- Karel Šejna
Karel Šejna (1 November 1896, Zálezly – 17 December 1982,
Prague ) was a Czechdouble bass ist andconductor , the principal conductor of theCzech Philharmonic Orchestra in 1950.Life
Šejna came to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra during his studies at the
Prague Conservatory . In 1921 he was appointed the first double-bassist of that orchestra and shortly after (on 25 July 1922) also conducted the orchestra at a concert in "Žofín Palace" in Prague. He began to conduct on recommendation of the principal conductor of the Czech Philharmonic of that time,Václav Talich . Talich gradually entrusted him with more difficult tasks, and later recommended him to the post of conductor of the "Czechoslovak Railway Workers Symphony Orchestra" (1925-1936). From 1926 to 1938 Šejna worked also as choirmaster of the "Hlahol Choir" inVinohrady . In 1938 he was hired as the conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. He conducted hundreds of concerts, notably romantic repertoire, but also the music of 20th century. (He performed the Prague premiere of Janáček'sGlagolitic Mass ). After the emigration ofRafael Kubelík , the post-war chief of the orchestra, Šejna was for a short time appointed as the principal conductor of the Czech Phiharmonic. He was successful interpreter of the music ofHector Berlioz ,César Franck ,Richard Strauss and especially ofGustav Mahler ["Jaroslav Smolka: Malá encyklopedie hudby. Prague: Editio Supraphon, 1983, p. 636"] . His last concert with the Czech Philharmonic took place on 11 February 1972, with the Mahler's Symphony No. 4.Recording History
Šejna made more than 70 recordings. He is the first conductor to have recorded most of the works of
Bedřich Smetana . He also recorded complete symphonies ofZdeněk Fibich and part of the work of Antonín Dvořák ["Sleevenote of the CD: Dvořák: Symphony No. 5. (Supraphon SU 3852-2)"] .His 1959 recording of Dvořák's
Slavonic Dances was awarded "Cithare d´argent - Grand Prix de l´Association Française" inParis 1977.References
External links
* [http://www.supraphon.cz/cs/katalog/databaze-titulu/vysledky-hledani/?hledany_vyraz=%A9ejna List of recordings on Supraphon]
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