Page 685 - Liverpool Philharmonic 22-23 Season Coverage Book

1 November 2022

OBITUARY
Libor Pesek obituary

Esteemed Czech conductor who led the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic for a decade

Classical music

Libor Pesek came to admire hugely the spirit of Liverpool and its sense of humour
ALAMY

A celebration of Czech music at the South Bank Centre in 1985 was the perfect opportunity for

Libor Pesek to make his first British appearance, conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra in
music by his compatriots Janacek and Dvorak. The concert impressed Hilary Finch, the Times

critic, who described how his “power contributed in no small part to the distinction of this

performance”.

Pesek had hoped to persuade the Philharmonia to perform the Asrael symphony by his favourite

composer, Josef Suk. The symphony, named after the Islamic angel of death and full of drama

and mourning, was not to the Philharmonia’s taste. But a representative of the Royal Liverpool

Philharmonic heard of Pesek’s ambition and said “if you want to do Asrael, come to Liverpool”.