Topic Archive Culture
American piano virtuoso Stephen Beus: I do not remember a time when I did not want to be a pianist.
American pianist Stephen Beus is one of the star performers at the American
spring music festival currently underway in the Czech Republic. The
internationally acclaimed musician, who performs with renowned orchestras
and gives solo recitals the world over, has been described as a strikingly
original, confident and gifted player with a rock-solid technique. On what
is his second recital tour in the Czech Republic he visited Radio
Prague’s studio and talked about the joy he derives from music, the
inspiration he draws from it and the secret behind his ability to captivate
an audience. More
2012 set to be good year for Czech art market
Over the last couple of years, art sales in the Czech Republic have seen a
decline. But this year is different, and it’s not just the record sale of
a František Kupka painting that did the trick. The market now attracts
collectors who are ready to look beyond the well-established segment of
modern art that has topped sales so far. More
International meeting of experts on Czech language and literature kicks off in Prague
An international meeting of Czech language and literature experts, among
them teachers and translators, kicked off at Prager Literaturhaus, a Czech
institute that promotes Prague’s German literary heritage. For the next
four days, lovers of the Czech language will be discussing their field of
expertise and exchanging their findings in a number of seminars, panel
discussions and lectures. On the first day of the international
get-together, we speak with Kristin Kilsti, a Norwegian literary translator
who works from Czech into her native tongue. More
Jazz legend Laco Deczi
In this edition of the Sunday Music Show: conversation with, as well as new
music from, jazz legend Laco Dezci. More
Blanka Čechová: finding Kafka in Kosovo
Not many people would give up the salary, status and security of a job as a
high-flying European lawyer for all the uncertainties of being a full time
writer. But this is exactly what Blanka Čechová has done. After several
years working for international institutions that seemed to feed on their
own bureaucracy, she became disillusioned, and instead has taken her
experiences as an inspiration for her writing. Her new novel, “Totál
Balkán” draws richly from the time the author spent with an
international mission in Kosovo, and the picture it paints is far from
flattering. David Vaughan meets a writer who has not been afraid to court
controversy.
More
Actor Jiří Mádl – the teenage heartthrob grows up
In 2004, Jiří Mádl, who at the time was all about playing hockey and had
little ambitions to become an actor, shot to fame overnight with his lead
role in the box-office hit Snowboarďáci, or Snowboarders. While he was
mostly cast for teen comedies following his first big success, his more
recent films show a shift towards serious roles. In his latest movie, Four
Suns or Čtyři Slunce, directed by the acclaimed Bohdan Sláma, Mádl
plays bad-boy Jerry. The film also happens to be the Czech Republic’s
first submission to the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. I spoke to
Mádl, about his work, his love for foreign languages and asked him if he
still has a passion for ice-hockey. More
Mucha family voices concerns as Slav Epic goes on display in Prague
After many months of delays, and several years of arguing, the Slav Epic
will go on display in Prague’s Veletržní palác on Thursday. Alfons
Mucha’s Art Nouveau masterpiece has been at the centre of a heated
dispute between the town of Moravský Krumlov, where the 20 enormous
canvasses were kept until recently, and the City of Prague, which has made
no secret of wanting to put the work on permanent display. As for the
painter’s own wishes, the Slav Epic was willed to the Czech capital upon
his death in 1939, but on the condition that a special building was made
for it. That has never happened, much to the ire of the Mucha family. We
spoke with the painter’s grandson John Mucha in London, and asked how he
felt about the opening. More
Spring is in the air!
In our first May edition of the Sunday Music Show, we listen to all sorts
of spring tunes. More
Remembering Adolf Toman - one of the founders of Toronto’s New Czech Theatre
The Nové divadlo (New Czech Theatre) was established in the Canadian city
of Toronto in 1970. Since then it has enjoyed several high points: the
great actor Jiří Voskovec appeared in one production, Josef Škvorecký
wrote a play for the amateur group and it staged the world premiere of the
Czech language version of Václav Havel’s Temptation. In 2010, the New
Czech Theatre received an award from the Czech Foreign Ministry for its
work in promoting the good name of its founders’ native country. Sadly,
Mr Toman passed away in the Czech Republic last summer at the age of 69.
Here is another chance to hear his interview about the the Toronto theatre
with Ian Willoughby.
More
Stephan Delbos- a Prague-based poet, teacher and reporter
Stephan Delbos is a Prague-based poet. Five years ago, he moved to Prague,
where he edits the Prague Review, teaches literary writing at Charles
University, works as a business reporter at the English language newspaper
The Prague Post and occasionally hosts the Alchemy poetry reading series at
the Globe café. I talked to Mr. Delbos about the English language poetry
scene here in Prague and what initially drew him to the city. More
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