Ilja Hurník

Who is Ilja Hurník?

Ilja Hurník was a contemporary Czech composer and essayist.

Hurnik was born in Poruba, now part of Ostrava. He entered the Prague Conservatory, then went on to the Prague Academy of Arts, where he studied with Ilona Štěpánová-Kurzová, daughter of Vilém Kurz.

His 1953 sonata da camera, for flute, oboe, cello and harpsichord, has been recorded on Cedille Records.

A 2008 Supraphon CD contains two of Ilja Hurník's instrumental compositions, the colorful Ondráš. Ballet Music, written in 1951, and his Four Seasons Chamber Suite, written in 1952. Both are performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra led by Karel Ančerl.

He is father of Lukáš Hurník, brother-in-law of Petr Eben and uncle of Marek Eben.