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The Czech organist and music pedagogue, Jiřina Pokorná, developed her musical talent from early childhood. She obtained formal education in the organ class of the Prague Conservatory, under Professor Miroslav Kampelsheimer, and subsequently, under Professor Milan Šlechta at Prague's Academy of Music.
Jiřina Pokorná attracted the attention of the musical public while still a student, and embarked on a full-time career as a concert artist in the 1960's. She ranks alongside leading contemporary Czech organists. She had a long series of concerts at home and abroad, successfully represented the Czech organ school on concert tours covering Austria, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria. Apart from that, she appeared in the former Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia, and made a highly successful tour ofJapan in 1991. She performed at the Prague Spring International Festival, in the chamber cycles of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and in the organ cycles of the Prague Symphony Orchestra. She combined her solo career with joint projects involving other prominent Czech instrumentalists, including notably trumpet player of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Miroslav Kejmar and violinist Pavel Hůla (premier violinist of Kocianova Quartet), as well as working with several leading chamber ensembles.
In the 1980's, Jiřina Pokorná worked as a pedagogue at the Music Academy of the Academy of Performing Arts, and then again devoted herself to concert activities and recording. In her discography there are many attractive recordings of well-known works of Czech and world organ literature (J.S. Bach, César Franck, Czech masters). On several recordings she co-operated with leading Czech instrumentalists, including the trunpeter Miroslav Kejmar, the violinist Pavel Hůla, Prague State Opera singer Sylva Čmugrová and violinist Bohuslav Matoušek. Her art has been made available to record collectors on a number of titles released by Music Vars, Supraphon, Panton, and the Japanese companies Nippon Columbia and Pony Canyon.
Discography: César Franck: Works for Organ (1990, Supraphon); Magical Baroque Trumpet (1991, Music Vars); Frank Kaderabek American Trumpet in Prague (1992, Music Vars); Magical Baroque Trumpet II (1992, Music Vars); Christmas Carol (1992, Pony Canyon); J.S. Bach (1993, Music Vars); Slavné varhaní skladby (1994, Music Vars); Pastýři nespěte (1996, Music Vars); G.F. Handel: Sonatas for violin and organ, op.1 (1996, Music Vars); Czech Organ Music (1997, Music Vars); Magical Baroque Trumpet III (1999, Music Vars); Slavné varhaní skladby II (1999, Music Vars); Koncert pro Zlonické zvony (2000, Music Vars). |
