International Music Festival Český Krumlov 2020

The 29th International Music Festival Český Krumlov will fill the town with music between 17 July and 8 August 2020. The Festival adds a special twist to the breathtaking scenery of the historical town center and its unique atmosphere. IMF Český Krumlov will present classical music concerts as well as open-sky multi-genre performances. José Cura, tenorist of worldwide renown, legendary jazzman Billy Cobham, violin virtuoso Pavel Šporcl and the violoncello magician Jiří Bárta will be among the many artists performing.

The 29th IMF Český Krumlov will open with a composed evening linking the past and the present. Visitors can expect both baroque illumination and modern video projections. Trumpetist Marek Zvolánek, vocal quartet Bohemia Voice and other musicians and dancers will perform. Classical music lover will be delighted with the Festival offering, while fans of other genres can also enjoy many musical experiences. The Festival schedule includes another event in the Legends of the World Jazz series - this time it is Billy Cobham concert. He is one of the most respected jazz drummers today and will be accompanied by CBC Big Band.

A concert version of the unforgettable Ballad for the Bandit accompanied by an orchestra offers another crossing beyond the classical music genre. Film fans will enjoy an evening of music by John Williams, with famous songs from Steven Spielberg movies.

A Spanish Evening with flamenco dancers will bring experiences of both the musical and the gastronomy kind. Guitarist Carlos Piñana and tenorist Plácido Domingo junior, son of the famous singer, will perform.

The Castle Riding Hall will host symphony concerts by top Czech orchestras with well-know soloists, such as the violinist Pavel Šporcl performing together with oboe player Vilém Veverka or Spanish violinist Leticia Moreno. Violoncellist Jiří Bárta and pianist Terezie Fialová will play the complete series of Beethoven sonatas for these two musical instruments at the Riding Hall. José Cura, the world-famous tenorist, will present an unforgettable experience during his concert as both a soloist and a conductor.

The famous Masque Hall, a jewel of the rococo-period illusion-style painting genre, will be the venue of more intimate concerts of the IMF. Among the many artists performing will be Štěpán Rak and various chamber ensembles, such as the Bennewitz Quartet. Two organ music concerts will present an opportunity for the visitors to meditate at the Monastery church. A "bare foot" organ player performing under the artistic pseudonym Katta will present her own compositions at the Monastery Garden.

For one evening only, the Festival visitor will have the chance to sample the exceptional atmosphere of the unique Baroque Theatre at the Castle and view original stage decorations and period costume replicas. Famous baroque arias will be sung by soloists specializing in the so-called authentic interpretation, accompanied by Musica Florea ensemble. The 29th Festival will culminate with a festive concert to commemorate the Beethoven anniversary where the famous Berliner Symphoniker orchestra will perform Beethoven´s Ninth Symphony with its Ode to Joy.

Kühn Mixed Choir and soloists Eunsie Hong, Natasha Novitskaja, Kristian Benedikt and Martin Gurbaľ will hold a concert at the Brewery Gardens. The closing concert will be conducted by Alfonso Scarano.

Tickets are available online at www.ticketstream.cz, at Ticketstream sales outlets across the country or at the Info Center Český Krumlov. Tickets are available at a reduced price until 31 May 2020. Similar to last year, there are many special discounts available: for senior citizens aged 65 and above, for pupils and teachers of the Artistic Elementary School Český Krumlov, for Český Krumlov Municipal Library members and for all citizens of Český Krumlov and neighbouring villages. The Festival also continues to support the visually impaired pupils attending the Jaroslav Ježek Artistic Elementary School in Prague, the only specialized institution of this kind in the country. The IMF Český Krumlov will present a rich and varied schedule of events and concerts of various genres for the pleasure of the Festival goers and the general public.

VIEW THE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE