Rudolf Pekárek Explained

Rudolf Pekárek (24 February 190026 October 1974) was a Czech-Australian conductor.[1]

In 1934 he founded the Prague Symphony Orchestra, giving work to many unemployed musicians. It was known as the FOK Orchestra (Film – Opera – Konzert), or the FOK Salon Orchestra or sometimes Pekárek's Salon Orchestra.[2] At the beginning the ensemble made its living by intensive recording of music for films, and only later changed its focus to presenting the standard repertoire in concert.[3] It first played on radio on 29 December 1934.

As a Jew, Pekárek was imprisoned in 1942 during the German occupation during World War II. He was forced to work in Polish mines.[2] He escaped the Germans in 1944, joined the Czech Army of Liberation and survived the war (see Resistance in German-occupied Czechoslovakia). In October 1948 he emigrated to Sydney, Australia on the Ugolino Vivaldi.[4] [5]

Pekárek was broadcast on Adelaide radio station, 5AD, in September 1949 when conducting the South Australian Symphony Orchestra with Clement Q Williams as soloist.[6] By November of that year he was appointed as a conductor for the ABC Orchestra of Western Australia.[2] [7] Later it became the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, which he also conducted.[8]

In 1954 he became chief conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, a post he held until 1967.

He died in 1974, in Brisbane.

The annual Rudolph [sic] Pekarek Oboe Prize at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University was established in his honour, the prize money being paid from his estate.[9]

A collection of his biographical cuttings is held at the National Library of Australia[10]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.porges.net/JewishCemeteriesPrague.html Jewish Cemeteries
  2. News: To Conduct in Perth . . 65 . 19,736 . 18 October 1949 . 20 May 2017 . 5 . National Library of Australia .
  3. http://www.praha.eu/jnp/en/residents/city_hall/important_city_organizations/prague_symphony_orchestra.html Pragur Symphony Orchestra
  4. Web site: Digital Item Page Gallery: K1331, 1954/PEKAREK R . 25 May 1998 . National Archives of Australia . 20 May 2017 .
  5. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-KarelRudolf.html Encyclopedia.com
  6. News: Song Quest Final On 5 AD A.B.C.'s Show Broadcast . . 92 . 28369 . 10 September 1949 . 20 May 2017 . 9 . .
  7. News: Children to Hear New WA Conductor First . The Daily News, Home . LXVII . 23,250 . 18 October 1949 . 20 May 2017 . 14 . National Library of Australia .
  8. Web site: Item details: SP722/1, 63 – ABC Concert Programmes . 19 November 1997 . . 20 May 2017 .
  9. http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/86517/RudolphPekarek.pdf Griffith University
  10. http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/472380 National Library of Australia Catalogue