A Prague Spring evening during which the Grammy Award holder is reincarnated into pagan goddesses from the Finnish epic Kalevala. Artist-in-Residence of the Prague Spring 2026 Barbara Hannigan is one of the most original figures in the sphere of classical music. With her typical courage and determination she sings and also conducts, she inspires the finest contemporary composers in their endeavours, and she creates unique projects which go far beyond the customary concert experience. Her Prague Spring residency will consist of four concerts. The first concert will be a joint recital given by soprano Barbara Hannigan and superb French pianist Bertrand Chamayou. “After both European and North American tours I am thrilled to be able to introduce the Czech audience to this very spiritual programme,” says Barbara Hannigan. Prague concertgoers will thus finally be able to hear the utterly unique cycle Jumalattaret by American composer and multi-instrumentalist John Zorn (*1953). These songs, originating in 2012 as a musical setting of fragments from the Finnish national epic Kalevala, were long considered unsingable. Here the singer is reincarnated into Finnish pagan goddesses; “each measure is a minefield of intonation and technique” (The New York Times). This work, whose performance actually takes your breath away, is fascinating for the incredible vocal range it requires, from incredibly high top notes to throat-singing, ethereal humming, whispering, laughter and a voice that vibrates like birdsong. “It’s one of those pieces that was life-changing,” Barbara Hannigan declared of Jumalattaret. “You’ve got to tame the wild horse and get a saddle on it,” she said. “This piece took a lot for me to be able to do that.” Jumalattaret is such an astounding work that to hear it performed live by the Hannigan – Chamayou duo will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the Prague Spring 2026. Moreover, not only will this be the first performance of Jumalattaret in the Czech Republic, but also the Prague Spring debut of Barbara Hannigan. programme Olivier Messiaen — Chants de terre et de ciel Alexandr Nikolajevič Skrjabin — Poème-nocturne op. 61 Alexandr Nikolajevič Skrjabin — Vers la flamme op. 72 John Zorn — Jumalattaret More all events festivals Prague Spring Festival 12. 5. 2026 — 4. 6. 2026