Autumn Melodies: Discover New World Music in the Enchanting Lednice-Valtice Area

In the enchanting setting of the grand buildings found in the Lednice-Valtice region, you can experience the Lednice-Valtice Music Festival (LVHF), showcasing classical music inspired by the New World.

The world of music from America, which Antonín Dvořák arrived from in the 1890s on a quest of discovery, is also where the Liechtenstein gardener Joseph van der Schot (1763-1819) brought seeds of trees and plants that helped shape the stunning ice-valley landscape.

Each concert featured at the LVHF 2025 follows the theme of the American continent line, including works by composers like Bernstein, Korngold, Copland, Barber, and Williams, all of whom have a strong connection to the New World. You’ll enjoy musical masterpieces, such as Dvořák’s “New World”, performed by talented artists from the USA, Israel, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Music from the New World is the guiding theme and storyline for the 10th Lednice-Valtice Music Festival

This festival brings together a special anniversary celebration with various significant ideas that have influenced our world. At its core is the introduction of music, composers, and artists from America, where Antonín Dvořák was a key figure in promoting new American music during the 19th century. This mirrors Joseph van der Schot’s historic act of bringing seeds from America to create a beautiful artistic landscape.

Musical delights in sacred, castle, and enchanting locations

The unique atmosphere of the Lednice-Valtice area has played a key role in creating the festival’s ambiance right from the start. This ties directly to the traditions of the Liechtenstein estate, where hunting parties were held, inviting members of the European nobility to enjoy musical experiences. The festival also welcomes guests to the recently renovated Lány Chateau near the Pohansko Chateau. Concerts will be held in established venues, including the riding hall of Valtice Chateau, the Baroque Valtice Theatre, Diana’s Temple (also known as the Rendez-vous), Mikulov Chateau, the riding hall of Lednice Chateau, and the Church of St. James the Elder in Lednice, as well as the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Breclav.

Musical and scenic inspirations of the festival

Unique experiences in the Lednice-Valtice area will be enriched by musical and scenic inspirations presented visually. Illustrations of the Canadian marshmallow (Cercis canadensis Lin) from a herbarium compiled by the Prior of the Monastery of the Merciful Brothers in Valtice, Norbert Boccius, and illustrated by local artists The Bauers, will accompany festival goers. Their collaborative work, created between 1776-1804, is a 14-volume herbarium showcasing 2,748 realistic watercolors (almost three-dimensional) of plants gathered from across the globe, including America.

A remarkable piece of art was presented to Prince Alois I of Liechtenstein and is now kept in the Princely Library in Vienna. The illustration of the zmarlika will be on loan for exclusive display during the 10th LVHF. You can also proudly view Zmarlika in the Lednice Park near the minaret, where it blooms in April and will be highlighted at this year’s festival from September 20 to October 18, 2025.

Lednice-Valtice Music Festival 2025 aims to provide a New World experience for attendees. This encompasses the musical landscape of the American continent which is where Antonín Dvořák came from in the 1890s, on a mission to explore new horizons, parallel to how the Liechtenstein gardener Joseph van der Schot (1763-1819) brought over seeds to enrich the ice-valley landscape.

Notation of green silence

The spirit of music continues to be present…

Earth Hall of the Masonic Garden, located in the Lednice Chateau park, offers places for sitting and relaxation. You’ll find these near the well-known walking circuit that leads around the castle pond toward the minaret. Although only a fraction of the garden remains, it holds a profound history. This garden was created from 1791 to 1799, based on a Baroque design, where various trees (like firs) and flowers formed intricate geometric patterns. The centerpiece, where the eight axes converged, was the Temple of the Sun. The Masonic Garden in Lednice is a silent message from our ancestors written in greenery. The Lednice-Valtice Music Festival serves as its musical counterpart.