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Current AffairsWorking at NY’s Met “special”, says Czech conductor of Rusalka Jiří Bělohlávek
Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka, the story of a water nymph who falls in love
with a human prince, has just been performed for the last time this season
at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The Met’s production starred the
soprano Renee Fleming and was directed by the renowned Czech conductor
Jiří Bělohlávek, who spoke to Radio Prague on the eve of the final
performance.
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ArtsPavel Šporcl - Not your everyday violin virtuoso
In the Czech Republic and increasingly even abroad, violinist Pavel Šporcl
enjoys the kind of name recognition that aspiring rock stars dream of. A
natural talent, he became the enfant terrible of the classical music world
when first he arrived on the scene, forgoing a tuxedo for a bandana and
taking an interactive approach to his concerts. Having toured the world
over and recorded roughly a dozen albums, 36-year-old Pavel Šporcl is not
only a dominant but a defining force in classical music. I met Pavel as he
was preparing for a concert, and asked him to describe what it is that has
made him and his career so distinct.
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SpecialSome highlights of our Czechs in New York series
Earlier this year I flew to New York to record a series of special reports
about Czechs in the city, visiting several important Czech institutions
and
speaking to dozens of interesting individuals. This special programme
revisits some of those places and people. More
From the ArchivesPaul Robeson in Prague: paying homage to Dvořák and socialism
In last week’s From the Archives we featured Martin Luther King,
interviewed by Czechoslovak Radio in 1963. But Dr King was not the first
civil rights campaigner to address Czech and Slovak radio listeners. Four
years earlier, in June 1959, Paul Robeson came to Prague, to take part in
an international left-wing cultural congress. Robeson was a man of many
talents – singer, actor, athlete, writer and civil rights activist. He
never concealed his sympathies with the communist regimes of the Eastern
Bloc, and his political views – combined with the colour of his skin –
earned him virtual pariah status in many sections of the US political
establishment. This culminated in 1950 when he was refused a passport. More
ArtsDvořák American Heritage Association keeping great composer’s legacy alive in NYC
The great Czech composer Antonín Dvořák lived in New York for three
years in the 1890s, after being invited to teach at America’s national
conservatory. Dvořák’s stay in the city made a tangible impact on his
work, and it was there that he was to write the wonderful New World
Symphony. Today his legacy in New York is kept alive by the Dvořák
American Heritage Association. More
MailboxMailbox
This week in Mailbox: a new frequency; Radio Prague’s new series From the
Archives; a Czech verse on an old pillow; what goes on in Radio Prague’s
studios when the clocks change; Antonin Dvorak. Listeners quoted: Brian
Kendall, Mary Culik, Colin Law, Jim Jennings.
More
ArtsExhibition follows Antonin Dvorak's footsteps through Prague
Admirers of the music of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak remembered the great
master this week, on May 1st, which marked 103 years since his death here
in Prague. A new exhibition has just opened at the Antonin Dvorak Museum
in Prague looking at the composer's relation to the Czech capital where he
lived for almost 47 years.
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Letter from PragueThe thwarted lover who took his revenge on Dvorak
For many years, I've been observing a rather unusual phenomenon taking
place in Prague. Very likely, there is no other city whose counsellors and
citizens hold such different views regarding the erection of monuments
dedicated to the nation's favourite sons and daughters.
More
MailboxMailbox
This week in Mailbox: Festival Mitte Europa; we get back to the use of the
US dollar in Radio Prague's reports; Czech music featured at London Proms.
Listeners quoted: Mukesh Kumar, Don Brazier, Jerry Fridrich, Michael Pober,
Brian Kendall.
More
Czech MusicEncore: From Dvorak's Irish inspiration to 17th century "BohemianVespers"
In this programme we look at a new set of CDs of Dvorak's choral work, we
find out a bit more about the Czech-born composer whose work was played at
Mozart's memorial service in Prague and we enjoy a new CD of Bohemian
church music.
More
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