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I'd never have imagined, when we started the festival 18 years ago at Prague Castle,
that Wayne Shorter would be here with his Quartet to help us
celebrate our 18th birthday, and it means a lot to me
that we can present jazz legends of this calibre.
The Lucerna Grand Hall has a long tradition of hosting the jazz greats
- going back to Louis Armstrong, and Sonny Rollins
who we brought back here last year, 20 years after his first Lucerna appearance,
and it would be a shame if this tradition didn't continue.
That's why we're glad to be here tonight - concerts like this belong here.
I think of Wayne Shorter as one of the greatest contemporary composers.
His quartet music which we'll hear in the first half of the concert
isn't composed at the writing desk or the piano, but comes about in the interaction
of these amazing musicians - Danilo Perez on piano, John Patitucci on bass,
Brian Blade on drums: an all-star line-up that's able to create new music on the spot,
right in front of you - music that's every bit as complex as if it had been written and scored in advance.
It's something all music fans should experience at least once in their lives.
Wayne Shorter's music for orchestra exists on the borderline between
contemporary classical music and improvised jazz.
It's been an incredible experience to work with him.
The music is very complex and demanding of the players.
Tonight's audience is going to hear something that, in this country,
you just don't normally get a chance to hear.
If I saw these guys on the street, I probably wouldn't even dare ask them for an autograph.
And here I am, in certain sections of the pieces, conducting them!
But they've been great to work with, really pleasant people.
They may be big stars, but they've treated us as equals, and that means a lot.
This year, we're celebrating the 18th birthday of the festival, and it's been a great 18 years,
full of wonderful music and great artists. But let's not forget that Wayne Shorter is celebrating, too:
he's 80 this year, and is a tremendous inspiration to us.
He's proof that, at such a grand age, you can still make brave, progressive music.
I believe Strings of Autumn has its best years ahead of it!