The Charm of Operetta

Michaela Katráková is a Czech opera singer, soprano, who is currently one of our greatest singing hopes. Almost from the beginning of her singing career she has stood by the god of famous opera singers. In December 2018, Michaela stood alongside the famous Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas and appeared with him at the Verdi Gala concert as his equal partner. After the great success, Michaela was invited by Ramon Vargas himself to tour abroad. She was then due to perform in Bratislava on 20 April 2020 alongside the world’s most famous singer Anna Netrebko, but unfortunately this did not happen due to the pandemic.

Michaela has performed at the Dutch National Opera in Holland, Gouda in Holland, State Opera in Kazan, State Opera Prague, DJKT Pilsen, North Bohemian Opera-Ballet Theatre, and other venues. In the theatre she has appeared as Violetta Valery by G.Verdi, Nedda by R.Leoncavallo, Anchen by C.M. von Webber, Rusalka by A.Dvorak, Hanna Glawari from the operetta The Merry Widow, and others. In May 2021, as part of the 300th anniversary of the beatification of St. John of Nepomuk, she stood alongside the famous Czech singer Eva Urbanová, with the Prague National Theatre Orchestra, conducted by David Svec, at a gala concert broadcast by Czech Television. After the end of the pandemic, Michaela is still a fully active singer since 2021. From 2023 onwards she will be performing in theatres, concert performances in the Czech Republic, and touring abroad from the second half of the season.

Martin Peschík studied piano and conducting at the Conservatory in České Budějovice. He graduated in conducting from the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno in the class of Prof. Jan Zbavitel. As a conductor he has collaborated with the National Theatre in Brno, the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra in Olomouc, the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic, the West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra in Mariánské Lázně and others. Since 2002 he has worked at the South Bohemian Theatre in České Budějovice as choirmaster and conductor and since January 2008 as chief conductor. He has staged many operas, operettas and ballets there (Rigoletto, Faust, The Love Potion, The Mouthpiece, Martha, Rusalka, Jacobin, The Gypsy Baron, The Bat, The Princess of Chardonnay, etc.). He has conducted in many European countries (Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark) and at major music festivals (Janáček Brno 2004, Opera 2003 and 2005, Festival of Chamber Music Český Krumlov, etc.). In October 2011 Martin Peschík was appointed to the position of chief conductor of the West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra in Mariánské Lázně. From 2011 to 2016 he also held the position of the orchestra’s director.