Topic Archive Culture
Stanley Povoda – the Czech Republic’s number one robot-maker
Stanley ‘Robotman’ Povoda is the father of Czech robotics. After over
half a century of bringing people’s old colanders, chandeliers and vacuum
cleaners to life, Stanley has just become the subject of his first own
retrospective in Prague’s Trafačka Gallery. Stanley (real name Marián)
Povoda has been back in the Czech Republic for five years now, after
spending most of his life in exile in North America. On a recent tour of
his new show, Stanley told me where his passion for robots began: More
Creator of world-famous Krtek (Little Mole) dies at 90
The Czech illustrator and animator Zdeněk Miler has died at the age of 90.
The artist was best known for the creation of Krtek (or Little Mole), a
cartoon character loved by generations of Czech children that first
appeared in the 1950s. Earlier in 2011, a plush toy of the animated
character even went to space on one of the last space shuttle flights. More
Ema Destinnová - the divine Ema
Ema Destinnová - or Emmy Destinn, as she became known abroad - was one of
the greatest dramatic sopranos of the twentieth century and one of the
most sought-after singers before WWI, thanks to her voice of exceptional
richness, power, and control. She sang with the legendary Enrico Caruso
and many other stars in the most prestigious opera houses in Europe and
the United States, such as Bayreuth, Berlin's Hofoper, London's Covent
Garden and New York's Metropolitan. More
Ride of the Kings added to UNESCO heritage list
The Czech Republic’s Ride of the Kings – a tradition dating back
centuries still practiced in south-eastern Moravia – was added at the
weekend to UNESCO’s list recognising intangible cultural heritage. The
ride – practiced in just four villages in the Slovácko region – refers
to the flight of Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus from Czech King George of
Podébrady in the 15th century. Organisers had strived for years to see the
tradition recognised and – following UNESCO’s decision – had every
reason to celebrate. More
Famous Czech jazz flutist Jiří Stivín
This week’s Sunday Music Show is devoted to one of the country’s most
prominent jazz artists –flutist Jiří Stivín. The 68-year-old musician,
who is reputed to be able to play on a blade of grass, says the feel for
jazz is something you are born with and some of the best renditions come
from children who are as yet unspoiled by the constraints of a music
education. More
Screen Czech
In this edition of Screen Czech I’ll be speaking to one of the most
influential people in the Czech film industry – Ludmila Claussova,
chairwoman of the Czech Film Commission – a one-stop shop for all
producers looking to shoot here in the Czech people. She’ll be telling us
about what the commission has to offer and gives some forthright opinions
on the country’s much maligned film incentive scheme. More
Brass bands, beer and a famous boulevard: Czech links with Mexico
In this programme we go south of the border, to explore some intriguing
Czech literary and other cultural links with Mexico, stretching right back
to the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Bernie Higgins begins by
recounting an extraordinary episode from the mid 19th century. More
DVD series resurrects 1950s Czechoslovak Socialist Realist films
Filmy patří lidu (Films Belong to the People) is the title of a series of
Socialist Realist pictures that have been released on DVD in the Czech
Republic in recent months. These propaganda-filled films are from the
1950s, the harshest decade of the communist era, notorious for its brutal
repression, show trials and forced labour camps. More
Supraphon takes archive online
Supraphon has been the main record label for Czech music ever since 1932, and has been a major force in bringing Czech music to the rest of the world. Now as the world goes online for music so too goes Supraphon. On Thursday, its new online service, Supraphonline, will begin offering a part of the company’s massive archive of more than 100,000 recordings to internet buyers, in what was intended to be the first such service in the country. Christian Falvey talked to the record company’s business manager Antonín Milata. More
Michael Kocáb, composer, rock star and human rights activist
In Sunday Music Show today, we’ll be listening to the music of Michael
Kocáb. A distinct and versatile musician, Michael Kocáb also has a record
as a human right activist who played a significant part in the Velvet
Revolution. More
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