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The Szech soprano, Barbora Kabátková (b Sojková), has been involved in music since childhood, when she began playing the piano and singing. In 1995, she became a member of the Prague Philharmonic Children’s Choir, with which she sang in more than 300 concerts, in many opera performances in the National Theatre and the State Opera in Prague, on CD recordings and in concert tours around the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York City and the National Theatre in Kuala Lumpur. After completing grammar school, she studied choir-conducting and church music in the Faculty of Education and Musicology in the Faculty of Philosophy of Charles University in Prague. She is currently undertaking postgraduate studies in Musicology in the University’s Faculty of Philosophy, specialising in Gregorian chant under the direction of Mr. David Eben. Since 2009 she has taught Gregorian chant in the University’s Faculty of Education. She also studied singing privately with I. Kusnjer, J. Jonášová and E. Toperczerová and attended master-classes in the interpretation of early music with Marius van Altena, Peter Kooy, Julie Hassler, Howard Crook and Joel Frederiksen. Her principal interest is in the interpretation of medieval music - above all Gregorian chant and polyphony - and in the interpretation of early music vocal repertoire. She worked with Schola Benedicta (2004-2007), with which she made CD Wenceslas II. etc.
Barbora Kabátková belongs to the most sought-for Czech singers in the field of Early and Contemporary music. She regularly sings as a soloist with prominent Czech and European ensembles, including Collegium 1704, Collegium Marianum, Musica Florea, Capella Regia, Ensemble Inégal, Hipocondria Ensemble, Doulce Mémoire, Collegium Vocale Gent, Berg Orchestra, Ostravská banda. She is also a member of the vocal ensembles, Collegium Vocale 1704 and Cappella Mariana.
With Collegium Vocale 1704 she participated in project Bach-Prague 2005 (Mass B minor (BWV 232) at the Prague Spring Festival 2005, Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) in 2005, St. John Passion (BWV 245) and St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244) in 2007) and in 2007 performance of compositions of Jan Dismas Zelenka at the Prague Spring Festival, Dresdner Festspiele (Germany), Festival de Sablé and Festival de La Chaise-Dieu (France). With this ensemble she also made a recording of J.D. Zelenka’s Missa Votiva for French label Zig Zag. Barbora performs with singer and harpist Hana Blažíková, harpsichordist Monika Knoblochová and organist Eva Bublová very often. Barbora is the Artistic Airector of Tiburtina ensemble and also plays medieval harps and psaltery.
Barbora Kabátková has performed in many prestigious music festivals in the Czech Republic (Prague Spring Festival, Concentus Moraviae, St. Wenceslas Festival Ostrava, Lípa Musica International Music Festival, Summer Festivities of Early Music) and elsewhere in Europe (Resonanzen Wien, Uckermärkische Musikwochen Templin, Festival de Sablé, Festival de la Chaise-Dieu, Festival de Sully et Loiret, Festival Baroque de Pontoise, Festival de Musique Ancienne de Ribeauvillé, Festival d'Ambronay, Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay, Festival van Vlaanderen Brugge, Musiekcenter DeBijloke Gent, Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht and the Accademia delle Crete Senesi).
In 2007 Barbora Kabátková took part in a staged production of Claudio Monteverdi's opera Orfeo at the National Theatre in Prague (Ensemble Concerto, Roberto Gini). In 2008 she sang in Antonio Vivaldi’s reconstructed opera Argippo (Hofmusici, artistic director Ondřej Macek). In 2009 she sang in Julius Zeyer’s melodrama Radúz and Mahulena at the National Theatre in Prague (Collegium 1704, Václav Luks) and in 2011-2012 participated in a stage production of Louis Andriessen’s Dances (National Theatre Prague - Laterna Magica, Berg Orchestra, Peter Vrábel). |
