The work titled Adagio (Memories), H. 362, originated on March 12, 1957, in Rome and is "dedicated to the memory of Václav Kaprál and Vitulka". "Vitulka", of course, refers to none other than Vítězslava Kaprálová, the pupil and, for a certain time, Bohuslav Martinů's intimate friend. Despite the score's moderate, one-page scope, the work is replete with inter-textual references, which makes it a little gem. Besides undertones of the opera Juliette (The Key to Dreams). H. 253, whose main theme - seeking a dreamt-of woman in a world full of uniformity and poor memory - the composer additionally connected with his meeting Vítězslava Kaprálová, the ravishing middle section also evokes the pet name "song" with which Martinů denoted his Vitulka.
Aleš Březina, Martinů / Jeux, © 2008 Supraphon