The Present
Lukáš Kovařík has lead the choir since October 2008. He studied conducting at the Prague Music Academy under the leadership of Miriam Němcová. At present he studies conducting at the Faculty of Music at the Academy of Music and Drama in Prague. His musical talent and precision prove to be a guarantee of the further artistic growth of the choir. Under his leadership the choir produced a number of musical pieces not only of contemporary composers such as Antonín Tučapský and Karel Smékal but also Gregorian chorals and pieces from the Renaissance period.
In September 2012 Radek Šalša joined the choir as a 2nd conductor. He is a graduate of conducting from Brno Music Academy and Jaroslav Ježek Music Academy under the leadership of Hynek Farkač. At present he is studying music production at the Academy of Music in Prague. Under his leadership the choir performed very well and made it evident that it will benefit from the future cooperation of both conductors.
In June 2013 Radek Šalša took over the role of the choir conductor and artistic leader.
The choir performs on a regular basis in the historical premises of České muzeum hudby in Prague, the Lichtenstein Palace in the Lesser Town, Středočeské muzeum in Roztoky and many other places. Since 2008 the choir has restored its traditional concert tours along Bohemian and Moravian castles (Bechyně, Stráž nad Nežárkou, Lnáře, Brandýs nad Labem, Troja Castle in Prague and Švihov).
The choir’s first CD in 2003 and a DVD in 2006 are recordings of the concert in the Národní muzeum in Prague. Since then there has been a number of other recordings (both CDs and DVDs), the latest ones from the two concerts given in České muzeum hudby in 2012.
In 2011 the choir was invited by the Bigband of the Czech Radio Station to appear in the Christmas concert and in 2012 the choir performed in the live broadcast of the 3rd Advent concert on Czech TV.
The chor history
ROSA, a chamber mixed choir, was founded in 1970 in Roztoky near Prague. Its current name ROSA (The Roztoky Amateur Choir) was chosen by the choir itself in 1974. From the very beginning, the choir focused on the rendition of vocal works of old Czech and European masters. Initially the choir was mostly focused on Renaissance vocal compositions. Throughout the 70’s the choir struggled for its existence as its repertoire was a thorn in the flesh of the post-Prague Spring normalization authorities. However, during that period solid foundations for the functioning of the choir were built.
In those days there were about 160 works of composers spanning eight centuries in the core repertoire. At that time the choir was giving about 40 independent concerts every year and was awarded a number of prizes both at home and at international competitions and festivals. Moreover, its own art agency was organizing participation at various cultural events. It became completely financially independent with the annual turnover of almost half-a-million crowns. This era of success ended with the post-Velvet Revolution entrepreneurial euphoria in 1989.
The choir gradually resumed its regular activity in 1995. The first success came soon after. In 1999 the choir came third in the chamber choir category at the festival Iuventus Mundi Cantat in Olomouc and a year later it was awarded the second prize. In 2002 the choir was competing at the same festival in two categories. In the chamber choir category it won second place and third place was achieved in the spiritual and church music category.
In 2002 Mgr. Soňa Frýdlová became the choirmaster of ROSA. She became a graduate of conducting from the Prague Music Academy in 2003 and a music science graduate from the Faculty of Arts at Charles University in 2006. Under her leadership the choir repertoire expanded especially with works of 18th and 19th century composers. Since October 2008, Mr Lukáš Kovařík, a student of conducting at the Prague Music Academy under the leadership of Miriam Němcová, took over the role of the choir´s conductor. His talent and precision guarantee the future artistic and interpretation rise of the choir. Mária Divišová, a graduate of opera singing, became the choir voice consultant.
The traditional concert activity of the choir includes regular concerts in the historical rooms of the Prague National Museum, the City Museum in Kralupy and the Středočeské Museum in Roztoky. The choir has also taken part in several international concerts. Together with Spanish choirs it participated in a concert at the Lichtenstein Palace dedicated to 250th anniversary of W. A. Mozart. Other singing activities include a concert with the American choir Mc Lean from Virginia in July 2006 and the Eighth Prague Advent Concert with two Italian choirs from Bologna.
Since 2008 the choir has restored the formerly successful tradition of touring Czech and Moravian castles and additional tours have already been planned.
In 2003 the choir´s first CD came out. Later, in 2006, a DVD documented the concert given in the National Museum in Prague. Since then there has been a number of CD/DVD recordings. You can download a recording of the spring season concert in the National Museum in Prague at https://rosa.wz.cz.
The ROSA repertoire is vast and compositions without instrumental accompaniment (a capella) prevail. Renaissance composers form its majority while Baroque music is mostly represented by Czech composers e.g. J. D. Zelenka, F. Tùma, B.M. Èernohorský. Of course works of W. A. Mozart and 19th and 20th century composers are not missing. Recently the choir has also started performing compositions with instrumental accompaniment.
As an illustration of the typical repertoire look at the list of following composers whose works can be heard at ROSA concerts. Kryštof Harant z Polžic a Bezdružic, J. D. Zelenka, F. Tùma, Jakob Arcadelt, Gesualdo da Venosa, O. di Lasso, B. Trom-bocino, B. M. Černohorský, I. Cherubini, W. A. Mozart, J. Brahms, A. Bruckner, P. Certon, C. Debussy, F. Poulenc, M. I. Glinka, G. Verdi, A. Vivaldi, R. Rossini, J. Busto and others. A special emphasis is put on the works of Czech composers including Antonín Dvořák and Zdeněk Lukáš (who was frequently in close contact with the choir).
It has always been the choir’s aim to interpret important vocal works of Renaissance to 20th century masters on the highest artistic level and to bring its listeners the pleasure of the beauty of the music.
