Programme notes:

Tereza Jaďuďová (b. 2001)
4 Romances, Op. 39
Written in 2019-2020

Tereza Jaďuďová’s 4 Romances form a lyrical cycle for baritone and piano, subtitled Russian impressions… moments before the onset of the pandemic. Drawing on poetry by Aleksey Koltsov, Innokenty Annensky, and Dmitry Merezhkovsky, each romance captures a unique emotional scene with music of intimacy and expressive nuance.

No. 1 – Песня (Song)
Aleksey Koltsov
Opening Andante, the first romance carries the simplicity of a folk-like song. The piano provides gentle support for the baritone’s flowing melody, evoking the tenderness of Koltsov’s pastoral imagery.

No. 2 – Зимнее небо (Winter Sky)
Innokenty Annensky
Marked by cool stillness, this romance unfolds as a meditation on winter. Soft piano textures and restrained vocal lines create an atmosphere of quiet reflection and subtle melancholy.

No. 3 – Снег (Snow)
Innokenty Annensky
With a more animated Moderato, the third romance captures the motion and changing colour of snow. The interplay between voice and accompaniment mirrors the shifting light and fleeting impressions.

No. 4 – Проклятие любви (The Curse of Love)
Dmitry Merezhkovsky
The cycle closes in dramatic fashion. This Andante molto brings heightened intensity, with urgent vocal lines and rich piano sonorities reflecting the poem’s passionate, conflicted emotions.

Video recording of Op. 39 No. 1

31/01/2020, Bratislava (Slovakia), ZUŠ Sklenárova.

Performers: baritone – Adam Čičiak, piano – Tereza Jaďuďová