vcs file

Concert (included in the registration fee)

Date:	Monday, September 2, 2013, 19:00
Starts:	at 19.00
Venue:	Bethlehem Chapel / Betlémská kaple
Address:	Betlémské náměstí 255/4, 110 00 Prague 1

Bethlehem Chapel

Bethlehem Chapel is located in the heart of Prague, the Old Town district. It was built in as a holy place where sermons could be held in Czech. Jan Hus - university professor and Czech religious reformer - preached there between 1402 and 1413. As he was also the Rector of Charles University, it is believed that the Chapel was linked to this institution.

Later, in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Chapel served as a Church to the Utraquists and later to the Czech Brethren. In 1622, after the Catholic and Imperial party had won the conflict with the Estates, the Emperor gave the Chapel to the Jesuits, who also took control of the University. By 1786, the building was in very poor condition. Shortly after, Joseph II abolished the Jesuit order, and the Chapel was demolished. A merchant house was then built on the land.

The memory of the Chapel was still alive in 1919, as it was linked to the history of Jan Hus and the Hussite movement, and an investigation of the house revealed solid foundations of the original building. The reconstruction of the Chapel took place in years 1950-1952, with the completed building serving as a solemn public space until it was given to the Czech Technical University in 1987 as its Magna Aula. The Chapel preserves the memory of one of the places in Prague directly linked to Jan Hus and his followers. The last reconstruction was completed in 1992.

How to get there from the Clarion Congress Hotel (Conference venue)

Take metro line B (yellow) from station "Vysočanská" to station "Můstek" (7 stops). The journey takes approximately 12 minutes. The Bethlehem Chapel is located about 500 meters from the "Můstek" metro station.

The Performers

Melanie Wagner and Susanne Lürzer were born in Vienna. At an age of five years they received first piano lessons from Valerie Ruschitzka. At the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna they studied with Senta Benesch (violoncello – concert class), Claus Christian Schuster (piano), as well as with Georg Ebert and Ernst Knava (chamber music). They obtained the State Diploma (violoncello) in the year 1980.

They performed in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and USA, partly together with members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Both of them participated at the first performance of two compositions for two celli and orchestra by Gerhard Lagrange in the Main Hall of the Wiener Musikverein.

Concert Programme

	Intermission
Edvard Grieg:	Morgenstimmung from Peer Gynt Suite 1 for Piano four hands
Edvard Grieg:	First movement, Sonata a minor, op. 36 Violoncello: Susanne Lürzer; Piano: Melanie Wagner
Sergei Rachmaninoff:	Third movement, Sonata g minor, op. 19 Violoncello: Susanne Lürzer; Piano: Melanie Wagner
Robert Schumann:	Valse from Carnaval op. 9 for Piano four hands
Franz Schubert:	Adagio, Sonata for Arpeggione Violoncello: Melanie Wagner; Piano: Susanne Lürzer
Johannes Brahms:	Vier Walzer op. 39 for Piano four hands
Antonin Dvorak:	Second movement, Concert for Violoncello and Orchestra, b minor Violoncello: Melanie Wagner; Piano: Susanne Lürzer
Gabriel–Marie:	La Cinquantaine Violoncello: Melanie Wagner; Piano: Susanne Lürzer
Jules Massenet:	Meditation from the Opera Thais Violoncello: Susanne Lürzer; Piano: Melanie Wagner
Moritz Moszkowski:	Tanz No. 2 from Spanische Tänze op. 12 for Piano four hands
Franz Schubert:	Serenade Violoncello: Melanie Wagner; Piano: Susanne Lürzer
Georges Bizet:	La Toupie (The Spinning Top) Impromptu from Jeux d’enfants op. 22 for Piano four hands
Edvard Elgar:	Salut d’Amour op. 12 Violoncello: Susanne Lürzer; Piano: Melanie Wagner
Georges Bizet:	Petit marie, petite femme … (Small Man, Small Woman, …) Duo from Jeux d’enfants op. 22 for Piano four hands
Artur Rubinstein:	Melody in F Violoncello: Susanne Lürzer; Piano: Melanie Wagner