Josef Bulva
Encyclopedia
Josef Bulva is a Czech
pianist who began his training at the age of nine at the music school of Napajedla
, and at the age of thirteen gave his first concerts playing works by Mozart, études by Liszt and the “Paganini Variations” by Brahms. He was excused from conventional education and entered the conservatory in Brno with a state scholarship and then went on to the Music Academy in Bratislava
(where Lucia Popp and Editha Gruberova also studied), where he graduated with honors. Soon after, at twenty-one, he was promoted as an “artist of the State”.
The subsequent intensive concert activities of the pianist in many countries were abruptly interrupted in 1971 for an entire year by a serious accident. His immigration to the West due to political reasons followed, and he took residence first in Munich
and then in Luxembourg
, where he resumed his concert and recording activities.
In 1996 another accident injured his left hand in a way which was considered at the time as permanent, and forced him to end his career as a professional pianist. Since then he has lived in Monaco
.
However, contrary to any expectation, the said injury healed over the years and thus Josef Bulva was able to give, after a pause of 13 years, in November and December 2009, once again various highly acclaimed concerts in Augsburg
, Munich
, Zurich
and Stuttgart
.
Bulva’s rich repertoire contains, among others, works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Scriabin, Rachmaninov and contemporary composers. In certain cases he made his own arrangements of existing compositions, such as for example of Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2” and Wagner’s Overture to “Tannhäuser”.
Bulva's playing, who always refused to give himself in to modern marketing and packaging and thus to become a mainstream pianist, has not been free of controversy: whereas Joachim Kaiser, the doyen of the European music critic, once named him “pianist of the scientific age” under whose hands “masterpieces appear in a new light” and the Steinway
Owners' Magazine judged that “he mirrors much of the credo of Steinway & Sons
”, others were critical about a certain analytic distance and lack of “romanticism”, the latter particularly in his interpretation of the music of Chopin. However, all have been united in praising his legendary pianistic qualities, his extraordinary virtuosity and bravura as well as his profound insight and musicality. To this extent, Josef Bulva has been, to say the least, “the pianists’ pianist” of his generation.
Recently, the label OREIKON published “The Art of Josef Bulva”, containing on 7 CDs an authorized legacy of Josef Bulva. The main works on this edition are:
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
pianist who began his training at the age of nine at the music school of Napajedla
Napajedla
Napajedla is a town in the Zlín Region, Czech Republic. It has about 7,500 inhabitants.- Born there :* Countess Sofija Jelačić , wife of the Croatian ban and general Josip Jelačić von Bužim...
, and at the age of thirteen gave his first concerts playing works by Mozart, études by Liszt and the “Paganini Variations” by Brahms. He was excused from conventional education and entered the conservatory in Brno with a state scholarship and then went on to the Music Academy in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
(where Lucia Popp and Editha Gruberova also studied), where he graduated with honors. Soon after, at twenty-one, he was promoted as an “artist of the State”.
The subsequent intensive concert activities of the pianist in many countries were abruptly interrupted in 1971 for an entire year by a serious accident. His immigration to the West due to political reasons followed, and he took residence first in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and then in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, where he resumed his concert and recording activities.
In 1996 another accident injured his left hand in a way which was considered at the time as permanent, and forced him to end his career as a professional pianist. Since then he has lived in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
.
However, contrary to any expectation, the said injury healed over the years and thus Josef Bulva was able to give, after a pause of 13 years, in November and December 2009, once again various highly acclaimed concerts in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
.
Bulva’s rich repertoire contains, among others, works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Scriabin, Rachmaninov and contemporary composers. In certain cases he made his own arrangements of existing compositions, such as for example of Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2” and Wagner’s Overture to “Tannhäuser”.
Bulva's playing, who always refused to give himself in to modern marketing and packaging and thus to become a mainstream pianist, has not been free of controversy: whereas Joachim Kaiser, the doyen of the European music critic, once named him “pianist of the scientific age” under whose hands “masterpieces appear in a new light” and the Steinway
Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
Owners' Magazine judged that “he mirrors much of the credo of Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
”, others were critical about a certain analytic distance and lack of “romanticism”, the latter particularly in his interpretation of the music of Chopin. However, all have been united in praising his legendary pianistic qualities, his extraordinary virtuosity and bravura as well as his profound insight and musicality. To this extent, Josef Bulva has been, to say the least, “the pianists’ pianist” of his generation.
Recordings
Bulva has made many recordings with labels such as TELDEC, RCA, ORFEO and MEDIAPHON-MADACY, parts of which are still available. Among them are:- “Piano Recital” with compositions by Beethoven and Chopin, live recording on CEPA/Radio 100.7 FM
- Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 (“Waldstein”) on ORFEO
- Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 (“Appassionata”) on ORFEO
- Liszt: “Transcendental Études” on ORFEO
- Prokofiev: “Romeo and Juliet”, Op. 75 (piano version) on TELDEC
Recently, the label OREIKON published “The Art of Josef Bulva”, containing on 7 CDs an authorized legacy of Josef Bulva. The main works on this edition are:
- Beethoven: Concerto for Piano No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 (“Emperor”)
- Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major, Op. 27 No. 1
- Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 (“Moonlight”)
- Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 (“Appassionata”)
- Brahms: Concerto for Piano No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83
- Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
- Chopin: Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31
- Chopin: Polonaise No. 3 in A major, Op. 40 No. 1 (“Military Polonaise”)
- Chopin: Polonaise No. 5 in F sharp minor, Op. 44
- Liszt: Concerto for Piano No. 1 in E flat major
- Liszt: Concerto for Piano No. 2 in A major
- Liszt: Sonata in B minor
- Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C sharp minor
- Liszt: Grande Étude d’après Paganini No. 3 in G sharp minor (“La Campanella”)
- Liszt: Rhapsodie Espagnole
- Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 17 in B flat major, K 570
- Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
- Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F sharp minor, Op. 23
- Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
External links
- Josef Bulva Society - official website: http://www.josefbulvasociety.com