Programme

Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor

Igor Stravinsky
Oedipus Rex

Cast

to be confirmed Oedipus
Ester Pavlů Jocaste
Jiří Brückner Créon a Posel
Pavel Švingr Tirésias
Daniel Matoušek The Shepherd
Igor Bareš narrator

Isata Kanneh-Mason piano

Prague Philharmonic Choir
Lukáš Vasilek choirmaster

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Petr Popelka conductor

Oedipus Rex is a monumental stage oratorio by Igor Stravinsky, composed in 1927 to a Latin libretto based on Sophocles’ tragedy, in a translation by Jean Cocteau. The work blends elements of ancient Greek drama, oratorio, and opera, and is scored for soloists, male chorus, and orchestra. The austere grandeur of the Latin text, the static structure, and ceremonial form emphasize the archetypal dimensions of the story—fate and guilt. The chorus does not merely comment on the action, as in classical drama; it also serves as a powerful vehicle for musical stylization and dramatic tension. Oedipus Rex remains one of the most significant vocal-orchestral works of the 20th century, continuing to impress audiences with its dramatic force and striking form.