Horn-playing has a long tradition in Bohemia, ranging from the 18th century (J V Stich-Punto) to the Tylšar brothers and Radek Baborák. And Pøemysl Vojta is without question a superlative pursuer of this line. He earned his most remarkable triumph in September 2010 at the ARD competition in Munich (1st prize, the audience award and two other special prizes). Upon receiving the Beethoven Ring at the Beethovenfest in Bonn, he joined the ranks of young stars of classical music (Gustavo Dudamel, Julia Fisher, Lisa Batiashvili, etc.).

For his debut album, Pøemysl Vojta - currently solo horn of the Staatskapelle Berlin - has chosen pieces by 20th-century Prague modernists.

As he himself puts it: “Works by unknown composers who experienced World War II, the German occupation, liberation, occupation by the ‘liberators’ and the bullying by the communist regime. May this recording be a reminiscence of that time and the people who lived through it”.

In addition to reflecting the fraught epoch and Slavonic musicality in the Janácek spirit, these works place extreme technical demands on their performers. Pøemysl Vojta, however, is up to the challenge and with true mastery duly demonstrates his belonging to the famous Czech horn tradition.

Recorded at the Dvørák Hall of the Rudolfinum, Prague, December 2012.