Chamber concerts at the House of Music: Convergence / Rajter – Bartók – Dvořák

The second concert of the autumn cycle with Convergences

The concert program will once again commemorate the musical tradition of Bratislava and the personalities who were associated with the city.

On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of his birth Ľudovít Rajter (1906 – 2000), conductor, composer, pedagogue, co-founder of the Slovak Philharmonic and long-time chief conductor of the Czechoslovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, will perform his Rondo romantico in A flat major for violin and piano from 1926.

He was also connected to Bratislava in his youth Béla Bartók, who attended the Royal Catholic Gymnasium here. Among his close friends was the composer and conductor Alexander Albrecht, one of Ľudovít Rajter's teachers. A selection of 44 duets for two violins, inspired by Slovak folklore, will be performed from Bartók's work.

The program will close with Dumky for violin, cello and piano. Antonín Dvořák, one of his most popular chamber works. The composition from 1890–1891 alternates pensive melancholy with cheerful dance movements.

The performers are violinist Michaela Hrubá, violist Martin Ruman, cellist Jozef Lupták and pianist Jordana Palovičová. Guests of the event will be musicologist Adrian Rajter and violinist Samuel Kopček from the M. Ruppeldt Elementary School (pedagogical direction: Daniela Bogaczová).

Opening hours:

Ludovít Rajter (1906 – 2000): Rondo romantico in A flat major for violin and piano

Béla Bartók (1881 – 1945): 44 duet for two violins, Sz. 98, BB 104 (selection)

Antonín Dvořák (1841 – 1904): Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor "Dumky", Op. 90, B166

• I. Lento maestoso

• II. Poco adagio

• III. Andante

• IV. Andante moderato

• V. Allegro

• VI. Majestic slow

They perform

Artists:

Michaela Hrubá, violin

Martin Ruman, viola

Jozef Lupták, cello

Jordana Palovičová, piano 

Guests:

Adrian Rajter, musicologist

Samuel Kopček, violin, pedagogical guidance Daniela Bogaczová, M. Ruppeldt Elementary School, piano collaboration Vladimír Šranko 

dramaturgy: Jozef Lupták, Andrej Šuba (Convergence)

Michaela Hrubá (violin)

She studied at the Brno Conservatory and the JAMU. She is a laureate of several violin and chamber music competitions; with Quartetto di Gioia she won 2nd prize at the L. Janáček International Competition and 1st prize at the ANGLO-CZECHOSLOVAK TRUST Competition in London. She is a founding member of the chamber ensemble Musica Minore and has collaborated with several prominent figures of the Czech and Slovak music scene. She has given concerts at home and abroad. Since 2010 she has lived in Bratislava, worked in the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and since 2015 she has been a member of the Slovak Philharmonic. She teaches at the Bratislava Conservatory.

Martin Ruman (viola)

The first violist of the Slovak Philharmonic and a teacher at the Conservatory in Bratislava is one of the outstanding Slovak performers of his generation. As a soloist, he has performed with the Slovak Philharmonic, the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Slovak Chamber Orchestra, and Capella Istropolitana, and has also performed on foreign stages. He is a regular guest at the Convergence festival. He also specializes in period interpretation and playing the viola d'amore. He regularly performs Slovak works at concerts, including premieres of new works. With pianist Alena Hučková, they have released two albums - the complete works of Rebecca Clarke for viola and piano and a CD album with compositions by Slovak authors. He has also established himself as an excellent teacher - his students from the Conservatory have achieved success at home and abroad.

Jozef Lupták (cello)

Cellist, founder and artistic director of the Convergences festival, studied at the Conservatory and Academy of Music in Bratislava, the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. As a soloist and chamber musician, he performs at home and abroad and has collaborated with many prominent artists, ensembles and conductors. For his work in cultural life, he received the Award of the Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic and the Fric Kafenda Award. He works as a teacher at the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica and the Conservatory in Bratislava, leads master classes abroad and educational events for students in Slovakia. He is the chairman of the Marián Varga Society and artistically leads activities dedicated to the work of the musician who also inspired the establishment of the Convergences. He is the recipient of several awards and the author or performer of numerous recordings ranging from classical music to crossover and authorial projects.

Jordana Palovičová (piano)

The pianist, soloist and chamber musician studied at the Conservatory (J. Mašinda) and the Academy of Music in Bratislava (D. Varínska), at the Royal College of Music in London (Y. Solomon) and at the Musikhochschule Lübeck (J. Tocc). She works as a professor at the Department of Keyboard Instruments at the Academy of Music in Bratislava. She is the recipient of several domestic and international awards, including the Ján Cikker Award. As a soloist and chamber musician, she performs at major festivals at home and abroad and collaborates with leading performers and domestic and foreign orchestras. Her discography also includes Slovak piano music; she has released, among others, the albums Jan Cikker Piano Music a Imagesand also recorded an album Ricanto with works by Slovak composers. In 2023 she recorded an album Musical evening with the work of Mária Szymanowska.

During the next evenings of the cycle (November 9 and December 7, 2026) will also feature music by Ernő Dohnányi, Robert Schumann, and Slovak composers Vladimír Godár, Marián Varga, and Marek Brezovský.

Admission 13 Eur, discounted admission (seniors over 62 years of age, students under 26 years of age, holders of ŤZP and ŤZP-S cards) 9 Eur.

???? photo: Jana Šantavá

We would like to inform visitors that during the event, photographs and/or videos may be taken for the purpose of promoting BKIS events and activities, more information at www.bkis.sk in the section "Processing of personal data".

Program subject to change.