Works - Zbyněk Matějů

Seeds of Rain – (2023)

choreography by R.Rogers, LA Chamber Ballet, music by Ph. Glass and Z.Matějů

Princezna Hyacinta – (2023)

Joshua Tree Symphony – (2017)

Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet, premiere August 12, 2017

The Little Mermaid – (2016)

Libretto: SKUTR (Martin Kukučka, Lukáš Trpišovský) inspired by H. Ch. Andersen
choreography: Jan Kodet

It was one of the most visited performances at the National Theatre in Prague (commissioned by National Theatre) The Little Mermaid, the National Theatre in Prague, ballet

Still Life – (2015)

Choreography: Raiford Rogers, a world famous American choreographer, commissioned by Los Angeles Chamber Ballet performed the world premiere of the ballet as well as the concert composition for the cello and orchestra

Krabat – (2013)

libretto: SKUTR (Martin Kukučka, Lukáš Trpišovský)
choreography: Jan Kodet
full-length ballet about the motives of Otfried Preusler (commissioned by National Theatre in Prague). Krabat was one of the most visited titles of the National Theatre scene. Not only was it awarded for its music, choreography and scenography, it was also declared by the critics of music to be the best ballet work in the last three years on the Czech stage.

Kevel – (2006)

choreography: Jan Kodet
4 clarinets – Clarinet Factory, Ponec
chamber experimental ballet

Garden– (2006)

director and librettist: Jiří Středa
choreography: Alena Pešková
full-length ballet inspired by Jiří Trnka book (commissioned by DJKT in Pilsen)

IBBUR, or a Prague Mystery – (2005)

libretto: Daniel Wiesner
choreography: Petr Zuska
full-length ballet inspired by a novel by Gustava Meyrinka Golem (commissioned by National Theatre in Prague)

Golem – (2001)

libretto: Pavel Šmok
ballet inspired by an old Prague Jewish legend, Prague Chambre Balletbalet (PKB) The Prague State Opera

The Wizard of Oz – (1999)

libretto: Jiří Středa
direction and choreography: Zdeněk Prokeš
scene: Adolf Born
commissioned by National Theatre in Brno

following production was at the Silesian Theatre in Opava (2007) direction and choreography: Daniel Wiesner
full-length ballet fairytale inspired by book of Franka Baum

Komboloi – (1997)

libretto: Tomáš Vondrovic
choreography: Petr Zuska
music for a ballet for the chamber orchestra, commissioned by Prague Chamber Ballet (PKB)

Secret Life – (1995)

choreography: Martino Müller
for the chamber orchestra, commissioned by Holland Dance Festival
premiere in the Nederland’s Dans Theater, Den Hague

Roots – (1992)

ballet for the symphonic orchestra with electronic manipulation, Paris

The Villa of Mysteries – (1985)

fl., vl., vla, piano, Brooklyn Dance Theatre (NY, USA)

Phobia – (1984)

3 tr., piano, percuss, VUS, Nyon (Switzerland)

Pierot – (1984)

arpa solo, VUS, Nyon (Switzerland)

SHOWREEL – Zbyněk Matějů
First Snow – animated student film, screenplay, directed and animated by Lenka Ivančíková, 2015 – nominated and awarded
Transport Er – animated trick film, theme, screenplay, directed by Miloš Zvěřina, 2015
Enchanted Šumava – full-length film, inspired by work of Josef Váchal (it was shot by the amateurs together with the professionals), 2015
Way From the Very Bottom – television series, stories of six women living on the edge, screenplay and direction by V. Korčáková Sobková and Gébová, 2014
At the Bottom of a Glass – television film, theme and screenplay Jan Prušinovský, directed by Bohdan Sláma, 2014
Innocent Lies– television series, drama, directed by Bohdan Sláma
Helga L-520 –TRILOBIT award,artistic animated documentary by Miloš Zvěřina. It is inspired by the life of Helga Weissová-Hošková (born 1929) during her stay in the Therezin ghetto. It is based on her original drawings. 2011
On the Outside – time-lapsedocumentary film observing the life of three prisoners, HBO, 2011
The Pilgrimage Song for Virgin Mary on Palm Sunday – animated trick film, poetic meditation inspired by Karel Schulz short stories, prepared by Jaroslav Šerých, Pavel Kubant and Miloš Zvěřina, 2009
Earthworms– TV series, 2009
The Guardian of Souls – TV series , it balances between the detective story and thriller with mysteries from the past, 2008
BrainStorm – TV film, it received the most television award Elsa in 2008, directed by Jiří Strach, 2008
Czech Christmas Mass – a piece of music for animated film by the Czech TV studio, theme, screenplay and directed by Pavel Kubant and Miloš Zvěřina, 2007
Operace Silver A – a two parts series of the Czech television, directed by Jiří Strach, 2007
Restart – TV documentary series, 2007
About a Chimney Sweep and a Confectioner’s Daughter – romantic family film of the Czech TV, directed by Pavel Jandourek, 2007
The Little King – 13parts series of the Czech TV, directed by, 2007
Maharal – The Secret of Talisman – full-length film, 2006, later also a TV series of the Czech TV, directed by Pavel Jandourek, 2007
Flood – TV film, directed by Jiří Strach, 2005
2 plus 1 with Miroslav Donutil – 3 television short stories, directed by Jiří Strach, 2005
The Awakened Rock – TV film, directed by Jiří Strach, 2003
The Murder of the Green Family – TV police drama, directed Jiří Strach, 2002
Vanilla Flavor – full-length film, directed by Jiří Strach, 2001
Cases of the Ostrozrak Detective’s Office – series of the Czech TV inspired by Josef Škvorecký, screenplay and directed by Karel Smyczek, 2000
At the Castle – television film inspired by Karel Čapek short story, directed by Jiří Strach, 2000
Fragile Desires – short student film, directed by Karin Babinská, 1998
H Treasure – Czech TV film, directed by Karel Smyczek, 1998
Genius of Fatherland – TV film, directed by Jiří Strach, 1998
All for the Company – tow part TV film, directed by Karel Smyczek, 1998
Romeo, Julia and Darkness –inspired by a book written by Jan Otčenášek, directed by Karel Smyczek, 1997
Dracula’s Brother-in-law – series of 12 parts of horror stories inspired by horror stories of Miloslav Švandrlík’s book, directed by Karel Smyczek, 1996, CD soundtrack, Bonton 1997
Stations of the Cross,1995
The Taste of Death – crime film about a fatal relationship of father and son, directed by Milan Cieslar, 1995, CD soundtrack, Bonton 1997
About Šedivák– Island fairytale story, directed by Milan Cieslar, 1994, CD soundtrack, Bonton 1997
Faust – cooperation on the full-length film by Jan Švankmajer, the author of the original play is Johann Wolfgang Goethe, screenplay and directed by Jan Švankmajer, 1993
Bohemia and the Habsburg Monarchy – music for the TV series, 1993–94
Tomáš I (Baťa) – music for the documentary film, 1993
World of William of Rosenberg – artistic documentary film, 1992
Looking for Lennon – full-length Czech-American coproduction film, 1991, CD soundtrack, Bonton 1997
About a Tap that Sang in Opera – animated film, animation by Adolf Born, directed by Jaroslav Doubrava, 1990, CD soundtrack, Bonton 1997
Dynamite – directed by Milan Cieslar, 1989, CD soundtrack, Bonton 1997

Vocal Compositions

Requiem – for soprano and orchestra, 2014
Ad Te – for soprano, percussions and harp, 2 min., 2010, CD Artesmon CR, ARS, Germany, 2013
Ad Te Domine – for soprano, percussions and harp, 10 min., 2010, CD Artesmon CR, ARS, Germany, 2013
The Garden of Celestial Silence – Latin and English text (Old Testament – book of ”Ecclesiastes“; ”Time“ – poem by Thomas Watson), for vocal and chamber orchestra, 1997
Alleluia – for soprano, harp, singing bowl and organ, /or/ for soprano, harp and synthesizer, 1992, CD Presston, 1993
Dona Nobis Pacem – for mezzosoprano, piano, four percussion players, five string musical instruments solo and string orchestra on parts of Latin liturgy texts, 1989
Sayings – for soprano, harp and string quartet, 1986, disk Panton 1986
The Garden of Love – five songs for soprano and cello, 1985
The Garden of Aquatic Delights (music for the fountain in Marian Bath) – for string quartet, soprano, flute, French horn and two harps, 1984, recording Panton 1984
Four Songs for a Children Choir, 1981

Orchestral Compositions

Gap to Heavens – symphony orchestra with sound drones, 40 min., 2022
Split Dreams – concerto for harp, piano and strings, 20 min., 2021
Virus (Wir-Us) – concerto for viola and chamber orchestra, commission by Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, 21 min., premiere in September 2020 with soloist Jitka Hosprova
Three Stones Concerto – concerto for piano and strings, commission from Los Angeles, 24min., 2019
Zion Symphony – for large orchestra, commission from Los Angeles, 27 min., 2019
Joshua Tree Symphony – for large orchestra, commission from California – premiere in August 2017 in Los Angeles together with Still Life at Luckman Theatre, 34 min., 2016–2017
Still Life – concert composition for solo cello, string orchestra, vibraphone and crotali, 24 min., 2015
Imagine That – suite from the ballet Krabat, commission for the Schloss Kirchstetten festival, Austria, 15 min., 2013
Gooseberry Concerto – for bass clarinet and string orchestra, 1999
Secret Life – for chamber orchestra, commission for the Holland Dance Festival, 22 min., 1995
In the Middle of Summer – impromptu for harp and chamber orchestra, commission for the Czech TV, 8 min., 1991

Chamber Music

Campana Dei – for soprano, harp, organ and sound of bell, 12 min., 2023
Background – for oboe and piano, dedicated to the memory of the Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu, 2008
Kolomboi – for the chamber ensemble, 11 min., 1997
The Mechanism of Celestial Silence – for the chamber ensemble, 1996
Capriccio – for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello and piano, 13:50 min., 1996, CD Arta Records
Veiling – for flute, harp and synthesizer, 1993

Stella of Forbidding – for clarinet and harp, 1991, CD PANTON, 1995
Smorfia (Škleb) – for clarinet and piano, 6 min., 1988, CD Baby USA, 2008
Juggler – for viola and harp, 10 min., 1987
Intrusions – sonatina for trumpet and piano, 8 min., 1982

Music for solo musical instrument

LA-LALA – for harp (assigned composition for an international harp competition), 4 min., 2015
Tabularium – for solo bass clarinet, 2013
´TO-Y´ – for one or two Irish or pedal harps, 4 min., 2012

Sax Mania – for saxophone solo, 6 min., 1994, CD ČR
Singing Angel – for saxophone solo, 4 min., 2008, CD ČR
Recipe of a Colorful Woodcut – for solo harp, 7 min., 1991
Just Like This – for cembalo, 9 min., 1987
Self-portrait – for solo piano, 6 min., 1983
Music for Dandelions – for harp, 10 min., 1983
Preludes – for piano, 5 min., 1977

Watch Your Pantry – full-length English chamber opera, libretto by Yohanan Kaldi, inspired by Čapek short story The stolen document, 2003

The Great Gatsby – full-length opera, libretto D. Dvořák free adaptation of Francis Scott Fitzgerald novel, commission for the National Theatre in Prague, 2005

We were five, I thought – opera, libretto Arnošt Goldflam, inspired by Karel Poláček, commission for the Prague State Opera, 2001

Ezio – baroque opera by Johann Adolf Hasse (1748), remade and completed as a commission from the Bayreuth Festival for the anniversary of the Markgräfliches Opernhaus opening, premiere 1998

Elfin Annie and Fair Hubert – full-length chamber opera for kids inspired by Vitězslav Nezval, premiere at the Theatre of Diversity in Most, later performed at the Grotesque Theatre in Krakow, 1987