Czech National Concert Band Once Again Enthralls the Beroun Audience

On February 15, 2025, the Czech National Concert Band held its fourth consecutive concert at KD Plzeňka in Beroun. This time, the program, titled “Around the Musical World,” was part of the 43rd edition of the Talichův Beroun International Music Festival, themed “Václav Talich – A Man of the World.” As always, the band prepared for the concert over two weekends at the Elementary Art School in Přelouč.

The concert opened with Triumphal Prelude by Thomas Doss, conducted by guest conductor Jiří Pohnán. Following the opening piece, the orchestra was led by the chief conductor of the Central Military Band of the Czech Armed Forces, Jaroslav Šíp. A highlight of the first half of the concert was the Czech premiere of Ponte Vecchio by Japanese composer Satoshi Yagisawa, performed by Michal Chmelař, director of the Elementary Art School in Přelouč and founder of the Czech National Concert Band. Young and talented flutist Viktorie Pilzová then captivated the audience with Concertino for Flute by French composer Cécile Chaminade, arranged by Roger Niese.

After the more intimate first half, the orchestra unleashed its full potential in the fiery Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez and Cuban Overture by George Gershwin. The audience was completely enchanted by the orchestra’s rich and beautiful sound in Sinatra’s greatest hits, including New York, New York, Something Stupid, Fly Me to the Moon, and My Way, as well as Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade.

The young musicians were rewarded with prolonged standing ovations from the audience.