Rudolf Cortés (sometimes mistakenly referred to as Cortéz), was born Rudolf Kraisinger on March 16, 1921 in Pilsen and passed away on December 12, 1986 in Krásná Lípa. His father was Czech and his mother, with the maiden name Cortéz, was born in Brazil. His father met his future wife during a working visit to Uruguay,...
I was recently asked to provide some photographs which I took back in the 1980’s for an exhibit at the Waldemar Matuška museum in the Czech Republic. And while searching for them, I came across the photographs I took of the album cover photo shoot for Teče, voda, Teče, as well as of the recording session for...
The famed composer / conductor Marvin Frederick Hamlisch (1944 -2012), a native of NYC, was one of only twelve people to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (also known as an EGOT). He is one of ten people to win three or more Oscars in one night and the only one other than a director...
Sometimes the best way to relax is to sit back with friends around a flickering campfire, pull out the instruments, and write a tune… That is exactly how the Czech country band KTO started. Kamarádi Táborových Ohňů (KTO) seriously translates to Friends of Campfires. Today we are sharing a few of their hits from the...
Jarmila Novotná was a Czech opera singer who was also known in America as the leading soprano for the Metropolitan Opera from 1940 to 1956, and a movie star. Her voice is powerful yet graceful and when she sings, the presence in her voice sounds like she really feels the music… It is warm and...
Charles Rudolf Friml was born on December 7, 1879 in Prague. The son of a baker, he already showed aptitude for music at an early age and entered the Prague Conservatory in 1895, where he studied the piano and composition with Antonín Dvořák. Passionate about music, he was expelled from the conservatory in 1901 for performing without...
Yes, love inspires music. At 63, Czech composer Leoš Janáček met his Moravian muse, Kamila Stösslová, and through years of writing to her and composing as a way to further experess his feelings, his greatest works were created. Sometimes the words we say are not as important or as telling as the words we write...
Today we have another surprise for you. How many of you realized that the man considered the ‘Father of American Musical Theater’ comes from Czech parents? Yes. Jerome David Kern (1885-1945), is remembered for his almost 1,000 songs and more than 100 theater performances and films. Jerome Kern was born in New York, in Sutton Place,...
Karel Husa, one of the most distinguished and admired composers of the second half of the 20th century, was honored in 1969 with the Pulitzer Prize. Karel Husa was born in Prague on August 7, 1921. He learned to play violin and piano at an early age and after the completion of the high school,...
L’Opera Barocca is a institute of Baroque culture which supplies Czech people living in Prague and tourists with nightly baroque performances. They host many opera shows throughout the year, but their annual Opera Barocca Festival which features Baroque music, dance, and festivities, is the most popular. Almost all of Opera Barocca’s programs take place at the beautiful Clam-Gallas Palace. The...
The Magic Voice of a Rebel, Marta Kubišová, was born in České Budějovice in 1942. She was synonymous with the Czech pop boom of the 1960s. She was a three-time winner of the Golden Nightingale music award and had a stellar career and future ahead of her… But then it all ended in 1968 with the occupation of Czechoslovakia. Because...
The first thing you’ll likely notice about this post is the date. August 20, 1968. Wait… Wasn’t that the eve of the Soviet invasion? Yes. It was. On the evening of August 20, 1968, the Soviets mobilized and struck like lightning. The initiated a massive invasion and by the morning of August 21, Prague alone...
When Louis Armstrong visited Prague in March of 1965, at which time he was truly an international star. While groups such as the Beatles were emerging, Armstrong still led the charts with the song, Hello Dolly. It’s still a big mystery as to how Frantisek Spurný arranged for Louis Armstrong to agree to no less than nine – yes...
We’re feeling a little groovy today and we’ve been listening to old vintage Karel Gott YouTube videos from the 60s and having a blast. So much so we’ve decided to let you in on the party. Welcome to the groovy dance party with Karel Gott! Turn on your speakers, enjoy and make sure to pay...
