Vítězslava Kaprálová (Jan. 24, 1915 - June 16, 1940) was a Czech composer and conductor. Born in to a musical family,  Kaprálová began studying composition and conducting at the age of fifteen at the Brno Conservatory, and later on studied with Bohuslav Martinu and Charles Munch. She conducted the Czech Philharmonic in 1937, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra just a year later. Kaprálová's untimely death at the age of twenty five was due to military tuberculosis, but despite dying young, she had a significant body of work. Her most famous work is Dubnová Preludia (April Preludes), a four movement work for piano (Allegro ma non troppo, Andante, Andante semplice,  Vivo). Kaprálová's writing is bold and full of fire at times, and travels seamlessly to other extremes of gentleness and sensitivity. The first movement opens up almost in frenzy, and then to resolves in to a chord reminiscent of a cross between Debussy and Berg. The Andante sounds like a colorful, passionate, impressionistic dream that ends rather gruffly, only to them open up to an unassuming, sweet third movement. The Vivo is downright cheeky at times, and goes through sonorities not unlike again, Debussy and Berg, but also with a dash of Stravinsky and Ives, before ending slightly abruptly. Running usually a little under eight minutes, this piece is evocative, expressive,  and mesmerizing.

Here are some recordings of this work you can enjoy!

Giorgio Koukl
Bengt Forsberg