Labyrinth of the World and Paradise of the Heart with Marek Eben

Meditation on questions of human existence, anchored in the unique sound of the organ. Eben's Labyrinth of the World and Paradise of the Heart brings a captivating dialogue between the organ and the words of the composer's son, Marek Eben.

In the monastery church, the noise of the world falls silent. The organ takes a breath and the voice begins to speak... Thus begins a musical story inspired by Jan Amos Komenský's Labyrinth of the World and Paradise of the Heart, which composer Petr Eben transformed into a personal confession. This unconventional composition for organ and narrator recounts man's spiritual journey from confusion and the search for knowledge to the discovery of inner peace, or, if you will, the "paradise of the heart." Eben's music alternates between dramatic moments and moments of contemplation, thanks in part to the rich organ colors, which are not just an accompaniment here, but an equal partner to the recited word. The organ part will be performed by Michaela Káčerková, whose refined expression will enhance the spiritual dimension of the composition, and Marek Eben, the composer's son and a prominent figure on the Czech cultural scene, will lend his unmistakable voice and extraordinary sensitivity to words and storytelling to Komenský's text.

This concert is part of the Second Festival Weekend, which includes three following concerts:

- - - Moon & Kačo / Brahms, 24.7. 19:30, Riding Hall Český Krumlov
    - Gershwin: Porgy a Bess, 25.7. 20:30, Brewery garden Český Krumlov
    - Labyrinth of the World and Paradise of the Heart with Marek Eben, 26.7. 18:00, Church of Corpus Christi and the Grieving Virgin Mary

You can also find this concert in the festival package called „Churches of South Bohemia“ Churches of South Bohemia .
The festival package includes top-category tickets with a 20% discount and access to special offers from festival partners. Available until the end of 2025 or while supplies last.

Artists

Michaela Káčerková - organ

Marek Eben - recitation

Program

Petr Eben: Labyrint světa a ráj srdce (The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart)

Marek Eben

Marek Eben studied music and drama at the Prague Conservatory. He worked in theaters in Karlovy Vary, Kladno, and from 1983 to 2003 at Studio Ypsilon Theatre in Prague. He is the author of songs for the band Bratři Ebenové, with whom he has released six award-winning albums (including Tichá domácnost, Já na tom dělám, Chlebíčky, and Čas holin). He composed the music for the films Bizon and Hele on letí and for the series Poste restante, and created the music for two dozen theater productions, including for Studio Ypsilon and the National Theater. Since 1996, he has been the host of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. On TV, he has hosted shows such as O poklad Anežky České, the TýTý awards, Stardance, and the talk show Na plovárně, which has won several Elsa awards; he himself has won Elsa and TýTý awards for best presenter. He performs at the Viola Theater (3 gentlemani, Koupila jsem husu, tak nevím). In 2022, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hradec Králové.

Michaela Káčerková

Michaela Káčerková is a Czech organist and music manager. She actively performs in Czechia and abroad – in Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, Spain, Japan, and South America. She collaborates with a number of soloists and orchestras, including the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, the National Theatre Orchestra, and the Pardubice Chamber Philharmonic. She studied with Jan Hora at the Prague Conservatory, with Jaroslav Tůma at the Academy of Performing Arts, and with Stefan Engels and Tobias Schade in Leipzig. She has completed masterclasses with Harald Vogel, Martin Sander, Lorenzo Ghielmi, Olivier Latry, and Ludger Lohmann. She is involved in an extensive recording project entitled Historical Organs of the Karlovy Vary Region (ARTA Records). She is the founder and dramaturge of the J. C. F. Fischer International Music Festival and the Karlovy Vary Organ Evenings. Since 2021, she has been the director of the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra.