Libor Pešek
Libor Pešek was a Czech conductor known for his interpretations of orchestral works by Czech composers. In his long career, he was also a prolific recording artist and can be found on hundreds of albums.
Pešek was born in 1933 in Prague into a non-musical family. His mother encouraged his musical interests from a young age and arranged for him to have piano lessons. As a teenager he formed a jazz band with his friends from school, and he continued studying classical music in his piano lessons. Later, he attended the Academy of Musical Arts in Prague, where he studied with Karel Ančerl and Václav Smetáček. However, Pešek admitted that he was largely self-taught because his professors rarely showed up to the lessons. He also learned both the cello and trombone because he thought it was important for a conductor to experience the orchestra from different perspectives. While still a student, he worked as a rehearsal director at the Plzeň ballet company and then the Prague National Theater. After he graduated, he founded and conducted the Prague Chamber Harmony wind ensemble, and he also conducted the Sebastian Orchestra in Prague. With these ensembles, Pešek's reputation as a conductor quickly grew, which led to appointments with more prominent orchestras. He conducted the Czech Chamber Orchestra from 1970 to 1977, and he also worked with the Frysk Orkester in the Netherlands. Beginning in 1980, he conducted the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra for two seasons, and then he served as the conductor-in-residence for the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 1982. From then until 1990, he kept conducting the Czech PO, and performed several tours in Japan, North America, and Europe.
In 1987 Pešek began a ten-year appointment as principal conductor for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and he remained associated with the Czech PO as its principal guest conductor. He brought the RLPO international acclaim after their tour to the United States in 1992, and the corresponding series of recordings. His time in Liverpool was also a period of transformation as he quit smoking, became a vegetarian, and started practicing Buddhism. Feeling the need to reduce his professional obligations, he stepped down from his position with the RLPO in 1997 and became a lifetime conductor laureate. Pešek continued performing in a reduced capacity, and he became the chief conductor of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in 2007. He made his final appearance with the RLPO in 2013 in a concert celebrating his 80th birthday. Pešek retired in 2019 and spent his final years enjoying nature and his beloved pet dogs. He passed away in a hospital in Prague on October 23, 2022, at 89 years old.
© RJ Lambert /TiVo
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Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 & 2
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por Red Note OMP em 17 de mai. de 2010
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Grieg Piano Concerto - Peer Gynt - Holberg Suite
Libor Pešek, Slovac Philharmony
Classical - Lançado por Denon em 1 de jan. de 2009
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 & 2, Piano Concerto, Op. 16
Libor Pešek, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Lançado por Denon em 1 de jan. de 2009
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Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E Flat Major, Op.73
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek, Peter Toperczer
Concertos - Lançado por Red Note OMP em 5 de abr. de 2010
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Mozart: Symphony No.38 in D major K. 504 "Prague Symphony"
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por Red Note OMP em 17 de mai. de 2010
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paganini: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in D Major, Op. 6 (Digitally Remastered)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por EMG Classical em 28 de out. de 2014
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hummel, Vaňhal: Bassoon Concertos
Jiri Seidl, Libor Pešek, Dvorák Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Lançado por SUPRAPHON a.s. em 27 de out. de 2023
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Masterpieces, Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por Menuetto Classics em 20 de mar. de 2020
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 – Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale" (Live)
Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra Olomouc, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por Savoy em 8 de dez. de 2008
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Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor Op. 95/ B. 178 "From The New World"
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por Red Note OMP em 17 de mai. de 2010
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The Masterpieces - Grieg: Peer Gynt, Suite No. 2, Op. 55
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por Menuetto Classics em 11 de mai. de 2018
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Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Slowakische Staatsphilharmonie, Camerata Labacensis, Libor Pešek, Kurt Redel, Joze Falout
Symphonic Music - Lançado por Bella Musica Edition em 1 de jan. de 2000
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Klavierkonzert No. 1
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Symphonic Music - Lançado por Bella Musica Edition em 1 de jan. de 2008
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner: Lohengrin: Act III: Prelude (Digitally Remastered)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Opera - Lançado por EMG Classical em 16 de out. de 2015
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Masterpieces, Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor"
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek, Peter Toperczer
Classical - Lançado por Menuetto Classics em 20 de mar. de 2020
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Serenade No.13 in G major K. 525 "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por Red Note OMP em 17 de mai. de 2010
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale" & No. 7
Libor Pešek, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Lançado por Denon em 1 de jan. de 2009
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11 (Digitally Remastered)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek, Ida Czernecka
Classical - Lançado por EMG Classical em 9 de mai. de 2013
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.1
Mikhail Pletnev, Philharmonia Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por Warner Classics em 1 de set. de 1988
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 1 & Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Mikhail Pletnev, Philharmonia Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Lançado por Warner Classics em 1 de set. de 1988
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grandes Épocas De La Música Clásica, Häendel - Concierto Para Órgano No. 7
Libor Pešek, Eduard Fischer, Orquesta de Cámara de Praga
Classical - Lançado por SendClassic em 17 de mar. de 1993
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo