Archive: Culture | Music Music
“Hooligans and swindlers”: the communist regime and the Plastic People
In the 1970s the communist authorities tolerated popular music as long as
it was insipid, colourless and unoriginal – everything that the Czech
psychedelic rock band The Plastic People of the Universe most definitely
was not. Their music was inspired by Frank Zappa and The Velvet
Underground, their lyrics anarchic, their behaviour unconventional and
their hair long. In 1976 four members of the band were sentenced to prison
terms for what was described as “organised disturbance of the peace”,
and in December of the same year Czechoslovak Radio broadcast a documentary
that painted the band in the darkest possible colours and included extracts
from their music, recorded secretly at their concerts. More
Pavel 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. More
Legendary Pražský výběr returns
The legendary band Pražský výběr – one of the most influential bands
from the Czech New Wave – are back. Recently the group, led by frontman
Michael Kocáb announced they would put aside past differences and reunite
for a series of concerts in the autumn. More
Lubomír Dorůžka: Legendary music journalist and translator of Western literature
Lubomír Dorůžka first began writing about music seven decades ago when,
during WWII, he produced a clandestine magazine on his greatest passion,
jazz. The quintessential American art form was frowned upon by the
Communists after their 1948 takeover of Czechoslovakia. However, in the
relatively liberal 1960s Mr. Dorůžka was able to edit music magazines and
play a very active role in international jazz organisations. As well as
being a music journalist, he is also a renowned translator of American and
British writers – and as a young man did many translations with his
lifelong friend, the novelist Josef Škvorecký. More
Ondřej Havelka and his Melody Makers
This edition of our Sunday Music Show is devoted to the syncopated sounds
of Ondřej Havelka and his Melody Makers, an authentic big band making sure
the music of the 1920s and 30s is alive and well today. And they don’t
just play the music, but live the age. More
Prague museum explores Journeys of Antonín Dvořák
Prague’s Antonín Dvořák Museum recently reopened after renovation with
a new programme dedicated to the life and work of the famous composer.
Entitled The journeys of Antonín Dvořák, it offers a new look at the
composer’s stays abroad. It also features an exhibition on Dvořák’s
Czech-American friend and collaborator, Josef Jan Kovařík, who worked
with Dvořák during his stay in New York. More
Kitsch wins through: pop music in Czechoslovakia after 1968
The 1960s had seen a thriving musical scene in Czechoslovakia, which had
been broadly tolerated by the regime, especially during the 1968 Prague
Spring. With the political clampdown of the early 70s, rock and pop music
were also to suffer. But this was a gradual process, and, initially at
least, the communist authorities were careful not to go too far to alienate
young people. More
Soprano Melanie Gall on opera, performance and the American Spring Festival
In this week’s Arts my guest is Canadian opera singer Melanie Gall – a
soprano who has performed around the world including in Israel, Italy,
France and the Czech Republic. This week she dropped by Radio Prague’s
studio to discuss upcoming performances at this year’s American Spring
Festival. She’s is a charming guest with a great sense of humour and
Melanie talks not only about what she’ll be performing while in Prague
but also about opera in general. More
Young musicians light up Prague’s subway
It was another cold, grey morning for the thousands of commuters who passed
through the city’s crowded metro stations making their way to work on
Wednesday morning. But on this particular day the mood in Prague’s busy
subway was different. An all-day musical happening put a smile on
people’s faces and many stopped to listen, even if it meant missing their
regular train connection. More
Chanson singer Jana Rychterová
This edition of Radio Prague’s Sunday Music show is devoted to Czech
chanson singer Jana Rychterová – a singer who captivates audiences with
her unassuming stage presence, her love of improvisation and her funny,
smart lyrics. Jana sings about feelings that strike a chord with her
audience, be it waiting at a tram stop or getting dumped. As she says she
likes to laugh and cry – both in real life and her chansons. More
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