Death and Paradise

15 October 2024, 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Presented in association with the Bodleian Libraries and the Oxford Kafka Research Centre

Franz Kafka had a strong link to the music world through his friend and publisher Max Brod. Brod was responsible in large part for the wider dissemination of the works of Janáček and Smetana, authored an important study of Mahler, and was a composer himself. Rising-star soprano Mimi Doulton and pianist Dylan Perez explore this melting pot of musical influences, with songs by Janáček, Mahler and Brod, as well as Antonín Dvořák and Vítězslava Kaprálová.

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances, the world premiere of Can Bilir’s Silent Songs of Josefina has been postponed. We intend to present this work at the 2025 Festival.

Programme

Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904)
Ó, naší lásce nekvete, 'Oh, that longed-for happiness' (1888) Op. 83 from Písně Milostné (Love Songs)
V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest, 'So many a heart is as though dead' (1888) Op. 83 from Písně Milostné (Love Songs)
V té sladké moci očí tvých, 'In that sweet power of your eyes' (1888) Op. 83 from Písně Milostné (Love Songs)

Leoš Janáček (1854 - 1928)
Vzkázání, 'Message' from Moravian Folk Poetry in Song
Polajka, 'Honeysuckle' from Moravian Folk Poetry in Song
Svatba komárí, 'Flies' wedding' from Moravian Folk Poetry in Song

Vítězslava Kaprálová (1915 - 1940)
Sbohem a šáteček Viteslav Nezval, 'Waving farewell'
Jitro, 'Morning' Op. 4 no.1

Max Brod (1884 - 1968)
Tod und Paradies (1951)

Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911)
Scheiden und Meiden (1887) no.12 1887-1891 from Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit
Ablösung im Sommer (1887) no.11 1887-1891 from Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit
Nicht wiedersehen! (1887) no.13 1887-1891 from Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit

Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
Agnes Op. 59 No. 5
Wir wandelten, wir zwei zusammen (1884) Op. 96 no.2
Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer (1886) Op. 105 no.2 from Fünf Lieder (Op. 105)
Botschaft (1868) Op. 47 no.1