The Nový Jičín based choir Ondrášek this year celebrates its 50th anniversary and to celebrate this occasion has set up two concerts with the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava and the allied children's choirs from the towns of Šumperk, Sušice, Dačice and Český Krumlov. On a single stage, 250 children and youth singers and 70 philharmonic musicians - led by the soloist Eva Dřízgová-Jirušová - will join forces in the joint mission to present the monumental work The Armed Man (A Mass for Peace) by Karel Jenkins, who is one of the most popular contemporary classical music composers.

Both concerts will take place on May 7 at 5pm in the Church of Our Lady the Queen (kostel Panny Marie Královny) in Ostrava-Mariánské Hory and on May 8 at 3pm in the Beskydy Theatre (Beskydské divadlo) in Nový Jičín.

Jenkins' Mass for Peace (Mše za mír) bears a strong anti-war accent, which was the primary reason that Ondrášek selected it. The author dedicated this masterpiece to the victims of the war in Kosovo, and this subject remains relevant during the current refugee crisis. In addition, the concert will take place on the days of our commemoration of the end of World War II. "The call to peace is strong today. We all want our children to live in peace, and we all feel that today's world is a place of permanent tension. Therefore it is symbolic that it will be children who are going to sing the Mass for Peace," said the Ondrášek choirmaster, Josef Zajíček.

Ondrášek already performed this extensive work of Jenkins' once – two years ago, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of World War II, in Český Krumlov, where it was invited by the Medvíďata (Bearcubs) allied choir. Ondrášek made the decision to perform the same piece on the occasion of its landmark anniversary and asked the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, together with the allied children's choirs from Český Krumlov (Medvíďata), Šumperk (Motýli [Butterflies]), Dačice (Kvítek [Little Flower]) and Sušice (Chlapi [Guys]) to rehearse the work. "We have spent almost half a year rehearsing the piece. The notes have been assigned and distributed, so each group is rehearsing in their hometown. The day before the actual concerts there will be a joint dress rehearsal with the Janáček philharmonic players, and then we’ll go for it," commented Josef Zajíček.

Ondrášek is one of the most successful choral ensembles in the Czech Republic, and its voices are known to audiences not only in Europe, but also in Japan, China, South Africa and the United States. The choir regularly wins awards from foreign competitions and festivals and cooperates with leading domestic artists, music composers and orchestras. Its broad range of repertoire stretches from musical scores of the Renaissance to cutting edge trends in contemporary modern choral singing.

Ticket details

Tickets can be purchased at the Beskydy Theatre ticket office in Nový Jičín and at the St. Wenceslas Music Festival office in Ostrava.