Vitězslava Kapralova

Short bio Vitězslava Kapralova

Birthday: 1915 in Brno, Czech Republic

Died: 1940 in Montpellier, France

Active: 1930s

Genre: Classical

Period: Modern

Full biography Vitězslava Kapralova

Vitězslava Kaprálová was a Czech composer and conductor, born on January 24, 1915, in Brno, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). Despite her short life, which ended at the age of 25 due to tuberculosis, she managed to leave a significant mark on the music world.

Kaprálová began learning piano at an early age, but soon switched to composition. She was encouraged and supported by her family, especially her father, who recognized her talent and helped her receive a proper musical education. Kaprálová studied at the Brno Conservatory, and later at the Prague Conservatory, where she was one of the few female students.

In addition to her studies, Kaprálová also worked as a conductor, leading several orchestras in Moravia and Prague. She was the first woman to conduct the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Kaprálová also composed many pieces, including orchestral music, chamber music, and vocal pieces. Her music was influenced by her Czech heritage, as well as her admiration for contemporary French composers such as Debussy and Ravel.

Kaprálová's compositions were recognized for their originality and technical mastery. Her most famous piece is her Military Sinfonietta, which was performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1942. Other notable works include her Piano Concerto and her string quartet, which was dedicated to her beloved father.

Sadly, Kaprálová's promising career was cut short when she died from tuberculosis in 1940. However, her legacy lives on, inspiring new generations of musicians and composers. Today, Kaprálová is considered one of the most important female composers of the 20th century, and her music continues to be performed and celebrated around the world.

Compositions featuring Vitězslava Kapralova

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Ritournelles (2), for cello & piano, Op. 25 (only "Une des" extant)	4:17 min	Chamber Music	1940
2	Dance, for Piano	3:06 min	Keyboard	1940
3	Dopis (Letter), for voice & piano	2:28 min	Vocal Music	1940
4	Slavnostní Fanfára (Festive Fanfare), for piano	0:20 min	Keyboard	1940
5	Zpíváno do dálky (Sung into the Distance), for voice & piano, Op. 22	6:52 min	Vocal Music	1939
6	Prélude de Noël, for orchestra	2:03 min	Orchestral	1939
7	Elegy, for violin & piano	3:21 min	Chamber Music	1939
8	Vánocní koleda (Christmas Carol), for voice & piano	1:20 min	Vocal Music	1939
9	Concertino for violin, clarinet & orchestra (unfinished), Op. 21	14:14 min	Concerto	1939
10	Variations sur le Carillon de l'Eglise Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, for piano, Op. 16	8:28 min	Keyboard	1938
11	Koleda (Carol), for voice & piano	0:52 min	Vocal Music	1937
12	Ostinato Fox, for piano	1:06 min	Keyboard	1937
13	Dubnova Preludia (April Preludes), suite for piano, Op. 13	8:48 min	Keyboard	1937
14	Sbohem a sátecek (Waving Farewell), for voice & piano, Op. 14	5:52 min	Vocal Music	1937
15	Vteriny (Seconds), for voice & piano, Op. 18	13:20 min	Vocal Music	1936
16	Vojenská symfonieta (Military Sinfonietta), Op. 11	14:43 min	Orchestral	1936
17	Smutný večer (Sad Evening), for voice & orchestra	3:32 min	Vocal Music	1936
18	Navzdy (Forever), for voice & piano, Op. 12	6:59 min	Vocal Music	1936
19	Písnicka (Little Song), for piano	1:25 min	Keyboard	1936
20	Suite en miniature, for orchestra, Op. 1	9:56 min	Orchestral	1935
21	Piano Concerto in D minor, Op. 7	23:09 min	Concerto	1935
22	Pieces (3), for piano, Op. 9		Keyboard	1935
23	Grotesque Passacaglia, for piano	2:36 min	Keyboard	1935
24	Dvě Kytičky (Two Bouquets of Flowers), for piano	1:34 min	Keyboard	1935
25	Jablko z klína (An Apple from the Lap), for voice & piano, Op. 10	8:56 min	Vocal Music	1934
26	Sonata Appassionata, for piano, Op. 6	17:57 min	Keyboard	1933
27	Leden (January), for voice, flute, 2 violins, cello & piano	4:33 min	Vocal Music	1933
28	Burlesque, for violin & piano, Op. 3b	4:12 min	Chamber Music	1932
29	Legend, for violin & piano, Op. 3a	6:52 min	Chamber Music	1932
30	Songs (2), for voice & piano, Op. 4	5:08 min	Vocal Music	1932
31	Jiskry z popele (Sparks from Ashes), for voice & piano, Op. 5	12:25 min	Vocal Music	1932
32	Compositions (5) for piano, Op. 1	13:32 min	Keyboard	1931
33	String Quartet, Op. 8	21:15 min	Chamber Music	-

Albums featuring Vitězslava Kapralova

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Vítězslava Kaprálová, Nicholas Phan, Amy I-Lin Cheng, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Kiesler – Waving Farewell(CD, Album)	2021	Naxos
2	Ethel Smyth, Vítězslava Kaprálová, Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Bohuslav Martinů – EntArte Opera Festival: Violinkonzert Und Doppelkonzerte(SACD, Multichannel, Album)	2018	Gramola
3	Henriëtte Bosmans, Vally Weigl, Charlotte Schlesinger, Vítězslava Kaprálová, Hermine Haselböck, Franz Bartolomey, Clemens Zeilinger – Entarteopera Festival - Kammermusik, Lieder(CD, Album)	2018	Gramola
4	Vítězslava Kaprálová, Brno Philharmonic, Olga Machoňová Pavlů, Czajkowská, Rajnohová, Wallinger, Daňhel – Suita Rustica \| Partita \| Concertino \| Piano Concerto in D Minor \| Military Sinfonietta(2×CD, )	2016	Radioservis
5	Vítězslava Kaprálová, Josef Suk (2) – Vojenská Symfonietta, Op. 11 / Fantastické Scherzo, Op. 25	2015	Supraphon
6	Český Melodram: O. Ostrčil, V. Kaprálová, L. Hurník Ad.(24×File, MP3, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered)	2014	Radioservis
7	Portrét Skladatelky Vítězslavy Kaprálové(11×File, MP3, Compilation)	2014	Supraphon
8	Vítězslava Kaprálová, Alice Rajnohová, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra, Tomáš Hanus – Piano Concerto / Three Piano Pieces / Variations / Sonata(CD, Album)	2011	Radioservis
9	Portrait Of The Composer(CD, Album)	1998	Studio Matouš
10	Bohuslav Martinů, Jan Zelinka (2), Vít Nejedlý, Vítězslava Kaprálová, Vladimír Polívka, Josef Plavec, Eugen Suchoň – Český Melodram 5	1983	Supraphon
11	Vítězslava Kaprálová, Ervin Schulhoff – Partita / Konzert Pro Smyčcové Kvarteto A Orchestr Dechovỳch Nástrojú(LP, Mono)	1962	Supraphon