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August 2019
The Czech Connection
The Secret History of the Czech Connection: The Czechoslovak Government in Exile in London and Buckinghamshire during the Second World War. During the First World War Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk lived in exile in London and used his influence to make the independence of Czechoslovakia a war aim of the British government. He was helped by Edvard Beneš who did a similar job in Paris, who sometimes visited him in London. Later after the Munich Agreement President Benes came to London…
Find out more »Simon Mawer in conversation
At the Hastings LitFest, Simon discusses and compares the adaptations of his novel The Glass Room for the stage and screen. A fascinating look from the author’s perspective at two distinct interpretations of his work. In 2009, Mawer published The Glass Room, a novel about a modernist villa built in a Czech city, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize the same year. Tickets: £7.50 see link below
Find out more »September 2019
Proms Plus Talk – Korngold and America
Musicologist Ben Winters discusses Korngold and America. Edited version broadcast on BBC Radio 3 during tonight's interval. Booking is not required for this event. Entry is on a first-come-first-served basis (doors open from 30 minutes before the event begins; capacity is limited).
Find out more »Dvorak and Korngold at the Proms
Dvorak’s ‘New World’ Symphony, with its wistful slow movement, is the centrepiece of the second concert from the Vienna Philharmonic – a programme of Central European works that showcases the orchestra’s distinctively rich sound. Andrés Orozco-Estrada pairs it with the composer’s colourful, folk-infused tone-poem The Noonday Witch, in which a mother’s threats inadvertently summon a witch into her home. Cinematic drama is also a hallmark of Korngold’s richly orchestrated and unashamedly romantic Violin Concerto, performed here by soloist Leonidas Kavakos.…
Find out more »The best of Slovak Theatre in London: the life of economic migrants
Highlights of two plays based on everyday life of young Czechs and Slovaks working in Britain. Written by the theatre founder, Juliana Sersenova, with the help of the ensemble and based on their own experience. In Slovak with English surtitles. Interview with Juliana and Simona Vrabcova, the current artistic manager of the theatre. Juliana Sersenova studied theology and Slovak language at Ruzemberok University before moving to London in 2007. Here she took any job to earn her living while she…
Find out more »Czech Philharmonic at the Proms
Semyon Bychkov conducts the Czech Philharmonic in Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8 – the most personal of the composer’s many confrontations with the horror of war. Love dominates the first half, in music from the operas Eugene Onegin and The Bartered Bride. Programme Bedrich Smetana The Bartered Bride – overture The Bartered Bride – Three Dances(19 mins) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin – Letter Scene(12 mins) Henry Wood Novelties: UK premiere, 1892 interval Dmitry Shostakovich Symphony No 8 in C minor(65…
Find out more »BCSA “Get to Know You” Social Evening
Join us and have a fun evening chatting to friendly people. Czech and Slovak food and drinks are available from the restaurant and bar. Anybody with Czech or Slovak connections or interests is welcome to our monthly socials to meet, chat and get to know each other a little better in a relaxed and informal gathering. We usually have about a dozen people there at various times during the evening but, whatever the number, there will be good conversations for…
Find out more »The Greek Passion
The Greek Passion is a passion play within a passion play. At the beginning of the opera, members of a remote community are assigned roles in an Easter performance – including Manolios, who will play Christ, Katerina (Mary Magdalene) and her lover Panait (Judas). However, the sudden arrival of a group of refugees from a nearby conflict divides the community in two: should they be helped or turned away? As events unfold, the boundaries between life and art become blurred…
Find out more »October 2019
David Vaughan on Munich, his life story – and Boris Johnson
David Vaughan, a much-loved voice of Radio Prague broadcasts in English, is travelling specially to London to tell us what made him devote his work and life to all things Czech. This visit is rather timely, as it will fall near the anniversary of the Munich agreement and David Vaughan is fascinated with that period: his documentary novel Hear my voice is set in Czechoslovakia in the months prior to the Munich crisis. He will introduce its recent translation into…
Find out more »LSO Discovery Day: Janacek
Attend a morning rehearsal of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner at the Barbican followed by talks and chamber music in the afternoon at LSO St Luke's. The full schedule will be posted two weeks before the event. Please note that the conductor may choose to not use the full rehearsal time and there is no guarantee that equal rehearsal time will be given to each piece. You will be seated in the Circle. Full…
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