14. 3. 2019

Programme:
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka: Ruslan and Lyudmila, Op. 5 (overture, 1842)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
Sergei Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (suite)

Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Olga Šroubková (CZ), violin
Rastislav Štúr, conductor

Olga Šroubková (1993) has been playing the violin since the age of 4 years, when her mother, Rimma Kotmelová, a graduate from the Moscow Conservatory in the class of prof. Viktor Pikajzen, began to teach her. At the age of eight she continued her studies at the Music School of the City of Prague in the class of prof. Jiři Fišer, with whom she graduated from the Secondary School of Jan Neruda with a music focus and subsequently from the Prague Conservatory.
Her earlier achievements include 2nd prize in the competition of Prague Junior Note in 2001 and 3rd prize and two 2nd prizes in the Kocian Violin Competition. In 2006 she performed at the concert to the 110th anniversary since the establishment of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, together with its members, and in 2008 she performed at a concert with the members of the Czech Chamber Orchestra. In the Rudolfinum, she also performed three times with master Josef Suk (Vivaldi concertos for four or two violins) and three times as a soloist; for the first time in 2008 (C. Saint-Saëns - Introduction and Rondo capriccioso), and for the second time in 2010 (F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy - Concerto in E minor), most recently in 2012 (J. Sibelius - Concerto in D minor) in the cycle of Josef Suk presents young talents.
At the Competition Rehearsal of conservatories and music classes of secondary schools in 2001 she was awarded the first prize and the title of the absolute winner and in 2013 she won the 1st prize at the International Competition BRAVO! in Namur in Belgium. In the same year she also won the 2nd prize and a special prize of EMCY at the International Competition for Violin, Kloster Schöntal in Germany. In November 2013 she won the competition of Bohuslav Martinů Foundation and also won the prize for the best interpretation of Bohuslav Martinů piece. In 2014 she graduated from the Prague Conservatory by a graduation concert with the orchestra. She performed the concert written by P. I. Tchaikovsky. Between 2014 and 2015 she auditioned for the position of a concert master of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and on the basis of advancing to the second and then to the third round, on several occasions she had an opportunity to act as a guest concert master of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.
Since October 2014 she has been studying at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hannover under the guidance of prof. Adam Kostecki. In September 2015 she became a laureate of two international competitions in China - Zhuhai International Competition for Young Musicians (4th prize) and Chengdu International Violin Competition (1st prize). Recently, in September 2016 she won the 1st prize at the international competition "Rodolfo Lipizer Prize" in Gorizia, Italy and also won several special prizes (the prize for best interpretation of W. A. Mozart, the prize for the best interpretation of R. Lipizer, the audition prize and the prize for the best cooperation with piano).
In may 2017, Olga won first prize on Prague Spring International Violin competition. In addition, she received prize for the best interpretation of Bohuslav Martinů piece and best interpretation of contemporary piece. In June 2017, Olga became laureate of Michael Hill Violin Competition on New Zeland. Besides 4th place, she was awarded for the best interpretation of contemporary piece.

Rastislav Stur, current Director and Chief Conductor of the Opera of the Slovak National Theatre Bratislava, Permanent Guest Conductor of Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and Teacher of Orchestral conducting (Janacek Academy of Music, Brno), was born on November 26, 1969 in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. He has studied at Janacek Academy of Music, Brno (graduated 1995). In 1996 he became conductor of Slovak National Theatre.
He gave his debut in the opera Mepfistopfeles (Boito) when he stepped in to replace a sick colleague - since that day he has received a number of opportunities. He performed the following operas at the Slovak National Theatre Opera: Il Trittico (Puccini, 2017), The Barber of Seville (Rossini, 1996 & 2013), The Magic Flute (Mozart), Cosi fan tutte (Mozart), The Bartered Bride (Smetana), Nabucco (Verdi), The Maid of Orleans (Tchaikovsky), Andrea Chenier (Giordano), Falstaff (Verdi), Tosca (Puccini), La fille de regiment (Donizetti, 2004), Un ballo in maschera (Verdi, 2004), Faust (Gounod, 2010), Manon Lescaut (Puccini, 2012), Pique Dame (Tchaikovsky, 2014) and the ballets Andersen (Nedbal), Spartakus (Kchachaturjan),  Sylphide (Lovenskjold) and Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev 2013).
In 1997, the SME Magazine wrote: "A conductor Rastislav Stur's name is a new phenomenon in a group of the professionals. He had to face not only a difficult task to win recognition in the Slovak National Theatre but also to try to continue recent Mozartovian success achieved by Kosler in the early 1970's. The talented artist succeeded in this to a great extends. He managed to find appropriate and contrasting tempo, worked honestly with the orchestra, which resulted in plastic and dynamic sound and coordination. It was almost possible to hear typical Mozartovian optimism.”
Stur conducted concert with Bryan Hymel & Irini Kyriakidou (Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Smetana Hall, Prague 2017).
He conducted The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia (Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra) with Dinara Alieva in Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory  (2017).
Stur conducted Dvorak’s Rusalka in NCPY Opera Beijing, the first czech opera in China in the history and the World first opera production with 3D technology (2016).
He conducted concert with Simon Keenlyside and Stefan Kocan (Prague Philharmonie, Smetana Hall, Prague 2015).
He conducted 2 concerts with Joseph Calleja (Prostejov 2014 & Opening Concert of Moscow Philharmonic Society, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Moscow 2014).
He also conducted concert with Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra in Moscow 2004.
Stur conducted 12 performances of La Traviata with Slovak National Theatre Opera on Japan Tour 2004 (with Peter Dvorsky, Maria Guleghina…).
His Brno experience has been decribed the best in Mlada Fronta Dnes - the largest and most prestigeous Czech newspaper: " Several faces of ballet . The performance of the choir was really praiseworthy, mainly the one of the orchestra from Janacek's opera, which played surprisingly courageously with unprecedented energy, very familiar with the difficult passages of Ravels music (Daphnis et Chloe). The young conductor Rastilslav Stur is one of the best conductors acting in Brno ."
In December 1999 he joined the Orchestra Philharmonique de Strasbourg in a performance of The Bartered Bride (Smetana) at the National du Rhin Opera House, together with soloists from all over the world (Barbara Haveman, Walter Fink…).
Just to mention a few of his most recent highlights: he conducted Peter Dvorsky´s concerts with Montserrat Caballe in Bratislava (2000) - PRAVDA, 4.12.2000 "In love with Stur".. " I am satisfied with the orchestra and I fell in love with the conductor Rastislav Stur. Apparently, this young man lives fully from music ", said Montserrat Caballe, with Gabriela Benackova in Prague (Prague Symphony Orchestra 2000), with Eva Urbanová and Jelena Obraztsova (Prague Symphony Orchestra 2002), with Ilona Tokody (Prague Symphony Orchestra 2003), with Anatoly Kotcherga (Czech National Symphony Orchestra 2006), with Ute Lemper (Prague PROMS 2007), with Paata Burchuladze (2009), Lawrence Brownlee and Mojca Erdmann (2012).