Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Zdeněk Tylšar - the legendary CPO French horn
When Miroslav Štefek became ill, it seemed that to find a horn player of his calibre would be impossible. But, as is the way, either destiny or the Philharmonic God planned that a softly-spoken young man with an incredible head of afro-style black curly hair would turn up for the audition, sent from professor Šolc in Brno. Although he was only nineteen, he stood his ground extremely well amidst tough competition and astounded everyone sitting in the hall. One of our group, who just sat there and, instead of making notes, simply listened in pure enjoyment, commented on his performance with a single phrase: "He's heaven-sent". This audition launched Tylšar's road to world fame. His technique was staggering and he played with such lightness that people were fond of coming out with quips such as: "He could play with his nose!"
Unlike many other young musicians, however, he didn't see his goal in technical artistry but aimed much further, even back then. As an orchestral player and soloist, he had a remarkable musical imagination, refinement and a legendary musician's sixth sense which you can't acquire even by studying with the greatest of teachers, nor with many years' experience...
(František Sláma: From Heralec to Shangrila and Back Again. - Cited after: Rudolfinum Revue, 2004-2005, issue 1, volume IV, p.19-20. English translation Karolina Vočadlo Hughes)
Karel Bidlo at rehearsal in the sports hall of one of the American universities (From the Czech Philharmonic American tour in 1965. Photo: František Sláma)
Karel Bidlo - the Czech bassoon legend
"Bidlo's pensioners' debating club" used to meet each day during the rehearsal breaks. [...] The main protagonist was unquestionably professor Bidlo himself, he had countless stories up his sleeve which he was able to tell like G. B. Shaw.
Once his colleague Chvapil walked past and chipped in: "Hey, professor, have you told them that story about the car yet?". The professor fell silent and was already piecing the story together in his mind.
I should add here that he was one of the first to have a car, and a Spartak at that. But not for driving, you understand. Since he was such a handy DIY man, he had it as a toy and so he didn't park it on the street but in the garage. N. B. the same one Karel Ančerl used. He would go there at every opportunity, he was always polishing, adjusting or inventing something. He studied driving and traffic regulations with equal attention to detail and observed them to the letter. He usually tested them out on a practical level on his favourite route from Prague to Budějovice which, with his non-aggressive and altogether harmonic style of driving, also allowed him time to enjoy the countryside.
One fine April day, when he had once again set off in his regular tempo to the South Bohemian metropolis, a couple of traffic policemen stopped behind him and marched officially up to his polished car and gave a salute. Bidlo was somewhat surprised but, as he said himself, he wasn't alarmed. He had no need to since the more experienced of the two suddenly, apparently solemnly, announced: "We've been following you all the way and we observed that not only did you not exceed the speed limit, not even once, but you also failed to break any other regulation. Please allow us to present you with our exemplary driver's badge. ...
(František Sláma: From Heralec to Shangrila and Back Again. - Cited after: Rudolfinum Revue, 2001-2002, issue l, volume I. English translation Karolina Vočadlo Hughes)
For more see "František Sláma 1923 - 2004" (PowerPoint presentation) and the Czech version - "Česká filharmonie↗", "Fonotéka↗".
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