No great historical figure escapes it. The public places it on a pedestal and it becomes a monument to inertial worship. Saturday’s 200th anniversary of Bedřich Smetana’s birth is an opportunity to demystify his legacy and remember what he actually means to Czech culture. “For people, it is a myth that we either condemn or … Read more
A year after the death of King Přemysl Otakar II. takes place in Brandenburg in Bohemia, the revival of which was presented by the Moravian-Silesian National Theater this Thursday. Bedřich Smetana’s first opera brings the audience closer to the atmosphere of the 13th century, when Brandenburg Margrave Ota Brandenburg invaded Bohemia, completely devastated it and … Read more
When Sir Simon Rattle was young, he played Slavonic Dances by Antonín Dvořák with his father on the piano. “They were instrumental in my decision to pursue music,” he says. Next time he will perform them in Prague as the main guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. One of the world’s most famous musicians, whose … Read more
As soon as he joined, he signed up for Czech music. “Together we will perform the symphony Asrael, Josef Suk’s most important and tragic work. It continues to fascinate me from the moment I first heard it,” announced Kirill Petrenko in 2019 at the first press conference he held as chief conductor of the Berlin … Read more
This year’s cycle of piano concerts by Hybatelé Resonance will start this Monday, October 2, in Prague’s St. Anne’s Monastery with a recital by Jan Bartoš. He will present the repertoire from the album he released in February. The leading Czech pianist and artistic director of two festivals will play Bedřich Smetana’s Dreams or Miloslav … Read more
With the music of Josef Suk and Antonín Dvořák, the PKF – Prague Philharmonia started its jubilee 30th season this Wednesday in a packed Rudolfinum in Prague. It was led by chief conductor Emmanuel Villaume, the soloist in the second half of the evening was cellist Jan Vogler. The German artist presented himself with a … Read more
Dalibor, the last premiere of the season at the Moravian-Silesian National Theater, is set to captivate audiences with its powerful story and beautiful music. The opera, composed by Bedřich Smetana, tells the tale of Czech knight Dalibor of Kozojed, who seeks revenge for the murder of his friend by storming a castle. However, his actions … Read more
The 78th edition of the Prague Spring Festival began this Friday in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House with the participation of President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala from the ODS. As is the tradition, Má vlast by Bedřich Smetana was performed, this time by the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera … Read more