The Helios Chamber Orchestra presented an evening of Czech music to mark the 50th anniversary of Bohuslav Martinů’s death, including the first British performance of Vítězslava Kaprálová’s Partita (1939) for piano and string orchestra, played by the superb young Czech pianist Tomáš Klement.

In addition to two Czech 'classics' from the preceding generations, we were extremely proud give the British première of an important and highly attractive work by Martinů's astonishingly gifted pupil, Vítězslava Kaprálová. Though Kaprálová was already a prolific and accomplished composer when she came to study with her older compatriot in Paris in 1937, the Partita clearly reveals the closeness of their working relationship – a relationship that quickly deepened into a secret if ultimately impossible love. Tragically, Kaprálová died in 1940 at just 25, and it has been suggested that the passionate longing and sadness that so often surfaces in Martinů’s late works were as much for the loss of this remarkable young woman as for the that of his homeland.

• Dvořák Legends (selection)
• Kaprálová Partita for piano and string orchestra, op. 20 - UK première
• Suk Meditation on the Old Bohemian Chorale 'Saint Wenceslas'
• Martinů Sinfonietta 'La Jolla'

• Helios Chamber Orchestra
• Tomáš Klement Piano
• Owen Leech Conductor

This, our seventh UK concert, took place on Saturday, 21st November 2009 at 7.30pm in the church of St Cyprian's, Clarence Gate.