Vítězslav Novák - Slovak Songs (Eva Garajová; Miroslav Sekera)

Information

Composer: Vítězslav Novák

• Slovak Songs, Books 1–6 (Nos. 1–80)

Eva Garajová, mezzo-soprano

Miroslav Sekera, piano

Date: 2021

Label: ArcoDiva

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Vítězslav Novák (5 December 1870 – 18 July 1949) was a Czech composer and teacher associated with the neo-romantic tradition and Czech musical modernism. He studied at the Prague Conservatory, attending masterclasses with Antonín Dvořák alongside peers such as Josef Suk. Novák later taught at the Conservatory from 1909 to 1920, with Vítězslava Kaprálová among his students. His work was influential in shaping a national cultural identity following Czechoslovakia's independence in 1918. Known for his orchestral and operatic compositions, Novák's music blends rich Romantic expression with modernist elements

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Mezzo-soprano Eva Garajová (born 1965 in Bratislava) studied at the Bratislava Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts under Ružena Illenbergerová and Hana Štolfová-Bandová. While still a student, she joined the Bratislava Chamber Opera and made her debut in 1995. Following her studies, she was engaged by the Prague State Opera, where she performed over 20 major roles. Garajová collaborates regularly with leading orchestras, including the Slovak Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic and Tokyo Symphony. Also a dedicated chamber musician, she has partnered with pianist Marián Lapšanský since 2002.

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Miroslav Sekera (born 1975 in Prague) is a Czech pianist. He began playing piano and violin at the age 3, and was chosen to play the role of young Mozart in the 1984 film Amadeus. He later studied at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. A prizewinner in several competitions, Sekera has performed as a soloist and chamber musician on prestigious international stages, including the Vienna Musikverein and Washington's Kennedy Center. He regularly collaborates with Czech Radio, the Prague Symphony Orchestra, and with artists such as Josef Špaček, Dagmar Pecková and Radek Baborák.

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