Růžičková100
#Růžičková100
The First Lady of the Harpsichord Celebrates Her 100th Birthday!
The life of Zuzana Růžičková (1927–2017), a leading Czech harpsichordist, pianist and teacher, would be enough to fill a novel. After interrupting her studies due to imprisonment in Nazi concentration camps, she completed her musical education at the Prague Academy of Music, where she later established harpsichord as a separate discipline that she taught. She became famous as a performer, and her art was admired by listeners from France to Japan. During her life, she released over a hundred recordings, becoming the first in the world to record the complete works of Bach for keyboard instruments. She was the recipient of many prestigious Czech and international awards, and her talent and diligence earned her the nickname the First Lady of the Harpsichord.
The year 2027 will be dedicated to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of her birth. Join us!
In its anniversary year, the Viktor Kalabis and Zuzana Růžičková Foundation is initiating a number of projects, concerts, exhibitions and other events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder:
January 13, 2027
– Gala Concert in Honor of Zuzana Růžičková’s Uncelebrated Birthday | Bohuslav Martinů Hall, HAMU | Tsukushi Sasaki (viola), Eliška Tkadlčíková (piano)
January 14, 2027
– Exhibition opening | National Museum – Czech Museum of Music (Karmelitská, Prague 1)
– Launch of the expanded online exhibition
– Discussion with Wendy Holden and screening of the documentary Zuzana: Music is Life | Central Library of the Prague Municipal Library
– Launch of a series of rare and previously unreleased recordings by Z. Růžičková in collaboration with Radioservis
March 17, 2027
– HAMU Gala Concert: Bach’s Concerto for Four Harpsichords performed by leading Czech harpsichordists and former students of Zuzana Růžičková | Monika Knoblochová, Edita Keglerová, Vojtěch Spurný, and Václav Luks | accompanied by a Baroque ensemble composed of members of Collegium 1704 and Musica Florea
April 26, 2027
– Opening of the Zuzana Růžičková Library
May 2027
– The Prague Spring Competition in the harpsichord category is dedicated to the memory of Zuzana Růžičková
FOR THE MEDIA
TZ_ZR100_eng: Press Release on the Růžičková100 Project
ZR100_medailon_eng: Expanded Profile of Zuzana Růžičková
We are also pleased to highlight concerts organized by other promoters:
- January 12, 2027: Harpsichord recital by Mahan Esfahani at the Reduta in Olomouc
- January 25, 2027: Monika Knoblochová, Edita Keglerová: J. S. Bach – The Art of Fugue. A tribute to Zuzana Růžičková. Grand Hall of the New Town Hall, Prague
- February 14–15, 2027: Recital by Mahan Esfahani at the Consulate in New York City (USA)
- March 30, 2027: Concert by Mahan Esfahani as part of the Smetana Days in Pilsen
