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February 2022
A Castle in Bohemia, an Austro-Japanese Count, and the Future of Europe
ZOOM lecture: Martyn Bond, a former foreign correspondent specialising in European affairs, will speak about Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, better known on the Continent than in Britain. Few anywhere know that the man whom Hitler damned in Mein Kampf as a ‘cosmopolitan bastard’ travelled on a Czechoslovak diplomatic passport for twenty years between the two world wars. As a young intellectual politicised by the Great War, the Count sent President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk one of his early political articles arguing for better…
Find out more »Sensing places: looking for a way back home
Artist Tereza Stehlíková will be in conversation with curator Gareth Evans about her multi-disciplinary artistic practice and reflect on the importance of unique places and spaces in inspiring and shaping her ideas. During the pandemic, as more time was spent online, questions of places and spaces have gained a new intensity. Virtual spaces are a kind of antithesis to being “somewhere”. In order to address some of these questions Stehlíková founded a new arts and science journal Tangible Territory. She is a…
Find out more »A youthful view of Czech elections and populism
A talk on Zoom by Nina Fořtíková, a sixteen-year old Prague schoolgirl, about the attitude of her generation towards Czech political life. She is not an average Czech teenager; when she was thirteen Nina joined a debating club which required wide reading on political matters. Nina submitted an essay Why people prioritise optimism over their freedom to the BCSA writing competition in which she analyses why right-wing nationalist politicians are becoming ever more popular. She attends one of Prague‘s international…
Find out more »The Cunning Little Vixen
The Cunning Little Vixen tells the tale of a clever vixen named Sharp Ears. Captured by a local Forester when she is young, she later manages to escape his clutches, but he is forever haunted by her memory. Exploring man’s relationship with nature, Janáček’s opera moves through the contrasting worlds of the Vixen and the Forester, showing how one chance meeting can forever change the lives of both. This new production is directed by up-and-coming director Jamie Manton, following his acclaimed stagings of Paul Bunyan and The…
Find out more »Black Peter
To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the birth of the Oscar-winning Czech filmmaker Milos Forman (Amadeus, One Flew Over the Cuckoo´s Nest, A Blonde in Love), the Czech Centre presents a new 4K restoration of his stunning debut feature film Black Peter which helped launch the famous Czechoslovak New Wave, and was premiered at the Venice Classics in the 2017 Venice International Film Festival. Admission: £5 see booking link below Set during a summer in early sixties Czechoslovakia, Black Peter is a bittersweet…
Find out more »Czech Music with the Pražák String Quartet
Programme Josef Suk Meditation Leoš Janáček Quartet No 1 ‘The Kreutzer Sonata’ Karel Janovický Quartet No 4 (UK première) Antonín Dvořák Quartet in G Op 106 Pražák String Quartet of Prague Jana Vonášková and Marie Magdalena Fuxová violins Josef Klusoň viola Pavel Jonáš Krejčí cello Tickets £25 reserved central, £15 unreserved side see booking link below
Find out more »March 2022
Jenůfa
Set in a rural Czech village, it tells the story of a woman’s efforts to protect her stepdaughter who has borne a child out of wedlock. Leoš Jánaček’s rich music propels the plot forward to its dramatic conclusion. Aylesbury Opera has assembled a fine cast to perform this most watchable of operas. The opera will be sung in English. Tickets £22, £20 (unreserved seating) see booking link below
Find out more »Fifth Central European Conference
The Annual Central European Conference, organized by the University of London Czech & Slovak Societies along with LSE Hungarian and KCL Polish societies. With the support of LSE Annual Fund, aims to bring together Czech, Slovak, Polish, and Hungarian students and professionals in London, as well as any students interested in the region, and provide a platform for discussion about key topics, challenges and opportunities that will transform Central Europe in near future. Keynote speakers: Věra Jourová European Commission‘s Vice-President for…
Find out more »Dvořák, Janáček & Kaprálová
British cellist Laura van der Heijden has captivated audiences and critics alike with her deeply perceptive interpretations and engaging stage presence. Joined by pianist Jâms Coleman who enjoys a rich and varied musical life as a soloist, chamber musician and vocal accompanist, here they explore stories and songs from the likes of Kodaly, Dvořák and Janáček. The programme opens with Janáček’s Pohádka, a piece the duo first played together in 2018, also serving as the title of Laura’s first release for…
Find out more »Legends of Czech Glass
The 1950s-70s saw a renaissance in Czech glass design that re-established the Bohemian region’s global reputation in this area. From behind the Iron Curtain, skilled designers pushed the boundaries of 20th century glass design and produced unique art glass masterpieces that went on to inspire visually stunning, highly innovative and commercial ranges. Despite this, the designers responsible were rarely named. Until today, the designs they produced have been typically forgotten or misattributed. This lecture reveals the work of seven influential…
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