Summer School of Baroque Music Holešov

Summer School of Baroque Music Holešov is a type of workshop that focuses on the performance of vocal and instrumental works of older stylistic periods, especially the Baroque period, in the style of informed performance of early music. Practical teaching is enhanced by a series of lectures and stimulating conversations about and with people involved in early music and its historically informed performance. All artistic categories involved in the performance of the works are taught (choir, solos, ensembles, portable organ, harpsichord, basso continuo, violin, viola, cello, recorder, flute, oboe, etc.) under the guidance of an international team.

Summer School of Baroque Music is intended primarily for singers and instrumentalists who already have experience in the interpretation of early music. However, it is also open to new applicants.

Accommodation and meals are provided for the entire duration of the courses. Interested students can choose from several offers.

In terms of dramaturgy, the workshop aims to enable the studying and performance of otherwise hard to find literature, especially oratorio, cantata and mass literature. This is also what makes our courses special.

Apart from taking solo lessons with their lecturers (i.e. at least one individual lesson per day – other lessons can be attended passively), the greatest benefit for the participants is the joint rehearsal of a work for solo, choir and orchestra, with the lecturers becoming leaders of their respective instrumental groups. Collaboration with a conductor and a large vocal-instrumental ensemble is also an invaluable experience.

In addition to studying the main composition, more advanced students have their own study plan, the results of which they can present together with their teachers at two student concerts that take place during the week. An international team of top performers specializing in historically informed interpretation is a guarantee of quality and well-founded teaching. The main asset of LŠBH is a small number of students (usually 3 – 6) in individual solo classes. Thus, the lecturers can devote the maximum amount of time and attention to each participant.

As the result of LŠBH’s work there are always three big final concerts, which have traditionally enjoyed great popularity from the audience, both the general public and professional musicians and professional critics. Summer School of Baroque Music is located at the Holešov chateau (and other buildings). It is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Zlín Region, the town of Holešov, the Musica Holešov festival and many others.

Something from history

LŠBH was founded by the conductor Roman Válek in 2003. Over the past successful years the following works have been performed:

G. F. Handel: Messiah (2003)
J. S. Bach: Mass in B minor (2004)
C. Monteverdi: Marian vespers (2005)
G. F. Handel: Judas Maccabeus (2006)
J. S. Bach: Magnificat, orchestral suite in D major (2007)
J. B. Lully, M. A. Charpentier: Te Deum (2008)
H. Purcell: Ode to St. Cecilia, Te Deum (2009)
G. F. Handel: Israel in Egypt (2010)
A. Vivaldi: Gloria, Beatus vir, Dixit Dominus (2011)
G. F. Handel: Zadok the Priest, J. S. Bach: Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, J. B. Lully: Exaudiat Te Dominus, A. Corelli: Conceto grosso no. 6 (2012)
G. P. Telemann: Daniel in the lions´ den (2013)
J. D. Zelenka: Te Deum (2014)
T. Linley, jr.: The Song of Moses (2015)
J. S. Bach: St. John passion (2016)
H. Schütz: Magnificat SWV 468, Historia der Geburt Jesu Christi SWV 435, Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz SWV 478, Warum toben die Heiden SWV 23 (2017)
G. F. Handel: Alexander´s Feast (2018)
P. J. Vejvanovský: Litanies, Masses and Motets (2019)
J. S. Bach: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 140), Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten! (BWV 214) (2020)
G. Ph. Telemann: Der Tag des Gerichts (TWV 6:8) (2021)
G. F. Handel: The Triumph of Time and Truth (HWV71) (2022)

The classes were taught by qualified lecturers from thirteen European countries, Mexico and the USA and were attended by over 2,500 students from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Sri Lanka, Japan, Italy, Russia, USA, Poland, Montenegro, etc. Together they performed at 68 full-length concerts and 52 oratorio concerts, which were heard by over 15,000 listeners.

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