Programme notes:

Tereza Jaďuďová (b. 2001)
Elegy, Op. 29
Written in 2018

Originally conceived as a standalone work for solo cello and strings, Tereza Jaďuďová’s Elegy was later reworked as the second movement of her Cello Concerto, Op. 32. Dedicated to her teacher Beata Bukaiová, the piece combines lyrical simplicity with a rich emotional depth.

Marked Adagio, the Elegy unfolds in a single, continuous arc. The solo cello opens with a plaintive melody, supported by the soft, sustained sonorities of the string ensemble. Subtle harmonic shifts and restrained dynamic swells create a sense of deep contemplation. The pacing remains flexible, allowing the music to breathe naturally, like a private meditation.

As the piece develops, the solo line alternates between long, singing phrases and moments of quiet intensity. The strings offer a delicate harmonic cushion, avoiding overt drama and instead maintaining an intimate, inward tone. The work concludes in a hushed atmosphere, its final notes fading into stillness—an expression of personal reflection and quiet farewell.