Jiří Vodička - Violino Solo: Bach, Paganini, Ernst, Ysaÿe, Kreisler, Haas (2014)

At the age of 20, Jiří Vodička won the European round of the Young Concert Artists competition, and a year later came second in its global final in New York. He is a soloist of the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra in Ostrava and has performed with other renowned orchestras (Prague Philharmonia, Prague Symphony Orchestra, etc.) and conductors (Bělohlávek, Hrůša, Netopil, Förster).

Upon the invitation of Gidon Kremer to his Kammermusikfest Lockenhaus (2011), he had the opportunity to work with Vilde Frang, Michael Barenboim, Nicholas Daniel and other superlative musicians. Since 2012 he has been a member of the celebrated Smetana Trio. At the age of 26, he is one of the most distinguished young violinists on both a Czech and international scale.

Choosing a solo violin virtuoso repertoire for one’s debut album requires a fair amount of audacity and, above all, brilliant technique and musicality. Yet Jiří Vodička is a truly phenomenal musician in his own right - when listening to his take on Paganini, you have the feeling that it is the easiest thing in the world. Amidst the illustrious company of Paganini, Kreisler, Ysaÿe, Ernst and Bach, he moves with the utmost lightness and charm. Yet mere words fail to do it all justice.