76 Years Ago Today the Brundibar Opera in the Terezin Ghetto

The Brundibar Opera is a children’s opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister, made most famous by performances by the children of Theresienstadt concentration camp (Terezín) in occupied Czechoslovakia. The name comes from a Czech colloquialism for a bumblebee. Krása and Hoffmeister wrote the opera in 1938 for a...

History, Theater

August 26, 2019

The Night a Russian Cellist Wept for Czechs

It is quite rare to view a live recording of a truly legendary performance, yet I was blessed to do so a few years ago. In a documentary about Mstislav Rostropovich, the genius Russian cellist, I saw such a performance, the night a Russian cello wept for Czechs. It was the 1968 Proms season and...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

Groovy Dancing and Communist Tanks: Stark Contrasts of Prague in August of 1968

August 16, 2019

Caught in the Clash of Groovy Dancing and Communist Tanks – Prague Spring 1968

What does groovy dancing have to do with communist tanks? Not much, but one day in August of 1968, groovy music videos were being filmed simultaneously in and around Prague. A popular television program at the time, Europarty had crews filming music videos for the show. It was the height of Prague Spring, and there...

History, Music, NOSTALGIA

August 4, 2019

Slovak National Dress Through the Centuries

Today we are looking at a book entitled Slovak National Dress Through the Centuries by Jozef Markov with introduction by Sona Kovacevicova and translated by Hedda Veselá-Stránská. The book was created under the guide of the Ethnographic Institute of the Slovak Academy of Science in Bratislavia and was published in Bratislava, Slovakia in 1955 and...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

August 2, 2019

Jiří Šlitr – Czech Pop Music & Theatre in the 1960s

When thinking of Czech pop music and theater, there is one main person to mention in that position and that would have to be Jiří Šlitr (1924 – 1969). This mega-talent boasted a wide artistic scope – he was a composer, virtuoso pianist, singer, actor and artist. He learned to play the piano from his...

Art and Design, CULTURE, Movies, Music, Theater

July 18, 2019

Movie Scenes from Prague

Today we are looking at movie scenes from Prague. Many films and music videos choose Prague for obvious reasons, it’s beautiful, picturesque, romantic, haunting, glamorous, unique, and well… just picture perfect. Each of these videos are just a few minutes, so take a peek and enjoy your little video visit to Prague. Mission Impossible –...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 25, 2019

Watch This: Swingtime – StB – A False State Border Within the Republic

Imagine it… The StB – A false state border within the republic – and a fictional story of people who have crossed it. This is the theme of the the 2006 film Swingtime. It focuses on the so-called akce Kámen (Stone action), during which State Security agents deliberately mystified the citizens of the Czechoslovak Republic. Especially...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 16, 2019

Zem Spieva or the Earth Sings – A Czech/Slovak Magnum Opus

Zem spieva (The Earth Sings) is a 1933 Czech documentary film written and directed by Karel Plicka (in Slovak: Karol Plicka) (1894 – 1987), a Czechoslovak photographer, film director, cinematographer, folklorist, and pedagogue. He is considered a founder of Slovak film education and film making. He helped establish the genre of ethnographic film in Czechoslovakia. Following Karel Plicka’s graduation...

History, Movies, PEOPLE

Czech-Literature-Strahov_Theological_Hall-TresBohemes

June 2, 2019

Czech & Slovak Literature Through 1964

Today we are looking at Czech & Slovak literature through 1964. I write “through 1964” because the information comes from a booklet entitled Czechoslovakia by the Assembly of Captive European Nations Czechoslovak Committee. It was published in 1964 and was volume 3 in a series of nine booklets. I found their writing on literature interesting and wanted to share...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

May 20, 2019

Reminiscences of One of Antonín Dvořák’s Pupils

I must confess to being addicted in finding the most rare, forgotten, and set aside information. This very intimate reminiscence of Antonín Dvořák was written by William Arms Fisher and appeared in The Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 1: No. 8. May 1927. Without further ado, I’m sure you will enjoy this piece, especially if you...

Bohemians, Music

February 8, 2019

The Great Return by Zuzana Palovic

The Great Return by Zuzana Palovic is an inspiring and informational book which shares a unique perspective on the Central European country of Slovakia and its diverse people. It briefly explores the history of Slovakia and how it has shaped its people, going on to explore the circumstances which led some citizens of Slovakia to...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

January 2, 2019

Listen to Bill Clinton Play Saxophone Live in Prague

As a child growing up in Arkansas, William Jefferson Clinton had a passion for music and considered it to be one of his favorite hobbies. He especially loved jazz music and favored the sound of the saxophone, so it was no surprise when he started playing and practicing daily. In school he played in the jazz ensemble,...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

December 9, 2018

Apple Commercials Filmed in the Czech Republic

Apple seems to have a love affair with our beautiful Czech Republic, choosing it as a location for many of their holiday Apple commercials. In 2016, a 30 second spot entitled Romeo and Juliet it shows two young actors reciting Shakespeare’s dialogue for a school play. When filmed through the lenses of the iPhone 7,...

Czech Republic, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

November 15, 2018

The Republic of Bohemia

A very rare and beautiful book from 1643 on the History of the Republic of Bohemia (the Czech Republic) has come available for sale. For a collector, this is a wonderful and very rare gift indeed. Written in Latin, it shares a mysterious and little known history of Bohemia at the time. The focus of...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT