HANA JONÁŠOVÁ - SOPRANO Hana Jonášová is the graduate of the Prague HAMU, Professor Jana Jonášová. Audiences in many countries have admired her pure coloratura soprano, both in concert halls and opera houses. At present Hana Jonášová is a soloist of Prague State Opera, and sings at the Prague National Theatre. In May 2003 she appeared in the Czech premiere of the ragtime opera Treemonisha by Scott Joplin, where she successfully sang the title role. Apart from operas, Hana Jonášová is also involved in songs, oratorios, and cantatas. She appears with both Czech and foreign prominent orchestras and chamber bodies, such as FOK, PFK, Brno State Philharmonic, Liverpool Royal Orchestra, Ars rediviva and more). Hana Jonášová has been co-operating with the Czech TV and Czech Radio, Supraphon and other recording companies. She was the second Prize Winner at the Golden Prague Festival, for her role in the opera Les larmes du couteau (The Tears of a Knife) by Bohuslav Martinů.
VLADIMÍR REJLEK - TRUMPET was born in Tábor. He studied at the Conservatory and Academy of Music in Prague. He is the winner of the Prague Spring International Music Competition in 1978 and a prize - winner of the Toulon competition in 1976. His wide repertory includes pieces of all styles with an accent on Baroque and contemporary compositions. He is a regular guest of concert halls both at home and abroad. In 2009 he was appointed professor at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts. Vladimír Rejlek is also the principal trumpet player in the opera orchestra at the National Theatre Prague.
JOSEF POPELKA - ORGAN Studied organ at the Conservatory of Kroměříž under K. Pokora. He continued at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague with Dr. J. Reinberger and prof. J. Hora. He graduated under M. Šlechta. He is a prize-winner at numerous organ competitions, he won 2nd Prize and title of laureate at the International Organ Competition of Prague Spring in 1979. He has recorded great many of recordings for the Czech Broadcast, recently he has been a professor of organ at the Conservatory of Prague and at the Academy of Performing Arts.
Listen to festive fanfares, played by two trumpeters in stylized costumes on the heraldic trumpets before beginning of the concert at the staircase of the church. The artists are performing usually 30 minutes before beginning of the concert.
The organ of St. Francis of Assisi Church is the second oldest organ in Prague, built in 1702. Many famous personalities such as W. A. Mozart, A. Dvorak or J. Seger played this unique music instrument, which has been recently sensibly repaired.