Arts Libor Pesek - Czech conductor and Knight of the British Empire
Hello and welcome to another Encore. Libor Pesek is one of the best known Czech conductors. A few weeks ago he celebrated his seventieth birthday - although, with his sheer energy and joie-de-vivre, you have the impression of a man a good ten years younger. In a career spanning nearly fifty years, he went from being trombonist in a jazz band, to a celebrated decade from 1987 to 1997 as chief conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in Britain. For his work with the orchestra, he was made an honorary Knight of the British Empire, and he remains their conductor laureate. His great musical love is the Czech turn-of-the century composer and Dvorak's pupil and son-in-law, Josef Suk. A few days ago I had the pleasure of joining Libor Pesek for a glass of champagne outside Prague's Rudolfinum concert hall, and he began our conversation by telling me that it was thanks to his passion for Suk that he found his way to the Liverpool Philharmonic.
Libor Pesek
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