10-24-2022, 08:38 AM
Libor Pešek KBE (22 June 1933 – 23 October 2022) was a Czech conductor.[1] He was among the most famous conductors of his time, working regularly across Europe from Prague to Liverpool. His career spanned more than 70 years during which he won awards from Great Britain and performing well into the 21st century.
Pešek was born in Prague and studied conducting, piano, cello and trombone at the Academy of Musical Arts there, with Václav Smetáček and Karel Ančerl among his teachers. He worked at the Plzeň and Prague Operas, and from 1958 to 1964 was the founder and director of Prague Chamber Harmony.
He was chief conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic from 1981 to 1982, and from 1982 to 1990 was conductor-in-residence of the Czech Philharmonic. Beginning in 2007 Pešek was the chief conductor of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. He was stood down from this position at the close of the 2018-2019 season.[2]
In the UK, Pešek was music director of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) from 1987 to 1998, and held the title of conductor laureate. His work with the RLPO included leading the premiere of Anthony Powers' Horn Concerto (Michael Thompson, soloist).[3] His career also reached Norway, France, Germany, Israel, the United States, Latvia, Australia, Croatia, the Netherlands and Poland.
Pešek is best known for his interpretations of Czech music. He was a champion of lesser known Czech composers, particularly Josef Suk and Vítězslav Novák. His recordings include music of Pavel Josef Vejvanovský.[4]
Pešek was awarded KBE in 1996 and the First Grade of Czech Medal of Merit in 1997.
More at Wikipedia.
Pešek was born in Prague and studied conducting, piano, cello and trombone at the Academy of Musical Arts there, with Václav Smetáček and Karel Ančerl among his teachers. He worked at the Plzeň and Prague Operas, and from 1958 to 1964 was the founder and director of Prague Chamber Harmony.
He was chief conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic from 1981 to 1982, and from 1982 to 1990 was conductor-in-residence of the Czech Philharmonic. Beginning in 2007 Pešek was the chief conductor of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. He was stood down from this position at the close of the 2018-2019 season.[2]
In the UK, Pešek was music director of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) from 1987 to 1998, and held the title of conductor laureate. His work with the RLPO included leading the premiere of Anthony Powers' Horn Concerto (Michael Thompson, soloist).[3] His career also reached Norway, France, Germany, Israel, the United States, Latvia, Australia, Croatia, the Netherlands and Poland.
Pešek is best known for his interpretations of Czech music. He was a champion of lesser known Czech composers, particularly Josef Suk and Vítězslav Novák. His recordings include music of Pavel Josef Vejvanovský.[4]
Pešek was awarded KBE in 1996 and the First Grade of Czech Medal of Merit in 1997.
More at Wikipedia.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.