Prague Journal

Thursday, May 12, 2005.

Today is the anniversary of composer Bedrich Smetana’s death and the start of the Prague Spring Festival, the Czech Republic’s biggest and oldest classical musical festival, and perhaps its best known annual cultural event. The Prague Spring Festival originated in 1946 when the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductor, the late Rafael Kubelik, decided to celebrate the orchestra’s 50th anniversary and the end of the war with a series of concerts in which artists from the West and East would take part. The annual festival opens with “Ma Vlast” (My Country), a cycle of symphonic poems by Czech national music founder Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884). To kickoff the festival, there is a procession from Smetana’s grave at Vyšehrad to the Municipal House, where the London Symphony is playing its first concert this evening. Smetana’s piece has usually been played by Czech orchestras at the opening ceremony on May 12. But this year’s festival, the 60th, will be opened and closed by two prestigious foreign orchestras. Also new this year, part of the festival will include jazz as well as classical music, including a performance by the Herbie Hancock trio, who will perform with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Rudolfinum next Saturday.
Rick and I opted out of any concert tonight – in part because tickets to Prague Spring have gotten so expensive – (approx $150 each) and had a nice dinner at home instead. My whole day was spent at home, transcribing the last of my taped interviews. Rick had an appointment with Ales early in the day, and went to the gym before dinner. I probably should have gone out – today was the first sunny day we’ve had in awhile.
Meanwhile, in the ice hockey world cup quarter-finals, Finland beat Russia in Vienna while the Czechs beat the Americans in a turnabout from last year’s matchup that saw the US win a berth in the semi-finals during a penalty shootout. This time the Czechs were victorious, despite an unbelievably masterful effort by US goalie Rick DePietro, who up until that point had deflected 50 shots on goal by the Czechs. In Innsbruck, Sweden beat the Swiss, so the Czechs will play Sweden on Saturday. Canada beat Slovakia, so Canada will face Russia, who beat Finland 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

posted by JWinn @ 11:47 PM