Programme notes:

Tereza Jaďuďová (b. 2001)
Piano Concerto No.1, Op. 56
Written in 2021

Dedicated to Jakub Čižmarovič

Tereza Jaďuďová’s Piano Concerto No. 1 marks her most substantial work for piano and orchestra to date. Written for Jakub Čižmarovič, the concerto balances the grandeur of Romantic form with the composer’s own clarity of line and orchestral colour. Across its four movements, the concerto moves from breadth and lyricism to brilliance and rhythmic drive, demanding both technical command and expressive depth from the soloist.

I.

The opening movement begins with a broad orchestral statement, introducing a noble and expansive atmosphere. The piano enters with lyrical lines that evolve into more animated passages, engaging in a continuous dialogue with the orchestra. The contrasts between grandeur and intimacy shape the movement’s large-scale form.

II.

The second movement shifts to a more introspective mood. The piano sings over delicate orchestral textures, its long cantabile phrases balanced by warm harmonic undercurrents. Subtle changes in colour and dynamics add depth, creating an atmosphere of quiet intensity.

III.

The third movement offers a change of character, turning toward a lighter, dance-inflected spirit. The writing is playful yet intricate, requiring precision and elegance from the soloist. This movement serves as a graceful interlude before the concerto’s finale.

IV.

The final movement takes on a determined, almost stubborn character, coloured by folk-inspired rhythmic patterns and a certain roughness in its orchestral textures. Rather than building toward brilliance, the music sustains its resolute tone, gradually calming. The concerto closes not with a dazzling flourish but in a quiet, peaceful resolution, its energy dissolving into stillness.

Instrumentation:

2fl, 2ob, 2cl, 2bn, 4hn, 2tpt, 3trbn, tba, timp, perc [tgl, cyms], pf solo, str [vln I, vln II, vla, vc, db]