Vítězslava Kaprálová, a Czech composer, tragically died at age 25 in Montpellier, France, from an acute illness while fleeing the Nazi occupation.
Compositional Technique
Bedřich Smetana, a Czech composer, gradually transformed the polka, his favorite Czech dance, into a highly sophisticated piano genre.
Historical Context
The great Czech music tradition was truly launched by Bedřich Smetana, who created a first-rate Czech opera style and pursued the Czech national revival.
Performer Biography
Francine Kay's recordings have received international accolades, including a Juno award nomination for her Debussy album, which was also chosen as Disc of the Month by Fono Forum.
Performer Biography
Francine Kay made her debut at Carnegie Recital Hall after winning the Pro Piano Competition and has since performed at major venues like Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium and Salle Gaveau in Paris.
Recording & Production
This recording was made at the Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall, Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Kingston, Ontario, across several dates in January and March 2022.
Performer Biography
Pianist Francine Kay is acclaimed for her sound's beauty and the intensity and depth of her interpretations, noted for her "extraordinary range of colour" and "poetic brilliance."
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