120 Years
(Not) Only Dmitri Shostakovich
(1906 – 1975)

Shostakovich was not a hero in the usual sense of the word. He often balanced between loyalty and resistance, silence and outcry. His chamber music is therefore so deeply human – like a conversation behind closed doors, like a diary that was never meant to be read, and yet today we search for truth within it.

A festival dedicated to his legacy takes place at a time when the world is changing once again. The war in Ukraine reminds us that music is not an escape, but sometimes the last remnant of human dignity. After last year’s edition, we return to Shostakovich not only because of his anniversary, but because in his music we hear the experience of fear, courage, and hope – without grand words, without unnecessary pathos.

Today, when war is once again raging in Europe, just a few hundred kilometers from us, his music gains a new meaning. In the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine, we ask: what is the role of art in a world that is failing again? We seek the answer precisely in chamber music, in its fragile yet uncompromising truth.

We are delighted by this year’s participation of young performers. Their talent and energy are a symbol of the future we wish for: a future without fear, without violence, a future open to beauty and dialogue. Shostakovich himself might not have believed that his music would one day sound like a voice of hope – but that is exactly how we wish to hear it today.

Standard admission: 480 CZK

VIP tickets: 680 CZK
(reserved seat in the first 8 rows, in your name)

Discounted admission: 280 CZK
(seniors 65+, students, ZTP card holders, and children aged 10–15)

Season ticket: 2,600 CZK
(10 concerts)

Program subject to change.