Thu, 21. 12. 2023, 19.00 hrs

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Venue: Zlín Congress Centre  |  Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s.  | 

What kind of Christmas would it be without Jakub Jan Ryba’s legendary Czech Christmas Mass? This work, which first rang out from the choir of a church in Rožmitál over 200 years ago, is the highlight of every year’s Christmas Concert by the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic, and this year is no exception.

For over two centuries, the Church and music critics consistently undervalued Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass for what they saw as its inadequate liturgical basis and its folksy, simplistic or even facile nature while nonetheless conceding that it was an exceptional work in terms of the composer’s artistry. Evidence of its popularity among the common people but also of its alleged shortcomings in terms of a liturgical footing can be found in a church manuscript from Klatovy in 1864, where an unknown Church dignitary writes: “This hotchpotch, which can only be seen as an unprecedented affront to Church music, has long been part of the Christmas festivities in Klatovy, and woe betide the prelate if such humbug is not given at least twice over Yuletide …”. Indeed, the Czech Christmas Mass was long a thorn in the side of the Catholic Church, although the common people always had their way at Christmas. Today the piece is an undisputed icon and part and parcel of Czech Christmas celebrations.

Zlin’s symphony orchestra first performed this work in December 1970, some 52 years ago, at the former Dům umění arts centre, since when it has featured in the Orchestra’s concerts almost every year as a essential part of our tradition, so don’t miss this unique evening with Ryba’s mass that will conjure up the true atmosphere of Christmas for you.