisposed, I was forced to prematurely leave university in Vienna.

Austrian colleagues unfortunately follow the regulations and attendance more than what is most important, the chance to play… Naturally I understand it, but my priorities are clear. Above all I want to play the violin; that’s why I decided to leave. The stress of playing concerts is enough for me; I don’t want to be stressed over school as well. Indeed, I know of universities where they give much more consideration to artistic activities. At any rate, I still take private lessons with Professor Pospíchal.

I understand that the road to success is thorny and important decisions at the right time tend to have fateful consequences. At any rate it is clear that you have long since stepped out into the world… Promise that you will always think about the Czech audience.

I’m a Czech! And the Czech public will always be the most important one for me.