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Czech BooksFrom Karel Čapek to Graham Greene: a Scottish poet’s memories of Prague
In a recent edition of Czech Books we looked at the Prague-inspired poetry
of the Scottish poet, Edwin Muir. But it was not just in his poetry that
Muir evoked the atmosphere of the Czech capital. David Vaughan finds out
more in this week’s Czech Books. More
SpecialMusic of the First Republic
The independence of Czechoslovakia, which we celebrate each October 28, was
the result of a movement of many decades, and when at least it came, in
1918, after four hard years of war, the joy must have been very palpable.
There are so few alive today who can remember that period, but it is
certainly not lost to us, and one of the ways we can relive it is through
the music of the day.
More
Czech BooksRabindranath Tagore: an Indian poet who inspired a Czech generation
This year is the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Bengali poet,
Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1913. Tagore has a special significance for Czechs, as we
find out in this week’s Czech Books. More
Czech HistoryLeoš Janáček, the composer for a new republic
The first two names always given at the top of the pantheon of Czech
classical music are Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana; the third is
invariably Leoš Janáček. Probably the most innovative of the three,
Janáček likely lags behind the famous duo only because even today, 80
years after his death, musicians, musicologists and music lovers are still
reassessing those innovations, which took classical music into uncharted
territory. More
Czech BooksFrom Karel Čapek to Graham Greene: a Scottish poet’s memories of Prague
In a recent edition of Czech Books we looked at the Prague-inspired poetry
of the Scottish poet, Edwin Muir. But it was not just in his poetry that
Muir evoked the atmosphere of the Czech capital. David Vaughan finds out
more in this week’s Czech Books. More
From the ArchivesKarel Čapek's enduring message
Internationally the Czech writer Karel Čapek is best known as the inventor
of the term “robot” in his 1920 play R.U.R. With his novels, stories
and plays combining humour, satire and a strong humanist vision, Karel
Čapek was hugely popular in pre-war Czechoslovakia. But this was a time
when Hitler’s Germany was casting a dark shadow over Central Europe and
it is hardly surprising that one of the few recordings of Čapek in our
archives - speaking on Christmas Eve 1937 - does not bear a cheerful
message. More
Current AffairsThe Makropulos Case, directed by Robert Wilson, premieres at Estates Theatre
A highly-touted production of Karel Čapek’s play The Makropulos Case,
directed by acclaimed American designer and director Robert Wilson,
premiered at Prague’s Estates Theatre on Thursday. Mr Wilson is known for
a highly unique approach to the stage and The Makropulos Case (a comedy
about an enigmatic singer sought by all men) includes many signature
elements. More
Czech BooksCzech literary treasures in London
Not many of the thousands of passengers arriving every day at London’s
busy St Pancras Station are aware that they are passing just a few dozen
metres away from one of the largest and most diverse collections of Czech
books outside the Czech Republic. Tucked in beside the station is the huge,
but surprisingly inconspicuous complex of the British Library. In this
week’s Czech Books, David Vaughan shows us some of the highlights of the
library’s rich Czech collection.
More
Current AffairsChampion of Czech classical music Sir Charles Mackerras dies aged 84
The world lost one of its leading conductors and a great patron of Czech
classical music on Wednesday with the passing of Sir Charles Mackerras, who
has died of cancer at the age of 84. In a long career of many highlights,
Sir Charles became a notable specialist on the Czech composer Leoš
Janáček and played a major role in championing the work of other Czech
classical masters, like Bohuslav Martinů and Antonín Dvořák. Christian
Falvey looks back at his life.
More
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