In a spirit of unusual generosity, I’ll be picking up the Czech for this week’s “Music from Marlboro.”

That’s right, it’s an all-Czech hour.

We’ll begin with music by Erwin Schulhoff, who was encouraged as a young man by Antonin Dvořák. A Jew, a communist, and a nose-thumbing Dadaist, Schulhoff must have been regarded as a triple threat by the Nazis. Who else but Schulhoff would set “The Communist Manifesto” to music? His promising career was cut short when he was arrested while fleeing to the Soviet Union. He died of tuberculosis in a concentration camp in 1942.

We’ll hear Schulhoff’s cheeky “Divertissement for Wind Trio” from 1928. The 2002 performance will feature oboist Ariana Ghez, clarinetist Charles Neidich, and bassoonist Shinyee Na.

Then kick back and enjoy Dvořák’s beloved Piano Quintet in A Major. Composed in 1887, Dvořák’s amply melodic and affirmatively gorgeous Quintet is the perfect antidote to any of your day’s cares. The 2008 performance will feature Marlboro Artistic Director Mitsuko Uchida as pianist, with Benjamin Beilman and David Bowlin, violins; Maiya Papach, viola; and Judith Serkin, cello.

Only three weekends left to attend this year’s Marlboro Music Festival in Marlboro, VT. On Sunday at 2:30 p.m., Uchida will perform Mozart’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat, K. 493, on a program that will also include works by Schumann and Marlboro Resident Composer, Pulitzer Prize winner Shulamit Ran.

Ran’s music will also feature on Saturday’s program, at 8 p.m., which will also include works by Beethoven and Alexander Zemlinsky. For more information or to plan your visit, look online at marlboromusic.org.

Then join me this Wednesday evening at 6:00 EDT for an all-Czech hour, on the next “Music from Marlboro,” on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

Marlboro School of Music and Festival: Official Page