Biography

BEATLES GO BAROQUE

Beatles go Baroque is the working title of four "baroque" Concerti Grossi, which represent a creative synthesis of well known songs by legendary Beatles, while applying the baroque form of Concerto Grosso and specific compositional elements used by the greatest of baroque masters together with the inspiration of the contemporary Slovak composer Peter Breiner, who bears the final responsibility for the resulting music.

Every movement of the four Concerti Grossi is based on a specific song by Beatles and every concert is consciously composed in a style of one baroque composers (Händel, Vivaldi, Bach). This is reflected not only in the external form of the concerts and their individual movements (for example Hey Jude as a polonaise, or Yellow Submarine as a badinerie) but mainly in the composition and specific structure of the pieces.
The only exception to this rule is the last Concerto, which does not use an inspiration any of the specific composers. In this case Peter Breiner approaches the material of the Beatles song in a free style while inspired by his own fantasy.

BEATLES CONCERTO GROSSO NO. 1
(In the Style of G. F. Handel)

1/ She Loves You – A tempo giusto
2/ Lady Madonna – Allegro
3/ Fol on the Hill – Adagio
4/ Honey Pie – Allegro
5/ Penny Lane – Allegro


BEATLES CONCERTO GROSSO NO. 2
(In the Style of Vivaldi)
1/ A Hard Day‘s Night
2/ Girl
3/ And I Love Her
4/ Paperback Writer
5/ Help

BEATLES CONCERTO GROSSO NO. 3
(In the Style of J. S. Bach)

1/ The Long and Winding Road –
2/ Eight Days a Week – Rondelu
3/ She‘s Leaving Home – Sarabande
4/ We Can Work It Out – Bourree
5/ Hey Jude – Polonaise
6/ Yellow Submarine

BEATLES CONCERTO GROSSO NO. 4
1/ Here Comes the Sun
2/ Michelle
3/ Goodnight
4/ Carry that Weight


BERG CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Was founded in 1995 on the initiative of the conductor Peter Vrábel. It consists of young talented musicians who also take an active part in chamber and solo music field. Concerts of BO have a specific goal of promotion and illumination of modern music. This objective is achieved through its unusual projects and outstanding artistic excellence, both of which are acclaimed not only with audiences but also with specialists within the musical world.
Every year the orchestra is presenting its innovative profile series through which it reaches the highest perks of the Czech arts scene. The orchestra dynamically responds to many impulses of today?s world and contemporary art. Characteristic activities of BO include commissions of new works, music of the 20th century, merging of different genres, interdisciplinary collaborations with artists and institutions from other art areas and concerts outside of traditional concert halls.
We are deeply devoted to our belief that modern music should be performed along the music of the past centuries in a way that is relevant to current audiences and that would provoke curiosity and emotions of a listener.
To the concert activities of the orchestra belong performances on international festivals and important Czech stages?it appeared at the Prague Spring International Music Festival or in prestigious series of the Czech Philharmonic.
Among other recent interesting projects we can cite highly praised recording of music for world-premiere ballet performance of National Theatre in Prague. BO created plenty of recordings for the Czech Radio and also participated on recording of a new album of jazz pianist F. Mantooth (USA) and on recordings for several films.
The orchestra also devotes itself to promoting music among the youngest generations: for 5 years it has been presenting highly successful series of concerts for schoolchildren.


... and its conductor PETER VRÁBEL (*1969)
Peter Vrábel was born in Zilina (Slovakia) where he started his musical studies. He studied conducting at the Conservatory in Bratislava with Júilus Karaba and had private lessons with Ladislav Slovák. He continued at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under the guidance of conductors Tomás Koutník, Radomil Eliąka and Oliver Dohnányi, then prepared his graduation recital under Frantiąek Vajnar. Already during his studies, he started his concert career and collaborated with several symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and choirs. He participated in courses led by Thüring Bräm (Switzerland) and in master classes of Robert Benzi in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland) held in cooperation with the Bienne Symphony Orchestra where he conducted the final concert. At the end of his studies, he obtained Gideon Klein Prize. Peter Vrábel is co-founder and conductor of the Berg Chamber Orchestra to which he created an image of respected performer of the contemporary and twentieth-century music. He performed with the orchestra on many concerts and festivals, recorded premiere CD for specialized recording company Matous and has done many recordings for the Czech Radio. During his short career, he managed an exceptionally wide repertoire of works involving all styles from baroque to contemporary music.