News

Exhibition of the artefacts from the TITANIC,
5.6.2008 - 30.7.2008

Actual artifacts, recovered from two and one half miles below the surface of the North Atlantic, tell the story behind the legendary Titanic’s short journey from construction and destruction to eventual recovery. Walk her decks, peer into her cabins, and meet her passengers and crew.

The story of the famous ship waits for he visitors of the unusual exhibition, that moved to Prague from its previous destination in Brno, Budapest and the USA opens to visitors.
Titanic Artifacts that are there came in great number – over 300 exhibits, that were lifted from their watery grave.

The authentic objects, from scenario of the tragedy which took lives of more than 1500 people on one April night of 1912, will take you back in time immediately.
19 million people have attended the exhibition worldwide, and the greatest emotions are always aroused by personal belongings of passengers, such as a suit-case, evening dress, top hat, music instruments or talismans. There are also pieces of luxurious porcelain, silver dippers or glasses.

The project was launched with help of RMS Titanic, the American company having exclusive licence for rescuing objects from the shipwreck.

The exhibition takes visitors on a chronological journey through the life of the Titanic‚ from its conception and construction to life on board and the tragic sinking on 15 April 1912.

Starts – 5.6.2008, Ends – 30.7.2008, according to interest of visitors.
Place – Lucerna, Great Hall, Prague. Open 10:00 – 21:00, tickets – 280-330 czk.
tickets : www.ticketpro.cz

Prague Museum Night - 14.6.2008

June 14, 2008
Prague Museum Night celebrates its fifth anniversary!

Fifth Prague Museum Night takes place on June 14th 2008 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Prague Museum Night will offer unconventional night-time presentation of cultural heritage supplemented by multitude of various accompanying events. The fifth Prague Museum Night will again invite Prague citizens and tourists to attractive visit of many cultural institutions of the metropolis – museums, galleries, cultural monuments and other sites. This year, unparalleled number of 25 cultural institutions and 52 sites take part in the Prague Museum Night – and majority of them present new sites or exhibitions.

Admission to all sites which take part in the Museum Night is free as usual, with exception of City of Prague Museum, City Gallery Prague, and objects of Prague Information Service and Vyšehrad National Cultural Monument – on these sites, symbolical admission fee is required.

In addition to central idea of the museum night – free admission to museum exhibitions during unconventional night time, the Prague Museum Night offers also a multitude of exceptional accompanying events: concerts, recitals, theatre performances, movies, guided tours, displays of unique exhibits and curiosities, lectures, public readings, discussions, etc.

Information tents for visitors of the Prague Museum Night are prepared one day in advance and will offer information about the project throughout the whole event. They are located in front of the main building of the National Museum and in front of the Rudolfinum at the Náměstí Jana Palacha. Complimentary information materials and leaflets with detailed information about the Prague Museum Night will be distributed there for free.

Free travel during the Museum Night between the sites is provided by special museum bus lines of Prague Public Transport Co. Inc. Free travel is limited to special museum transport lines only. Central transfer point is again the Namesti Jana Palacha, where visitors can also get detailed information materials with maps of bus lines.

Prague Museum Night is now one of the outstanding and coveted activities of the metropolis and significant event of its cultural and social life. With the Museum Night, Prague joined other European capitals in presentation her cultural heritage located in museums in this innovative and attractive way.

The Prague Museum Night, which inspired many similar events in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, represents closing event and finale of the whole festival, which offers unconventional night-time presentations of various cultural institutions combined with unique mood of the museum nights.

More information : http://praha.muzejninoc.cz/index.php

The Prague Spring Festival - International music festival

12. 5. - 4. 6. 2008

The Prague Spring International Music Festival is a permanent showcase for outstanding performing artists, symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles of the world. The first festival was held under the patronage of Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš, and its organizing committee was made up of important figures in Czech musical life. In that year, 1946, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, and was therefore given the highest honor: to appear on all the orchestral concerts. Such musicians as Karel Ančerl, Leonard Bernstein, Sir Adrian Boult, Rudolf Firkušný, Jaroslav Krombholc, Rafael Kubelík, Moura Lympany, Yevgeny Mravinski, Charles Munch, Ginette Neveu, Jarmila Novotná, Lev Oborin, David Oistrach and Jan Panenka have won enthusiastic ovations on the Prague Spring Festival stage.

The festival commemorates important musical anniversaries by including works by the composers concerned on its programs, and presents Czech as well as world premieres of compositions by contemporary authors. Artists and orchestras of the highest quality are invited to perform here. At least a few of the inexhaustible galaxy of stars who have appeared at the festival should be named: Sviatoslav Richter, Lorin Maazel, Herbert von Karajan, Mstislav Rostropovich, Boris Pergamenschikow, Lucia Popp, Kim Borg, Sir Colin Davis, Maurice André, Dmitri Sitkovecki, Leonid Kogan, Paul Klecki, Gustav Leonhardt, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Alfred Brendel, Heinrich Schiff, Leopold Stokowski, Arthur Honegger, Arthur Rubinstein...

The Prague Spring is one of the few festivals in the world to show an interest in young performers. The Prague Spring Competition was established just one year after the festival itself, and is held each year in various instrumental sections. In 1957 it became a founding member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, headquartered in Geneva.
Thus the Prague Spring Festival has been a prestigious showcase for world musical life and its latest trends since its very beginnings.

Further information: info@festival.cz, www.festival.cz

Program
Monday 12 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
BRNO PHILHARMONIC - Openning Concert
Petr Altrichter – conductor
Bedřich Smetana: My Country, cycle of symphonic poems


Tuesday 13 May 2008, 16:00, Rudolfinum
Prague Spring International Music Competition 2008 – final round, OBOE category (Part 1)
Pilsen Philharmonic
Jiří Malát – conductor
W. A. Mozart: Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra in C major, KV 314
Bohuslav Martinů: Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra, H 353


Tuesday 13 May 2008, 19:00, State Opera
PETR MALÁSEK: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Libor Vaculík – libretto, choreography and direction
Martin Černý – stage design
Ľudmila Várossová – costumes
conductor TBA
Prague State Opera Orchestra


Tuesday 13 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
BRNO PHILHARMONIC
Petr Altrichter – conductor
Bedřich Smetana: My Country, cycle of symphonic poems


Tuesday 13 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
Prague Spring International Music Competition 2008 – final round, OBOE category (Part 2)
Pilsen Philharmonic
Jiří Malát – conductor
W. A. Mozart: Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra in C major, KV 314
Bohuslav Martinů: Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra, H 353


Wednesday 14 May 2008, 16:00, Rudolfinum
Prague Spring International Music Competition 2008 – final round, CLARINET category (Part 1)
Prague Chamber Orchestra
Jaroslav Kyzlink – conductor
W. A. Mozart: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A major, KV 622
one of the following works:
Jean Françaix: Tema con Variazioni for Clarinet and 11 Strings
Ondřej Kukal: Clarinettino, concertino for clarinet and strings, Op. 11


Wednesday 14 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
Prague Spring International Music Competition 2008 – final round, CLARINET category (Part 2)
Prague Chamber Orchestra
Jaroslav Kyzlink – conductor
W. A. Mozart: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A major, KV 622
one of the following works:
Jean Françaix: Tema con Variazioni for Clarinet and 11 Strings
Ondřej Kukal: Clarinettino, concertino for clarinet and strings, Op. 11


Thursday 15 May 2008, 19:00, State Opera
EDV ARD GRIEG: PEER GYNT
incidental music to the drama by Henrik Ibsen
Guillaume Tourniaire – conductor
Petr Mančal – director
actors: Jiří Langmajer, Pavel Soukup, Marika Procházková
singers: Václav Sibera, Jitka Burgetová, Jana Sýkorová
Prague State Opera Orchestra and Chorus


Thursday 15 May 2008, 20:00, Prague Crossroads
SCHOLA GREGORIANA PRAGENSIS
David Eben – artistic director
Jiří Bárta – violoncello
Dialogue between the human voice and strings


Thursday 15 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
Ivan Moravec – piano
Fryderyk Chopin:
Nocturne in E minor, Op. 72/1
Nocturne in F sharp major, Op. 15/2
Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. 27/1
Nocturne in D flat major, Op. 27/2
Barcarolle in F sharp major, Op. 60
Claude Debussy:
Pour le piano
Rytiny Estampes
Fryderyk Chopin:
Mazurka in B minor, Op. 33/4
Mazurka in C sharp minor, Op. 50/3
Ballade in F minor, Op. 52



Friday 16 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
HALLÉ ORCHESTRA MANCHESTER
Mark Elder – conductor
Gerald Finley – voice
Antonín Dvořák: Scherzo capriccioso, op. 66
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel
Edward Elgar: Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55



Friday 16 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
IL FONDAMENTO
Paul Dombrecht – artistic director
Miriam Allan – soprano, Clint van der Linde – altus,
Marcel Beeckmann – tenor, Andre Morsch – bass
Flemish Radio Choir
J. D. Zelenka: „Miserere“, psalm 50 in c, ZWV 57
J. D. Zelenka: „De Profundis“, psalm 130 in d, ZWV 50
J. D. Zelenka: Requiem in c, ZWV 48


Saturday 17 May 2008, 11:00, HAMU
Jan Mach – klarinet, Martin Fila – piano
Béla Kovacs: Hommage à Manuel de Falla
Camille Saint-Saëns: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 167
Edison Denisov: Sonata for Clarinet Solo
Francis Poulenc: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
Jean Françaix: Tema con Variazioni for Clarinet and Piano


Saturday 17 May 2008, 13:00, National Theater
BEDŘICH SMETANA: THE KISS
Zbyněk Müller – conductor
Marián Chudovský – director
Maria Haan, Tomáš Černý, Ivan Kusnjer, Kateřina Kněžíková and others – soloists
National Theatre Opera Orchestra and Chorus


Saturday 17 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
ST PETERSBURG PHILHARMONIC
Yuri Temirkanov – conductor
P. I. Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, ballet suite
Sergej Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45


Sunday 18 May 2008, 18:00, Tschechisches Museum für Musik
MADRIGAL PRAHA
Music at the Habsburg Courts I
Josef Šebesta – artistic director and conductor
Miloslav Študent – loutna lute
Camillo Zanotti: Il primo Libro de Madrigali à Cinque Voci


Sunday 18 May 2008, 19:00, Estates Theatre
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: DON GIOVANNI
Zbyněk Müller – conductor
Jiří Nekvasil – director
Martin Bárta, Anda-Louise Bogza, Aleš Briscein, Pavla Vykopalová, Peter Mikuláš, Kateřina Kněžíková and others – soloists
National Theatre Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet


Sunday 18 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
Midori – violin, Charles Abramovic – piano
C. Ph. E. Bach: Sonata in C minor, Wq 78
Alfred Schnittke: Sonata No. 1, Op. 30
Dmitri Shostakovich/Dmitri Tsyganov: Preludes, Op. 34 (selection)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata in A major, Op. 47 “Kreutzer”


Monday 19 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
SLOVAK PHILHARMONIC
Concert of the Friends of the Prague Spring
Peter Feranec – conductor
Vitaly Berzon – piano
Ilja Zeljenka: Ouvertura giocosa
Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73
Eugen Suchoň: Metamorphoses


Tuesday 20 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
Alfred Brendel – piano
Joseph Haydn: Variations in F minor, Hob. XVII/6
W. A. Mozart: Sonata in F major, KV 533/494
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata in E flat major, Op. 27/1 “Quasi una Fantasia”
Franz Schubert: Sonata in B flat major, D 960


Wednesday 21 May 2008, 19:00,
RADIO BIG BAND PRAHA
Concert to mark the 85th anniversary of Czechoslovak Radio
Václav Kozel – conductor
Uschi Brüning – voice
Freddy Cole – voice, piano
Peter Binder – voice, guitar
Radek Pobořil – accordion
Radek Krampl – vibes


Wednesday 21 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
CZECH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Hommage à Karel Ančerl
Christian Arming – dirigent conductor
Julia Fischer – housle violin
Miloslav Kabeláč: Reflections, op. 49
Antonín Dvořák: Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major


Wednesday 21 May 2008, 20:00,
PRAŽÁK QUARTETT
Selected quartets by Anton Webern I
Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in F major, Op. 50/5, Hob. III/48
Anton Webern: String Quartet (1905)
Anton Webern: Five Movements, Op. 5
Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in D major, Op. 50/6, hob. III/49


Thursday 22 May 2008, 19:00, National Theater
GIUSEPPE VERDI: FALSTAFF
Peter Feranec – conductor
Martin Huba – director
In the title role Ivan Kusnjer / Andrew Greenan
National Theatre Opera Orchestra and Chorus


Thursday 22 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
PRAGUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Krzysztof Urbański – conductor
Christoph Eß – French horn
Wojciech Kilar: Orawa
W. A. Mozart: French horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, KV 417
Ludwig van Beethoven:
Egmont, ouverture, Op. 84
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67


Thursday 22 May 2008, 21:30, Rudolfinum
Vitalij Berson – piano
Nocturno I
Sergei Prokofiev: Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82
Johannes Brahms: Intermezzo, op. 118/2
Fryderyk Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 47
Robert Schumann: Arabeske in C major, Op. 18
Ferenc Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2


Thursday 22 May 2008, 21:30, Lucerna Music Bar
FREDDY COLE QUARTET


Friday 23 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
OSTRAVA BAND
International Chamber Orchestra
Petr Kotík – conductor
Michaela Riener – soprano
Monica Germino – violin
Daan Vandewalle – piano
Hana Kotková – violin
Petr Kotík: Solos and Incidental Harmonies
Louis Andriessen: La Passione for soprano, violin and orchestra
Elliott Carter: Dialogues
Miroslav Srnka: Reservoirs
György Ligeti: Violin Concerto


Saturday 24 May 2008, 11:00, HAMU
Jan Martiník – voice, Alexander Starý – piano
Morning Concert II
Petr Eben: Songs from the Cieszyn Region
M. P. Mussorgsky: Song of the Flea
P. I. Tchaikovsky: selection of songs
Camille Saint-Saëns: Mélodies persanes, op. 26


Saturday 24 May 2008, 15:00,
PRAGUE ORGAN DAYS I
Marek Čihař – organ
Girolamo Frescobaldi, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Pachelbel, Marek Čihař, J. S. Bach

Saturday 24 May 2008, 18:00, Church of Our Lady before Tyn
Marek Štryncl – conductor
Hana Blažíková, Markéta Cukrová, Jaroslav Březina, Aleš Procházka – soloists
Boni pueri Boni pueri Czech boys’ choir
Pavel Horák, Jakub Martinec – chorusmasters
W. A. Mozart:
Offertorium „Misericordias Domini“, KV 222
Church Sonate in D major, KV 69
Church Sonate in F major, KV 224
Requiem in D minor, KV 626



Saturday 24 May 2008, 21:30, Rudolfinum
Mengla Huang – violin, Daniel Wiesner – piano
Nocturne II
Giuseppe Tartini: Sonata in G minor ”Devil‘s Trill”
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata in F major, Op. 24 ”Spring“
Camille Saint-Saëns: Sonata in D minor, op. 75
Henryk Wieniawski: Polonaise in D major, Op. 4
Pablo de Sarasate: Concert Fantasy to a themes from the opera Carmen, Op. 25


Sunday 25 May 2008, 10:00,
PRAGUE ORGAN DAYS II
10am, church of the Ascension (Loretto)
Pavel Kohout – organ
Johann Pachelbel, J. K. Kerll, J. F. N. Seger, Georg Muffat
11am, church of the Ascension (Loretto)
Pavel Kohout – organ /repeat of the concert/
2pm, St Ludmila’s church
Pavel Černý – organ
Josef Klička, Petr Eben, Miloslav Kabeláč, Ferenc Liszt
5pm, St James’s basilica
Irena Chřibková – organ
Miloslav Kabeláč, Jeanne Demesieux, J. S. Bach, Marcel Dupré
8pm, Municipal House
Olivier Latry – organ
Olivier Messiaen


Sunday 25 May 2008, 10:30, St Luke’s Church, Křečovice
Suk’s Křečovice
Josef Suk – violin
Aleš Bárta – organ
programme TBA


Sunday 25 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
Edita Gruberova – soprano
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Friedrich Haider – conductor
W. A. Mozart:
Der Schauspieldirektor, overture to the opera
“Martern aller Arten”, Constanze’s aria from the opera, Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Gaetano Donizetti:
Roberto Devereux, overture to the opera
“Il dolce suono / Spargi d’amaro pianto”, Lucia’s aria from the opera, Lucia di Lammermoor
Vincenzo Bellini: Norma
Overture to the opera
“Casta diva / Ah bello a me retorna”, Norma’s aria
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Il segreto di Sussana
“I quattro rusteghi”, intermezzo from the opera
Overture to the opera
Gaetano Donizetti:
“Ah se un’urna / Ah la morte”, Beatrice’s aria from the opera, Beatrice di Tenda


Monday 26 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
Nigel Kennedy – violin
Polish Chamber Orchestra
W. A. Mozart: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, KV 218
Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, Op. 61


Monday 26 May 2008, 20:00, Curch of SS Simon and Jude
DOULCE MEMOIRE
Music at the Habsburg Courts II
Denis Raisin Dadre – artistic director
Camillo Zanotti, Alessandro Orologio, Matteo Flecha, Jacob Regnard, Karl Luyton, Philippe de Monte


Tuesday 27 May 2008, 19:00, National Theater
LEOŠ JANÁČEK: JENUFA
Ondrej Lenárd – conductor
Jiří Nekvasil – director
Eva Urbanová, Miroslav Dvorský, Dana Burešová, Valentin Prolat and others – soloists
National Theatre Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet


Tuesday 27 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
WAYNE SHORTER QUARTET
Wayne Shorter – saxophones
Danilo Perez – piano
John Patitucci – double bass
Brian Blade – drums


Tuesday 27 May 2008, 20:00, New Assembly Hall
CAPPELLA ISTROPOLITANA
Hommage à Lucia Popp
Adriana Kučerová – soprano
Ilja Zeljenka: Musica slovaca
G. F. Händel: arias from the opera Alcina
W. A. Mozart: „Exsultate, jubilate“, KV 165
Eugen Suchoň: Six Compositions, Op. 19 (selection)
Max Bruch: Concerto for String Orchestra
W. A. Mozart: „Bella mia fiamma, addio“, KV 528


Wednesday 28 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
PRAGUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Jiří Kout – conductor
Václav Hudeček – violin
Jan Páleníček – violoncello
Johannes Brahms:
Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98


Wednesday 28 May 2008, 20:00,
PRAŽÁK QUARTETT
Selected quartets by Anton Webern II
Jaromír Klepáč - piano
Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 76/4, Hob. III/78 “Sunrise”
Anton Webern: Piano Quintet
Anton Webern: String Quartet, Op. 28
Anton Webern: Six Bagatelles, Op. 9
Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in D major, Op. 64/5, Hob. III/63 “The Lark”


Thursday 29 May 2008, 19:00, State Opera
RICHARD WAGNER: DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER (premiere)
Guillaume Tourniaire – conductor
Stephen Taylor – director
Laurent Peduzzi – stage design
Nathalie Prats – costumes
soloists TBA
Prague State Opera Orchestra and Chorus


Thursday 29 May 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
Josef Suk, Miroslav Ambroš – violins, Karel Untermüller – viola, Jiří Bárta – violoncello, Jan Simon – piano
Antonín Dvořák: Miniatures, Op. 75a
Antonín Dvořák: Terzetto in C major, Op. 74
Antonín Dvořák: Bagatelles, Op. 47
Piano Quartet in A minor, Op. 1


Friday 30 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
Zdeněk Mácal – conductor
Dagmar Pecková – mezzo-soprano
Rudolf Buchbidner – piano
Arnold Schönberg: Erwartung (Expectation), op. 17
Johannes Brahms: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15


Saturday 31 May 2008, 11:00, HAMU
Tereza Přívratská – violin, Matěj Arendárik – piano
Morning Concert III
Edvard Grieg: Sonata in G major, Op. 13
Pablo de Sarasate: Spanish Dances, Op. 23/5, 6
Benjamin Britten: Suite, Op. 6
Josef Suk/Jaroslav Kocian: Love Song, Op. 7/1
Henryk Wieniawski: Polonaise No. 1 in D major, Op. 4


Saturday 31 May 2008, 18:00, Curch of SS Simon and Jude
“BUTTERFLIES” Children’s Choir from Šumperk
Helena Stojaníková, Tomáš Motýl – chorusmasters
Jana Boušková – harp
Marcela Nováková – flute
Jana Todeková – piano
Petr Eben, Ilja Hurník, Klement Slavický, Eduard Dřízga, Zdeněk Lukáš, Miroslav Raichl, Otmar Mácha


Saturday 31 May 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
BBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Jiří Bělohlávek – conductor
Piotr Anderszewski – piano
reciter TBA
Miloslav Kabeláč: Symphony No. 7, Op. 52
Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54


Sunday 01 June 2008, 18:00, Talent Theatre
CHILDREN’S OPERA PRAGUE
Jiřina Krystlíková Marková – artistic director
Benjamin Britten: The Little Sweep, Op. 45
Hans Krása: Brundibár

Sunday 01 June 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
Jiří Bělohlávek – conductor
Benjamin Britten: Sinfonia da requiem, op. 20
Josef Suk: Asrael, symphony Op. 27


Sunday 01 June 2008, 20:00, Curch of SS Simon and Jude
HUELGAS ENSEMBLE
Music at the Habsburg Courts III
Paul van Nevel – conductor
Jacobus de Kerle (selection of works)
Charles Luython (selection of works)



Monday 02 June 2008, 20:00, Rudolfinum
Rudolf Buchbinder – piano
programme TBA


Tuesday 03 June 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
PRAGUE RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Concert to mark the 85th anniversary of Czechoslovak Radio
Vladimír Válek – conductor
Ivan Kusnjer – voice
Otakar Jeremiáš: The Lord commands thee not to fear
Antonín Dvořák: Biblical Songs, Op. 99
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, Op. 100


Wednesday 04 June 2008, 20:00, Municipal House
BUDAPEST FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Closing Concert
Iván Fischer – conductor
András Schiff – piano
Antonín Dvořák: Legend in B flat minor, Op. 59/10
Antonín Dvořák: Nocturne in B major, Op. 40
Antonín Dvořák: Slavonic Dance in A major, Op. 46/1
Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird, suite (1919)
Antonín Dvořák: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G minor, Op. 33

Salsa Festival Prag 11.4.08 - 13.4.08

The biggest and the best known international salsa event organized in the Czech republic. The 7th Salsa Festival will take place in Prague from 11th to 13th of April 2008, experience the music, passion and dancing. Salsa! The smooth, beautiful music, vibrant Carnaval beat, is a dynamic combination of rhythms from the world's African, Caribbean and Latin regions.
The best international salsa dancers, teachers, DJs and promoters will visit Prague already for the seventh time. Salsa is continuing its decades long growth to embrace all ages and all people, do not miss this unique event which is well known worldwide because of its wonderfull atmosphere.

In 2007 it was participated by more than 1000 visitors from whole the Czech republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, Russia, Austria, Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Greece, Spain, Italy, India and USA.
The 7th Salsa Festival Prague 2008 will again join the best salsa instructors all over the world (all of them are already confirmed): Hacha y Machete, Orville Small & Sabrina Buis, Tamambo, Super Mario, Jazzy & Amy, Pedro Gomez, Neeraj Maskara, Alex & Flo, Los Pambos, Dado & Conny. And many dance groups from all over the world.

More informations and on-line registration:
www.salsafestival.cz

Join us and spend a wonderfull weekend in one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Europe.

Prague Easter markets,
8.3.2008 - 30.3.2008

The Prague Easter markets at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square display fine hand crafted goods, all manner of food and drink, and show off some of the wonderful old customs that make up a traditional Czech Easter.

Prague Easter markets run from 8 March-30 March 2008. They open daily from 9am to 7pm.
Prague Easter markets are at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square and extend to over 100 stalls. They offer a wide selection of hand crafted goods, including wooden toys, crystal glasses, candles, jewellery, metal-ware, intricate embroidery, puppets and dolls in regional costume dresses. The most common feature is the brightly coloured, hand-painted Easter eggs.

Czech ladies, beautifully dressed in traditional costume, will personalise the Easter eggs, painting on your name or a special message.
Easter Markets are not just about shopping though. The markets will be devoted to the Czech Easter traditions and habits. People can taste traditional Czech food, such as a cake called Easter Beranek or Easter stuffing.

The birch tree, which is connected with Easter, will be put in the middle of both Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
Origins of the Easter Markets in Prague

The Prague Easter markets go back long before the communist era and were once deeply tied to religious festivities. Under communism though they suffered a demise, as religious aspects were banned and Easter celebrations were limited to the welcoming of spring. Since the fall of communism, Prague's Easter Markets have experienced a renaissance. Tourists and locals now flock to browse the stalls and enjoy the atmosphere.

Prague's Easter Markets are a major attraction for both locals and tourists in the two weeks running up to easter. This really is a bit of an undiscovered find.

If you can be in Prague for easter you will find church choirs and orchestras of the highest quality playing beautiful music in almost every space available. Easter in the Czech Republic is a wonderful experience..

Exhibition Albrecht of Waldstein and His Era

untill 2.3. 2008

exhibition organized by Czech Senate
Wallenstein Riding Hall
Valdstejnské nßmestí 4, Praha 1, tel. 224 497 179
Open every day except Mondays 10.00 — 18.00

www.valdstejn.org


The project is the greatest exhibition event of last year in the Czech Republic and was started by the initiative of the present President of the Senate followed by an approving resolution of the senatorial Committee for Education, Science, Culture and Human Rights.
The show, brings together more than 700 items, from works of art (including busts, portraits, military scenes) to weapons, clothing and other artifacts from Wallenstein’s day.

Albrecht of Wallenstein (or Waldstein) was one of the most important figures in 17th century Bohemia, a Czech nobleman and military leader who made his strongest mark as an Imperial commander in the Thirty Years War. Beyond being a soldier he also was a skilled financier and builder and an important figure in the Czech and European history. The exhibition presents Albrecht of Waldstein as a historical personality, economist, enterpriser and commander. The visitors will have an opportunity to learn more about this bizarre era when Europe, from Italy to Sweden, was getting - thanks to artists, scholars and merchants — new fundaments for its future cultural and economic development.

Viewers can visit the exhibition at the Waldstein Riding School. Already it is being touted as the cultural event of the past season, complete with a gorgeous publication and guidebook. Audio and other material is available in a number of languages, including of course English and Czech.

Prague Christmas markets 1.12.2007 - 1.1.2008

This year's Christmas Markets in Prague will be rich in charm and surprise

Christmas is about enjoying time with loved ones, and what better way to enjoy the holiday period than to take family or friends away on a Christmas break in Prague? Whether you plan to shop till you drop or simply take in the merry atmosphere, this Christmas break is sure to bring you festive cheer!

Christmas is a special time of year in Prague and the Christmas markets (Vanocni trh) are a key ingredient in the Czech festive magic. The Prague Christmas markets bring visitors and locals together to share the holiday spirit in a true 'winter wonderland' setting. The city comes alive with beautiful decorations, the sounds of traditional music, and the mouth-watering aromas of mulled wine (svarené víno or svarák) and delicious local food! Markets are held throughout the city from Wenceslas Square to Old Town Square and Namesti Republiky. Prague Christmas markets run daily from 9am to 7-8pm throughout the festive period. The main ones are at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, with smaller ones at Namesti Republiky and Havelske Trziste.

The Prague Christmas markets consist of rows of brightly decorated wooden huts, selling Czech handicrafts, hot food (corn on the cob, sausages and local specialties) and warm drinks. Outdoor christmas shopping is much easier with a cup of hot wine (svarene vino) in your hand! Some interesting Christmas stocking fillers can be found in the markets, which stock a variety of Czech glass, wooden toys, scented candles, Christmas tree ornaments, hand-made jewellery and, of course, puppets, always puppets!

But what would Christmas be without carols? Local and International choirs, along with musical ensembles, take to the stage in the Old Town Square, entertaining visitors as they browse the market stalls.
Christmas in Prague is a magical time and December is undoubtedly one of the nicest months of the year in this beautiful city.
Christmas in Prague is simply wonderful.

International Jazz Festival Prague (IJF)
22.11.-30.11.07

IJF belong among oldest jazz festivals in Europe.
XXXI. International Jazz Festival Prague takes place in dates 22.11.07 - 30.11.07. You can looking forward every evening jazz show in Reduta Jazz Club and other concerts in Prague Kongress Centre, Lucerna Music Bar and Rock Café Prague.
Organisers at this year's international jazz festival hope that performers will attract as much attention as in the past.
The festival is introducing in Prague and, through Ceska televize and Cesky rozhlas, also to all Czech Republic, numerous jazz legends.
http://www.jazzfestivalpraha.cz
Program

22nd November, Opening Ceremony of IJF Prague 2007
9 p.m., Reduta Jazz Club

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23rd November, Äl Jawala (GER)
9 p.m., Reduta Jazz Club, tickets: 390 CZK

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24th November, Dee Dee Bridgewater - Red Earth, A Malian Journey (USA/MALI)
8 p.m., Prague Kongress Center, tickets: 390 - 1.190 CZK
24th November, Impuls & Martina Fišerová (CZ)
9 p.m., Reduta Jazz Club, tickets: 330 CZK

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25th November, Pee Wee Ellis (USA)
8 p.m., Lucerna Music Bar, tickets: 390 CZK
25th November, Šavle Meče (CZ)
9 p.m., Reduta Jazz Club, tickets: 330 CZK

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26th November, N.O.H.A.
8 p.m., Rock Café Praha, tickets: 390 CZK
26th. November, Emil Viklický Trio & Gilad Atzmon (CZ/GB)
9 p.m., Reduta Jazz Club, tickets: 330 CZK

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27th November, Rotterdam Ska Jazz Foundation (NL)
8 p.m., Rock Café Praha, tickets: 350 CZK
27th November, Sir Jay and Blue Orchestra (SWE)
9 p.m., Reduta Jazz Club, 390 CZK

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28th November, Apostolis Anthimos Trio (GR/PL), Eva Emingerová (CZ)
9 p.m., Reduta Jazz Club, tickets: 390 CZK

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29th November, Latin Wave (CZ), Jazz Farma (CZ)
9 p.m., Reduta Jazz Club, tickets: 330 CZK

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30th November, Cabernet Jazz Sauvignon (CZ)
9 p.m., Reduta Jazz Club, tickets: 330 CZK

Musical "Mamma Mia", 10.10.-18.10.2007

World-famous musical Mamma Mia!, musical with a book by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA.
Will be presented on 10–18 October 2007 for the first time at SAZKA ARENA, with ten performances. On weekdays, the performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for CZK 1,100, CZK 1,250 and CZK 1,500 are available from 1 August 2007 at all SAZKA, a.s., terminals and, from 2 August 2007, they can also be booked on www.sazkaticket.cz.

The author of the musical, which is directed by Phillida Lloyd and choreographed by Antony van Laast, is Catherine Johnson. Music and lyrics were written by Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus. The musical will feature 22 Abba hits such as Chiquitita, Dancing Queen; I Have A Dream; Knowing Me, Knowing You; The Winner Takes It All; Super Trouper; Take A Chance On Me; or Voulez-Vous.

Mamma Mia! holds the world record for the number of performances rehearsed by various troupes. It has been translated from English into eight languages, namely Japanese, Korean, Flemish, Dutch, German, Spanish, Swedish and Russian. More than 30 million viewers have seen the musical since its 1999 debut. Ten productions currently play the show, some of which being in the United States, Russia, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands or the United Kingdom.

A film version of Mamma Mia! is currently being filmed in Pinewood studios, England. Filming began in mid June 2007 and the finished film is due to be released in November of 2008 in the U.K. It stars Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep in the lead roles of Sam and Donna, respectively.
For more information please visit www.sazkaarena.cz, www.sazkaticket.cz, www.livenation.cz or www.mamma-mia.com.

Prague Autumn International Music Festival

12. 9. – 1. 10. 2007

The festival's aim is to bring excellent interpreters and orchestras from around the world into Prague's concert halls, link their art with the skills of domestic soloists and orchestras and put the most famous works of world, mostly romantic, music into their instruments.
This prestigious classical event has become a truly international event, while never losing sight of Czech and Slovak music. Since its beginnings in the early 90s, the festival has fostered relationships with the BBC and Czech radio orchestras, as well as orchestras and choirs from Russia and Germany.

As the festival has grown it has cast its net further to feature musicians performing compositions from outside of the classical canon. For example, the programme has brought the Xalapa Guitar Orchestra of Mexico to Prague, as well as Chinese operas and balalaika music from Moscow.

That said, music from the Czech and Slovak regions remains the central theme, with orchestras from around the globe gathering to perform compositions from some of the region's most celebrated composers. This year, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales will be performing Dvorák's Scherzo Capriccioso on September 21st.

All of the concerts take place at the Rudolfinum Concert Hall, located in Prague's Old Town. This grand setting is steeped in history, having been used as the state parliament building between wars.

Programme

12. 9. Wednesday 2007
NOVÁK
In the Tatras
FLOSMAN
The Stone of Michelangelo
SUK
Ripening
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Viola: Jitka Hosprová
Conductor: Bertrand de Billy


13. 9. Thursday 2007
SCHUBERT
Fierabras, overture
SCHUBERT/ BRAHMS
An Schwager Kronos
Geheimes
SCHUBERT/ BRITTEN
Die Forelle
SCHUBERT/ WEBERN
Deutsche Tänze
Tränenregen
Wegweiser
Ihr Bild
STRAUSS
From Italy
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Baritone: Wolfgang Holzmair
Conductor: Bertrand de Billy


14. 9. Friday 2007
STRAVINSKY
Jeu de cartes
I.HURNÍK
Concerto for oboe, string orchestra and piano
DEBUSSY
La damoiselle élué
RAVEL
Daphnis et Chloe, selection
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Prague Singers
Soprano: Maria Haan
Oboe: Jana Brožková
Conductor: Michel Swierczewski


15. 9. Saturday 2007
BEETHOVEN
Piano concerto No. 5 "Emperor"
STRAUSS
An Alpine Symphony
Staatskapelle Dresden
Piano: Helen Grimaud
Conductor: Fabio Luisi



16. 9. Sunday 2007
17. 9. Monday Karlovy Vary
THE ART OF BELCANTO
ROSSINI
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Guillaume Tell
MEYERBEER
Les Huguenots
DONIZETTI
Lucia di Lammermoor
Norma
Linda di Chamounix
BELLINI
La sonnambula
PONCHIELLI
La Gioconda
Prague Chamber Orchestra
Soprano: Claire Rutter
Tenor: Juan José Lopera
Conductor: Jean Yves Ossonce


17. 9. Monday 2007
FAMOUS CHORAL SCENES
FROM RUSSIAN OPERAS
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
The Legend of Invisible City of Kitezh
The Tsar´s Bride
TCHAIKOVSKY
The Slippers
MUSSORGSKY
Boris Godunov
Sorochinsky Fair
BORODIN
Prince Igor
Russian State Symphony Orchestra
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Mezzosoprano: Ludmila Kuznecova
Tenor: Oleg Dolgov
Bas: Alexander Kiselev
Conductor: Valerij Poljanskij


18. 9. Tuesday 2007
PROKOFIEV
The Love for Three Oranges, suite
Piano concerto No. 3
Romeo and Juliet, suite
Russian State Symphony Orchestra
Piano: Alexander Gindin
Conductor: Valerij Poljanskij


19. 9. Wednesday 2007
TISCHENKO
Jaroslavna, overture
SIBELIUS
Violin concerto
MAHLER
Symphony No. 7
Rotterdam Philharmonic
Violin: Leonidas Kavakos
Conductor: Valerij Gergijev


20. 9. Thursday 2007
MUSSORGSKY
Khovanchina Prelude
WAGNER
Prelude & Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Sheherazade
Rotterdam Philharmonic
Conductor: Valerij Gergijev


21. 9. Friday 2007
DVORÁK
Scherzo capriccioso
BRITTEN
Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge
BERLIOZ
Symphonie fantastique
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Conductor: Thierry Fischer


22. 9. Saturday 2007
MASSENET
Scenes dramatiques
ELGAR
Sea pictures, song cycle
GERSHWIN
Piano Concerto
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Piano: Wayne Marshall
Soprano: Christine Rice
Conductor: Thierry Fischer


23. 9. Sunday 2007
GLINKA
Ivan Susanin, overture
BALAKIREV
Piano Concerto No. 2
TCHAIKOVSKY
Suite No. 3
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Piano: Ivan Rudin
Conductor: Alexander Lazarev


24. 9. Monday 16:30 a 19:30
FAMOUS FILM MUSIC FROM HOLLYWOOD
E.T. The Extra - Terrestrial
Mutiny on the Bounty
Dances with Wolves
Schindler's List
Star Wars
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: John Wilson


25. 9. Tuesday 2007
BERLIOZ
Benvenuto Celini - overture
RAVEL
Piano Concerto for the left hand
DEBUSSY
La Mer
RAVEL
Rapsodie Espangnole
Orchestre National d'Île de France
Piano: Leon Fleischer
Conductor: Yoel Levi


26. 9. Wednesday 2007
MEXICAN MUSIC IN SYMPHONIC ARRANGEMENTS
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Mariachi Vargas
Conductor: Enrique Barrios


27. 9. Thursday 2007
FIBICH
Toman and the Wood Nymph
BRITTEN
Violin Concerto in d minor
BRAHMS
Symphony No. 1
Bamberger Symphoniker
Violin: Frank Peter Zimmermann
Conductor: Jonathan Nott


28. 9. Friday 2007
BEETHOVEN
Consecration of the House, overture
VAUGHAM WILLIAMS
Oboe concerto a minor
BRUCKNER
Symphony No. 4 - Romantic
Bamberger Symphoniker
Oboe: Albrecht Mayer
Conductor: Jonathan Nott


29. 9. Saturday 2007
STRAUSS
Till Eulenspiegel
Selected Songs
SIBELIUS
Symphony No. 5
WDR Sinfonie-orchester Köln
Soprano: Genia Kühmeier
Conductor: Semjon Bychkov


30. 9. Sunday 2007
ELGAR
Cockaigne, overture
WALTON
Violin Concerto
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Violin: James Ehnes
Conductor: Ilan Volkov


1. 10. Monday 2007
MARTINU
The Butterfly that Stamped, suite
DVORÁK
Cello concerto h moll
BARTÓK
Concerto for orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Cello: Christian Poltéra
Conductor: Ilan Volkov

Summer Festivities of early music

8th international music festival
The only festival of early music in Prague
Prague, 14th July – 8th August 2007

“Journeying through the Centuries”
The international music festival ‘Summer Festivities of Early Music’, currently in its eighth year, has established itself as one of the principal events of Prague’s summer cultural life. Its privileged position is due first and foremost to the quality and meticulousness of its dramaturgy based on a fresh approach to the musical context and on eminent performers from both home and abroad. This year’s programme comprises three thematic series. Although the main title of the festival: ‘Journeying through the Centuries’ has on this occasion been chosen as a general theme, the first series immediately reveals the geographical predilection towards French music and theatre. „Le Goût Français“ (The French Style) dominates the repertoire of all four productions. The virtuoso cellist Bruno Cocset and his ensemble Les Basses Réunies perform compositions primarily by French contemporaries Jean Barrière and Jean-Philippe Rameau and the legendary French countertenor Gérard Lesne and the harpsichordist Blandine Rannou juxtapose Italian vocal and French keyboard works. A unique experience is promised by the musical-theatrical creation of a group of French actors, specialists in baroque gesture and recitation, in which La Fontaine’s Fables and Molière’s comedy ‘Scapin’s Sculduggery’ are presented in the spirit of the period by candlelight.

The other two series focus on music and the synthesis of music and dance. The second series presents the Italian virtuoso baroque violinist Riccardo Minasi, the Austrian ensemble Echo du Danube which guides the audience through the aristocratic courts of the Holy Roman Empire in the 17th century, an exotic (for the central European) concert of Spanish sacred and secular songs from the 17th and 18th centuries by two Spaniards: the mezzo-soprano Marta Infante and the baroque harpist Manuel Vilas, and finally the German ensemble Les Cornets Noirs wandering across baroque Italy in the footsteps of the forgotten wind instrument the cornet.

The series ’Music and Dance‘ presents only two, but nevertheless highly original projects. The Polish dance ensemble performs a renaissance spectacle inspired by both the historical dance theatre piece for which Leonardo da Vinci designed the costumes and décor and his famous painting ‘Lady with Ermine’. The intimate performance in the Vrtbov Garden entitled ‘Nobility and Passion’ is presented by the Czech ensemble Collegium Marianum and traces the evolutionary and geographical path of the dance and musical genre La Folia from its lively almost feverish folk origins in Portugal, through Italy where it gained wide popular appeal, to its elegant and sensual form at the French court.

Summer Festivities of Early Music is the only festival in Prague of the music of various historical styles authentically performed on period instruments. The bringing together of the beautiful architecture and the music of the corresponding period performed by leading artists from the whole world is one of the priorities of the festival. In addition to traditional venues such as the Břevnov Monastery or Troja Chateau, there is the Congress Hall of the Czech National Bank and for theatre performances the ABC Theatre. New this year is an out of town venue: the Dobříš Chateau.
Source : http://www.collegiummarianum.cz/title_en.htm


PROGRAMME

French Music and Theatre
“Le Goût Français”


Saturday 14. 7. 2007, 7.30 pm
Congress Hall of the Czech National Bank, Senovážné náměstí 30, Praha 1

The Tempest
Opening gala concert
Performed by:
Les Basses Réunies (France)
Bruno Cocset — artistic director (France)
Tickets: 290 CZK
The opening concert of the festival offers, as is fitting on such occasions, a spectacular programme comprising works by renowned composers, the quality of which is well proven (Jean-Philippe Rameau, Antonio Vivaldi), but also those by authors whose output is unknown to the general public. The French musicians present the instrumental compositions of two representatives of the late French baroque: Jean Barriere and Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrac Royer in an unusual assemblage of instruments: two solo violoncellos to the accompaniment of harpsichord and baroque guitar.


Tuesday 17. 7. 2007, 7.30 pm.
Troja Chateau, U Trojského zámku 1, Praha 7
Beata sirena
Recital by the legendary countertenor
Performed by:
Gérard Lesne — countertenor (France)
Blandine Rannou — harpsichord (France)
Tickets: 290 CZK
A comparison of Italian and French musical composition from the 17th and 18th centuries and their stylistic differences always proves rewarding. The legendary French countertenor Gérard Lesne has chosen a truly piquant programme, comprising the vocal works of French composers and of Italian composers working in Paris during the reign of Louis XIV and XV, who promoted the unpopular Italian style to the French, as did those who remained on the Apennine peninsula. The ‘Pieces de clavecin’ of François Couperin provide a true contrast.


Friday 20. 7. 2007, 7.30 pm.
Prague City Theatres – ABC Theatre, Vodičkova 28, Praha 1
Les Fables de La Fontaine
An original combination of the poetry of La Fontaine and the music of Couperin
Performed by:
Jean-Denis Monory — direction, recitation & baroque gesture (France)
Armelle Roux — harpsichord (France)
Tickets: 350, 250, 150 CZK
“In the 17th century La Fontaine was the greatest musician among poets and Couperin the greatest poet among musicians” (Pierre Citron)
The poetic delivery, baroque gesture, period costumes and candlelight intensify the atmosphere of the court of Louis XIV in a brilliant fusion of the fables of La Fontaine and the music of Couperin. Their lives reveal surprising coincidences and their art similarities that cannot be overlooked. At a time when genres were kept strictly apart, their music and poetry mingle.
The Fables were La Fontaine’s life work. The author left behind a collection which is the result of increasing maturity, the fruits of reflection and observation, but also a font of folk wisdom: his verse became his legacy and often even proverbs! François Couperin, nicknamed ‘the great’, raised the art of harpsichord playing to its very zenith. His music contains real portraits and criticism of the period, as is suggested by the headings from his collection ‘Les Folies Françaises’: Virginity, Old Suitors and Aged Cash, Shame …


Wednesday 8. 8. 2007, 7.30 pm.
Prague City Theatres – ABC Theatre, Vodičkova 28, Praha 1
Les Fourberies de Scapin
A baroque musical-theatrical creation inspired by Moliere´s comedy
Performed by: Actors:
Olivier Martin-Salvan (France)
Bastien Ossart (France)
Julien Cigana (France)
Collegium Marianum:
Alena Hönigová — harpsichord
Stanislav Palúch — baroque violin
Jana Semerádová — flauto traverso, dramaturgy, artistic director
Tickets: 350, 250, 150 CZK
The concept of this unusual performance relies on the integration of the music of French baroque masters and Moliere’s comedy, which forms the basis of improvisation for both actors and musicians alike. The whole performance is in the spirit of baroque theatre with all of its essential attributes: candlelight, baroque gesture and make-up. The 17th century pronunciation of French calls for the use of diverse voice pitches from a youth to an old man, the enraged Gascon to the roguish Scapin.
The stage is shared by three actors and three musicians who inspire one another to comic scenes and musical improvisation within the framework of the tale of Scapin‘s adventures. The actors appear alternately as miserly old men, young lovers, crafty servants and naive maidens who enter into the game with vivacity and courage. In this baroque world, at times comical, at times poetical, a whole series of scenes emerges. The beauty of gesture and expression is enhanced by the flickering candlelight.


Music and Dance


Monday 23. 7. 2007, 7.30 pm.
Prague City Theatres – ABC Theatre, Vodičkova 28, Praha 1
Lady with an Ermine
Renaissance spectacle inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci´s famous painting
Performed by:
Cracovia Danza — dance ensemble (Poland)
Romana Agnel — artistic director, choreography
Ars Cantus — music ensemble (Poland)
Tomasz Dobrzański — artistic director
Paweł Winsczyk — direction
Martine Pichon, Monika Polak-Luścińska — costumes
Tickets: 400, 300, 200 CZK
"When luck turns up, sieze it firmly by the outside, I tell you, and don’t look for what follows." (Leonardo da Vinci)
The performance is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s famous portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of the Milanese Duke Ludovico Moro. This enactment of the well known story of Cecilia and Ludovico takes the audience on a historical excursion to the court of the influential Sforza family. This richest of leaders, respected conqueror, patron of the arts and builder, who summoned master Leonardo to his service, organised magnificent performances and incomparable balls for his beloved Cecilia.
The performance is an attempt to reconstruct fragments of the ballet performance ‘Il Paradiso’, whose fame spread throughout Europe at the time, and for which Leonardo da Vinci designed the costumes and décor. Reconstruction of the authentic choreography is the work of Barbara Sparti, who without a doubt is one of the leading personalities and specialists on period dance. The costumes, designed by French designer Martin Pichon and Monika Polak-Lúscínska, are inspired by period iconography.


Sunday 5. 8. 2007, 7.30 pm.
Monday 6. 8. 2007, 7.30 pm.
Vrtba Garden, Karmelitská 25, Praha 1
Nobility and Passion
A fascinating history of the baroque dance La Folia
Performed by:
Collegium Marianum — music and dance ensemble
Jana Semerádová — artistic director
Andrea Eva Miltnerová — choreography
Eva Kovar — costumes designer
Tickets: 300 CZK
The performance leads the audience through the world of renaissance and baroque ‘folia’, across Spain and France, to the virtuoso violin variations of Corelli and Vivaldi. “Folia is an extremely noisy Portuguese dance, performed in procession to the accompaniment of rattles, tambourines and other instruments. The noise is so loud and the music so fast, that everyone seems deprived of their senses: and so the dance is called ‘folia’, from the Tuscan word ’folle’ which means ‘mad, crazy’.” From the uproarious street merrymaking of 15th century Portugal to the refined entertainment at the 17th century European courts, ‘folia’ brought an element of the spontaneity of popular music to the world of serious music. The simple attractive melody, which basically derives from a repeated harmonic scheme in the bass, has provided inspiration for many composers from the baroque period to the present day, from the arias of Bach’s ‘pastoral’ cantata to the popular film hit of Vangeli.
The dancers perform both lively and dignified Spanish ‘folia‘, the elegantly sensual authentic choreography ‘Folie d‘Espagne‘ and the graceful Italian ‘La Follia’. The Spanish rhythms together with the musical spontaneity of the performers ensures everyone‘s foot starts tapping…
In the case of inclement weather the performances will take place at 9 pm in the Baroque Library Hall, Melantrichova 19, Praha 1.
The performance is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.


Music

Sunday 15. 7. 2007, 7.30 pm.
Břevnov Monastery, Terezian Hall, Markétská 1, Praha 6
Violino virtuoso
Recital by an Italian virtuoso
Performed by:
Riccardo Minasi — violin (Italy)
Giulia Nuti — harpsichord, pianoforte (Italy)
Tickets: 290 CZK
This impressive programme for solo violin to the accompaniment of keyboard instrument is drawn from a cross-section of works from the 18th century. Alongside the two greatest masters of European baroque and classicism: J. S. Bach and W. A. Mozart, who incidentally dominated violin playing with nothing less than bravura, are two sonatas chosen from the pen of two violin specialists and famous virtuosos; the Italian Francesco Maria Veracini and the Frenchman Jean-Marie Leclaire. The colourfulness of the programme is further guaranteed by the alternation of accompanying instruments: the harpsichord and the classicist hammerklavier, the choice of which is governed by the period and place where the work originated.


Thursday 19. 7. 2007, 7.30 pm.
Congress Hall of the Czech National Bank, Senovážné náměstí 30, Praha 1
The Capture of Parnassus
Music at the court of the Holy Roman Empire in the 17th century
Performed by:
Echo du Danube — music ensemble (Austria)
Christian Zincke — artistic director
Rainer Johannsen — dulcianTickets: 290 CZK
This Austrian ensemble has chosen a dramaturgically uniform yet vivid programme. Its homogenity lies in its single source: a collection published by Jacob Ludwig (1623-1698) in 1662 whilst he was court musician in Gota. The so-called ‘Ludwig Book of Scores’ consists of approximately one hundred instrumental compositions by Ludwig’s contemporaries from the area which forms present day Germany and Austria, compiled as a birthday present for Ludwig’s former employer in Wolfenbüttel. This rich potpourri of largely sonatas and chaconnes, but also dances originates from the works of such masters as Samuel Capricornus, Antonio Bertali, Johann Jacob Froberger, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer and others.


Sunday 22. 7. 2007, 5 pm.
Dobříš Chateau, Dobříš 1
Amor Celeste & Amor Terrenal
Spanish spiritual and secular songs from the 17th and 18th centuries
Performed by:
Marta Infante — mezzosoprano (Spain)
Manuel Vilas — baroque harp (Spain)
Tickets: 200 CZK
This concert comprises sacred and secular songs composed in Spain at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century. They are diminutive works written for one voice and one accompanying instrument: the historical Spanish harp ‘Arpa de dos órdenes’. Sacred songs ‘Tonos Divinos’ were composed for church use. Secular songs ‘Tonos Humanos’ sing of human love, of nature and of music. The duo presents compositions by significant Spanish masters such as Durón and Navas, as well as songs by anonymous composers. All works are in Spanish and come from the area of Eastern Spain, primarily Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands.


Thursday 26. 7. 2007, 7.30 pm.
St. Gallus Church, Havelská ul., Praha 1
Viaggio musicale
A musical journey in the footsteps of the cornetto
Performed by:
Les Cornets Noirs (Germany)Tickets: 290 CZK
The cornet, Italian cornetto, is one of those few instruments associated solely with the 17th century. It belongs to the group of mouthpiece instruments, eventhough wood or ivory was used in its manufacture. It was slightly curved and notes were produced through the covering of holes as on a recorder. Indeed good cornetists were able to coax from their instrument a quality of tone akin to the human voice and not without reason did cornets hold a leading position within an ensemble. Italian cornetists in particular were greatly favoured by composers and as a consequence numerous collections of music for solo cornet and for ensembles emerged in 17th century Italy. It is from these compilations that the programme of this spectacular concert is drawn.


The organiser reserves the right to change the programme.

Charles Bridge celebrates 650 years from the placing of foundation stone.

6.7.-9.7.2007
Famous Charles Bridge celebrates this year 650 years from the placing of foundation stone by Charles IV. The emperor chose the date 9th July 1357 5:31 because it was considered by astronomists as a lucky number.

Prague councilmen plan great celebrations with period constumes, street theaters, concerts, reconstructions of famous battles, music performance, etc. Prague councilman Richter wants to invite many celebrities and mayors of several cities, such as New York.

The celebrations will start three weeks before the anniversary, at the end of June. The event will culminate on Sunday 8th July. The celebration will take place not only on Charles Bridge, but also in the Knights of the Cross Square, Kampa Island, or just on the water of the Vltava river. 2.-9. July 2007 – Gothic town in Kampa Island
You will see how the people lived in a medieval town during the Empire of Charles IV.
You can see medieval trade shows, medieval market with commodities of the period, historical glass and weapons.

It is highly probable that you will socialize with knights and jugglers in the streets. If you are lucky, you will meet His Majesty Charles IV himself with all his committee in the street.

Do not forget to taste original mead (for ladies the best is with cherry flavor) and hot cookies called “trdelník” with nuts and cinnamon.

7.-8. July 2007
Open air concerts on pontoons under the Charles Bridge – free of charge for public audience.

Julian Opie: Walking on the Vltava

Exhibition of visual art-works by Julian Opie
until 24.6.2007
Museum Kampa (Sova's Mills, Kampa Island in Prague)

Julian Opie (born 1958) is a leading contemporary English artist, who uses computerised imagery. Julian Opie opens his exhibiton Walking on the Vltava in the Prague's Museum Kampa. This exhibition will feature several digital art works by this visual artist.
Opie's exhibition presents an outdoor project called Suzanne Walkng and Bruce Walking - 2 large LED displays with animated walking figures. These LED panels are placed at the wear in the middle (between the Charles Bridge and the Střelecký Island) of the Vltava River.

They are walking up the river and they measure about 2 meters. Nighttime viewing is best, and the darker the better. The models for this figures were real people. Their movements were scanned into a computer and redrew.

The exhibition Walking on the Vltava in Kampa museum will be open every day from 10:00 to 18:00 until 24th June 2007. There is a free entrance for everybody every Monday.
Museum Kampa
www.museumkampa.cz