Jitka Hosprová / viola

A leading Czech violist, Jitka Hosprová embodies the contemporary dynamic approach to classical music. Her passion for the viola makes audiences take notice of this overlooked instrument, exploring the fascinating solo viola literature and inspiring
composers to write new works.

She studied at the Plzeň Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague with Jan Pěruška and also took lessons from the legendary Italian violist Luigi Alberto Bianchi, who has led her towards virtuosity. While still a student, she gained valuable international experience and garnered accolades as a soloist and chamber player alike. As a member of the Bennewitz Quartet, which she co-founded, she worked under the guidance of top-notch ensembles, including the Amadeus Quartet, the Alban Berg Quartet and the Smetana Quartet. Their collaboration culminated in 1999 with the recording of a CD featuring quartets by Leoš Janáček, Hans Krása and Pavel Haas. A superb chamber musician, she has performed as a guest of the renowned Janáček Quartet, Zemlinsky Quartet, Wihan Quartet, Martinů Quartet, Epoque Quartet and Apollon Quartet. In 2005, Jitka Hosprová, the Czech harpist Kateřina Englichová and the Luxembourg flautist Carlo Jans formed the Bohemia Luxembourg Trio. Moreover, Jitka Hosprová and the Italian violin virtuoso Maurizio Sciarretta have recently gained acclaim as the Grand Duo.

As a soloist, she has appeared at the Festival Présences France, Rheingau Sommer, Kulturtage Dresden, Prague Spring, Prague Autumn, Český Krumlov Festival, Czech Touches of Music, Moravian Autumn, Smetana’s Litomyšl, Dvořák Prague, Ruse International Festival, Santander Music Festival and other prominent international events. She has dazzled audiences in London, Vienna, Paris, Stockholm, Rome, Milan, Santiago de Chile, Brasilia, Curitiba, Hong Kong, Washington D.C. and New York. Jitka Hosprová has performed at concerts in the majority of European countries.

She has given Czech and world premieres of a number of pieces for the viola. The composers who have created new works for her include Zdeněk Lukáš, Jiří Teml, Josef Vejvoda, Emil Viklický, Ladislav Kubík, Lukáš Hurník, Eduard Douša, Adam Skoumal, Michal Müller, Tomaž Svete and Guillaume Connesson.

Jitka Hosprová has performed with renowned Czech and international orchestras, among them the ORF Radio-Symphonie Orchester Wien, Orchestre national de Lorraine, Orchestre de Pau Pays de Béarn, National Orchestra of Belgium, Camerata Chile, Czech Philharmonic, Prague Symphony Orchestra, French Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre Anthanor Rome, Paraná Symphony Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic, Brno Philharmonic, State Philharmonic Košice, Janáček Philharmonic, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Prague Philharmonia, Czech Philharmonic Collegium, etc. She has given concerts with distinguished musicians (Luigi Alberto Bianchi, Mario Hossen, Václav Hudeček, Ivan Ženatý, Štefan Margita, Phyllis Pancella, Adam Skoumal, Dante Millozzi, Eric le Sage, Jitka Čechová, Ivo Kahánek, Lubomír Brabec) and conductors (Vladimir Ashkenazy, Elli Jaffe-Israel, Bertrand de Billy, Jacques Mercier, Rastislav Štúr, Massimiliano Matesic, Leoš Svárovský, Ondřej Kukal, Gian Luigi Zampieri, and others).

Jitka Hosprová has founded and is the director of the Walks in the Art festival. She plays a Czech instrument made in 2012 by Petr Zdražil.

www.jitkahosprova.com