Programme notes:

Tereza Jaďuďová (b. 2001)
4 Valses, Op. 2
Composed in 2012–2013

In her 4 Valses, Tereza Jaďuďová continues to develop a distinctive voice rooted in tradition but coloured by personal expression. Though the waltz is a form often associated with elegance and dance, Jaďuďová uses it here as a vessel for emotional exploration—ranging from festivity to grief, from temperament to tenderness. As she herself writes, these valses are “from my heart… joyful and sad, carefree and nostalgic.”

Compared to the simpler, pedagogically oriented works of her Opus 1, this set reflects a marked artistic evolution, with a more complex harmonic language and deeper emotional range.

No. 1 – Festive Valse
Opening with a sparkle, this piece dances with confident joy and rhythmic vitality. Shifting textures and dynamic contrasts evoke a celebration in full swing, before the music dips briefly into more introspective territory—only to emerge once more with renewed brilliance.

No. 2 – Escape from the Grief 
Marked Largo Espressivo, this deeply expressive valse moves with poignant grace. Melancholy lines unfold with sincerity, leading the listener through a reflective journey. Dedicated to a personal figure, it stands as a musical elegy—both intimate and universal in its emotion.

No. 3 – Temperamental Valse
Brimming with intensity and rhythmic urgency, this valse feels almost theatrical in character. The marked contrasts—between fiery gestures and lyrical interludes—create a portrait of inner conflict, passion, and uncontainable spirit.

No. 4 – Sunrise 
The final valse offers a sense of quiet awakening. Beginning gently in Lento Assai, the piece gradually gains light and energy, as if depicting the rising of the sun. Hints of nostalgia and warmth carry the music forward, closing the cycle on a note of calm radiance.