Xpose
Dvorák
Smetana
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Prague, the Capital of the Czech
Republic,
has been known for centuries as one of the most beautiful cities of Europe.
The "Paris of the 20th century", as some writers have called
this enchanting city since the 1989 Velvet Revolution, Prague is also full
of music and musical history sites. A new coat of paint on the Baroque
houses of the Old Town,
and cobblestone passageways, lead to the magnificent Charles
Bridge, with Smetana's
Vltava
flowing below (the river
that the composer described in his music flows through the center of Prague),
the early Gothic Centre and
the Prague Castle.
The
music tradition of the city goes back to the Middle
Ages,
and continues with great composers such as Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart,
Beethoven,
Smetana
and Dvorak
- all worked here and composed great music. The fact that Prague
was hardly hit during World War II helped
keep its past centuries look and it was selected as the location for most
of the scenes of the famous movie "Amadeus"
which deals with Mozart's life and death.
You can find, in Prague, historical
places such as the Estates Theatre
- one of the most beautiful historical theatres in
Europe. In 1787
Mozart conducted
the premiere of "Don Giovanni" here.
Some museums in Prague are dedicated
to the famous composers of the city. The Mozart
Museum
(Mozartova 169, Prague 5) was never the home of the composer, but he wrote
some of his most famous works here. Antonin
Dvorák Museum
(Ke Karlovu 20, Prague 1) and Bedrich Smetana
Museum
(Novotného lávka, Prague 1) are also wonderful places to
learn about the composers' lives and career. The birthplace of Antonín
Dvorák is in a village called Nelahozeves,
20 miles from Prague. The house contains a
small museum which is dedicated to the great composer.
When night comes, you may go to a concert in the Rudolfinum,
home of the prestigious Czech Philharmonic Orchestra or go to the opera
at the National Theatre of State Opera.
If you get lucky to visit Prague
in the spring, make sure to come to the famous Prague Spring Festival
(from 12 May to early June). In the Summer there’s the Prague Cultural
Summer Festival, with concerts in many gardens, churches, and public places.
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