Do you know Josef Myslivecek? Unless you are a musicologist by training, or a fan of neglected composers, it’s a safe bet not. And yet, “the Bohemian” (in the sense of “born in Bohemia”) as he was nicknamed in the Italy of the years 1750-1760, author of 26 operas and 85 symphonies, deserves a thousand times to be highlighted.
The beautiful film by Petr Vaclàv released on June 21, Il Boemo, comes to repair the oblivion that unjustly fell on Myslivecek from the day of his death in 1781, the year of his 44 years. “When I discovered it, thanks to the conductor Václav Luks, says the filmmaker, I was first attracted by its romantic side. In any case, it would have been difficult to approach it through music since it was never really recorded, or very badly. We had to dig into the archives, find the scores, a fascinating job. »
Romanesque, Myslivecek certainly is. First by his incredible journey. He was born in Prague, into a family of millers where nothing was known about music. A vocation of remarkable strength and the effects of the Seven Years’ War which ravaged Prague pushed him to leave his country for Italy. In Naples and Venice, his dazzling talent was celebrated, especially by the aristocracy. His life ended in Rome where he died prematurely, probably of syphilis. “At the time, composers were attached to a court, recalls Petr Vaclàv, while he was not. »
“He was looking for freedom, even if it meant being considered a vagabond by high society. He is in a way a precursor of the romantic life. But he was not born at the right time to be able to lead this life. When 33-year-old Myslivecek meets 13-year-old Mozart…that’s the year Beethoven was born! Beethoven will have this freedom of private life and creation that neither Myslivecek nor Mozart had. »
Petr Vaclàv stages the meeting, in Bologna, of the young Wolfgang, accompanied by his father Leopold, and Myslivecek. “Mozart expressed, especially in his letters, his admiration for the music of Myslivecek,” says the director. The two men – despite the age difference – maintained a correspondence and even exchanged copies of scores.
Mozart’s use of recitatives seems particularly heralded by that of his elder brother. “Myslivecek also shows his psychological depth there. To the question he asks in the film – “Can you know a man’s soul through his music?” – I believe the answer is yes,” continues Petr Vaclàv. The elegance of writing, the melodic genius of Myslivecek are evident in Il Boemo where we hear in particular excerpts from L’Olimpiade, an opera which in its time was a huge success.
“He is a composer who wrote for the greatest voices of his time, notes Petr Vaclàv, which is why we wanted, with the conductor, to work with great singers of today, such as the countertenor Philippe Jaroussky. “Hence a particularly beautiful soundtrack, one of the pleasures of this film of real plastic beauty which happily revives the Venice of the paintings of Pietro Longhi and Francesco Guardi. A success.
Il Boemo, by Petr Vaclàv, with Vojtech Dyk, Barbara Ronchi, Elena Radonicich, Lana Vlady. En salle.