A Pilsen Mezzo-Soprano at New York's Carnegie Hall: Even the Czech President Attended the Event

In early December, Janáček's Glagolitic Mass resonated before nearly 3,000 audience members in New York, performed by the Czech Philharmonic. Among the soloists who shone on stage was Lucie Hilscherová, an alumna of the Faculty of Education at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen.

"Performing at Carnegie Hall felt like winning an Olympic medal in the world of music. Was it the pinnacle of my career? Time will tell. I’m grateful for every inspiring opportunity and hope to experience many more extraordinary moments," said Lucie Hilscherová, alumna and member of the Department of Music Culture at the Faculty of Education, University of West Bohemia. On December 5, she performed one of the solo parts from Janáček's Glagolitic Mass at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York, accompanied by the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Semyon Bychkov.

The mezzo-soprano shared what the performance meant to her: "I’ve sung Janáček's Glagolitic Mass with the Czech Philharmonic at more than a dozen concerts across Europe, which gave me confidence. Still, the atmosphere of Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall completely enveloped me. It was a moment where dreams met reality—a mix of excitement, pride, emotion, and a strange sense of calm. Singing in such a hall before nearly 3,000 people, including President Petr Pavel, was a tremendous honor. That night is etched in my memory in capital letters, and even now, back in Prague, I keep wondering if it all really happened."

Lucie Hilscherová is one of the most sought-after concert singers. Her mezzo-soprano voice resonates in world-class concert halls and opera houses such as the National Theatre in Prague, the Nationaltheater Mannheim, and the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre. She has collaborated with orchestras like the BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, and Brno Philharmonic. She has performed at prestigious festivals such as the Edinburgh International Festival, Musikfest Stuttgart, Beethovenfest Bonn, Grafenegg Musik-Sommer, Prague Spring, Brno Easter Festival of Sacred Music, Smetana’s Litomyšl, the St. Wenceslas Music Festival, and the Peter Dvorský International Music Festival in Jaroměřice, among others.

Interestingly, tenor Aleš Briscein, also a graduate of the Faculty of Education at the University of West Bohemia, was among the soloists at the New York concert. Additionally, Tomáš Karpíšek, a doctoral student from the Department of Music Culture, performs as a double bassist with the Czech Philharmonic.

Photo: Petra Hajská, Petr Pýcha