World renowned Czech guitarist Vladislav Bláha will play selections by Bach, Piazolla, Rodrigo, Koshkin, Tesař, Ježek, Rak and more.

April 13, 2025

Doors - 2:30pm, Concert - 3pm

Join us for an intimate performance in the living room of the historic Schweikher House. Light refreshments will be served.

Vladislav Bláha has given concerts at prestigious halls in over 55 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Latin and North America including at Carnegie Hall, Royal Festival Hall and Conway Hall in London, Radio France in Paris, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Tokyo, Roma, Berlin, Jakarta, Havana, Lima, Caracas, Vienna, Zurich, Brussels, Moscow, Valencia, Saigon, Hanoi, Mexico City and now Schaumburg, Illinois.

Bláha is Professor of guitar at Janacek Academy of Music in Brno as well as the Brno Conservatory. Bláha earned his doctorate degree at the College of Music in Bratislava, Slovakia. Bláha is president of Czech Classical Guitar Society and since 1992 director of the International Guitar Festival in Brno, Czech Republic. Bláha has won four international guitar competitions and 27 composers from 16 countries have been so inspired by Bláha's performances, they have dedicated works to him. Bláha is a Savarez Strings artist and plays a Masaki Sakurai guitar.

Program

Johann Sebastian Bach: Sinfonia BWV 156

Astor Piazzolla: Oblivion, Muerte del Angel

Joaquin Rodrigo: Sonata a la Espaňola

Nikita Koshkin: Usher Waltz (Piece dedicated to Vladislav Bláha by composer)

Milan Tesař: Aria, Jumble (Piece dedicated to Vladislav Bláha by composer)

- Intermission –

Manuel de Falla: Pantomima, Danza del Molinero, La Vida Breve

Francis Kleynjans: Aria

Jaroslav Ježek: Bugatti Step

Leo Brouwer: Motivos de son (Piece dedicated to Vladislav Bláha by composer)

Štěpán Rak: Introduction of visions and Toccata, Hora - Romanian Dance

Many thanks to Brad Conroy for sponsoring this rare event. Brad plays guitar and also teaches at the Music Institute of Chicago