The soprano from Metropolitan Opera was this year’s star of the festival in Český Krumlov

The summer break is almost over and the international music festival in Český Krumlov just closed the door on its 18^th year. This year, it offered a total of 21 concerts and performances. This year’s opening concert in the Concord Square (Náměstí Svornosti) was in honor of 700 years of the town of Český Krumlov. After many years, this was an occasion to hear the unique vocal-instrumental piece devoted to the four governing noble families - Water Music for Český Krumlov. Its composer František Xaver Thuri created it 13 years ago for the festival for its 5th anniversary.

The star of the festival this year was the world famous soprano Renée Fleming (USA), who performed in the Brewery Garden (Pivovarská zahrada) at the Opera Gala Concert accompanied by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under the leadership of conductor John Keenan (USA). Renée Fleming is considered one of the best contemporary sopranos in the world. She is a star of the Metropolitan Opera in New York and she also sings in Czech, because her grand parents come from Prague.

Also worth mentioning are the magical eights. On August 8^th, the listeners could enjoy a mix of classical music and pop during one concert. The stage hosted the masters of their profession, Karel Gott and Eva Urbanová, and together with them the soprano Tereza Mátlová. Another star of the festival was the violinist and conductor in one person, Shlomo Mintz from the United States. The critics, colleagues, and audience consider him one of the best violinists of our age. Our top violinist, Pavel Šporcl, also performed with him.

The organizers of the Hungarian Evening approached this year’s festival somewhat non-traditionally, but innovatively. Besides the music, they also served the visitors samples of traditional Hungarian food - goulash and “čabajka” (spicy sausage). The Chairman of the Board of E.ON Energie, Ing. Michal Šafář, participated in two concerts. The first one was the joint performance of Karel Gott and Eva Urbanová, and the second one was the composition program Noc na Broadwai (A Night at Broadway), which he did along with the invited representatives of the biggest E.ON customers. “Before the concert, we prepared a gala dinner with an excursion to the Eggenberg Brewery, and a river cruise on the Vltava River the following day, and a trip to Český Krumlov. The concert offered a variety of music from the oldest to the newest, and people loved it,” stated Michal Šafář.

This year, the festival also took place under the patronage of the President of the Czech Republic, Václav Klaus, who years ago paid it a compliment by stating that the festival had grown from regional importance and now has a national character.

(ton)