Programme notes:

Tereza Jaďuďová (b. 2001)
7 Romances, Op. 38
Written in 2019

Inspired by impressions from the theatrical performance Russian Diaries at the Slovak National Theatre, Tereza Jaďuďová’s 7 Romances set poems by Russian poet Sophia Parnok. Written for soprano and piano, the cycle explores themes of love, memory, time, and identity through intimate musical language. Dedicated to Slovak actress Zuzana Fialová, each romance reflects the shifting moods and nuanced emotional worlds of Parnok’s verse.

No. 1 – Каждый вечер я молю…
An opening Lento filled with hushed intensity. The vocal line unfolds like a quiet prayer, the piano offering restrained harmonic support.

No. 2 – Еще не дух, почти не плоть…
Marked Adagio doloroso, this romance conveys fragility and introspection, with delicate harmonic colouring and subtle rhythmic flexibility.

No. 3 – Ради рифмы резвой не солгу…
A Moderato of clear diction and measured pacing. The music balances lyrical phrasing with an undercurrent of determination.

No. 4 – К самой себе
An Andante of self-reflection. The writing is introspective, the melodic lines shaped with tender restraint.

No. 5 – Дремлет старая сосна…
Marked Lento, this setting evokes the stillness of nature. The piano’s sustained harmonies support a serene vocal melody.

No. 6 – Я тебе прощаю все грехи…
A romance of forgiveness and release. The writing blends lyricism with quiet intensity, allowing the text to guide the pacing.

No. 7 – Этот вечер был тускло-палевый…
Closing the cycle, the final romance reflects on memory and distance. The music balances nostalgia with gentle finality, leaving the cycle in quiet resolution.