Culture

November 26: Kick Off the Holidays with Krampus Show at Výstaviště

The Christmas season in Czechia is generally seen as a happy event, but it has a darker side. While St. Nicholas rewards good children, in much of Central Europe a horned demon named Krampus comes for the bad apples. He beats them and drags them off in a sack to only he knows where. Every year, Krampus becomes more popular. People who want to kick off the holiday season with a glimpse of him can go to Výstaviště’s Malá Sportovní Hala on Saturday, November 26, for two large Krampus shows. Over 130 Krampuses from Austrian and Czech cosplay groups will make the blood of even the most hardened visitors freeze. Masked figures with giant horns will clank heavy chains while wearing shaggy fur coats and cow bells – the traditional garb of the demon. Fire, sulfur, heavy chains, stinky fur coats, giant horns, cowbells, and other hellish masks of the devil’s servants will provide a terrifying spectacle. The Krampus Family Show is from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. 3:30 pm: open door 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm: parade and show The early show is suitable for families with children aged 3 to 10 years old. Children who do not have...

by Hena Takal Nov 21, 2023

Žatec Receives UNESCO World Heritage Certificate Honouring Its Brewing Traditions

The Czech town of Žatec received the certificate of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List on Saturday, two months after the organisation’s committee decided to inaugurate the town and its surrounding hop-growing landscape. Interest in the hop-growing landscape increased this year, with more tourists visiting the information center and the nearby Steknik Castle, located in the middle of the hop-growing area. Žatec and its surrounding landscape represent a centuries-old tradition of hop growing. The new UNESCO site consists of two parts. The first is the landscape, with its hop farms and the villages of Trnovany and Steknik, including the castle. The second part is the historic center of Zatec and its 19th-century industrial quarter, which has the highest concentration of buildings connected with hop processing and trade. The two parts are connected by the Ohre River. It is the first hop-growing landscape in the world to be awarded UNESCO status. “For us, this is a confirmation of the exceptional quality of the hops we grow here,” Michal Kovarik, secretary of the Czech Hop Growers Association, told CTK. The Žatec district is where most of the hops in the country are grown, comprising 3,744 hectares, or 77% of the total...

by Cara McErlean Nov 20, 2023

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Return of the King Concert in Prague

The journey of “The Fellowship of the Ring” is over, the decisive battle for Middle Earth begins! Enjoy the dramatic conclusion to the trilogy in a unique cinematic performance with live music by Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore, performed by a 230-piece symphony orchestra, choirs, and international soloists. The concert with a spectacular film screening will take place twice, on the 8th and 9th of November, 2024, in the modern concert hall O2 Universum Prague. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, based on the book by J. R. R. Tolkien, premiered in the Czech Republic on 15 January 2004. Its attendance reached three-quarters of a million spectators. Although more than 20 years have passed since its release, this groundbreaking work has lost none of its popularity. On the contrary, more and more new generations admire its excellence. Howard Shore, who won two Oscars for The Fellowship of the Ring and The Return of the King, composed the beautiful music for the trilogy. The third Oscar was awarded to the final song of the saga, Into the West, sung by the famous Annie Lennox. “The large scale of the music requires a symphony orchestra, a mixed choir, a...

by Prague Morning Nov 19, 2023

Czech Republic Elected to the UNESCO Executive Board

The Czech Republic has been elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris, and will serve from 2023 to 2027. “The Czech Republic has just been elected to the UNESCO Executive Board,” the Foreign Ministry said on the social network X. Adding that one of the topics the Czech Republic will focus on, during its mandate, will be the transformation of education, and the protection of cultural and natural heritage. The Executive Board, together with the General Conference, is UNESCO’s governing body and is made up of 58 member countries, elected by the Conference according to their respective electoral groups. The last time the Czech Republic was a member of the Executive Board, within the Central and Eastern European Group, was between 2012 and 2015. UNESCO was founded shortly after World War II to develop cooperation in education, science, and culture. In the latter area, it is best known for its World Heritage List, in which the organization includes the world’s most important sites. As for the Czech Republic, its first additions to the UNESCO World Heritage List were the Historic Centre of Prague, the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov, and...

by Hena Takal Nov 19, 2023

EXHIBITION: The World of Tim Burton Arrives in Prague Next Year

Batman, Alice in Wonderland, and the Nightmare Before Christmas. What do all these films have in common? They all belong to the world of renowned filmmaker Tim Burton, who entertained the imaginations of children and adults alike for decades. Luckily, Burton will bring his fantasy world to Prague next year! From the first of May until the end of September 2024, an exhibition will be displayed in Prague’s Municipal House at Namesti Republiky, as part of a world tour where Burton’s work has featured in places such as Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. If you’re a fan of Burton’s work, this is the place to be next year. “The exhibition features over 530 works, including storyboards, sketches, scene designs, puppets, and photographs from timeless film classics such as Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mars Attacks! and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas to contemporary films like Dumbo and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” reads the website. Burton’s 50-year artistic career is nothing short of extraordinary, and attendees will be able to experience it for themselves, everything from the Corpse Bride to Willy Wonka. The exhibition in fact had already visited Prague in 2014, at...

by Jakob Weizman Nov 14, 2023

Prague’s O2 Arena to Host Multi-Genre Concert in Lead Up to Christmas

On 21 December, Prague’s O2 Arena will host a Christmas concert featuring more than 130 artists from the Czech music scene. Seven well-known artists, including Thalia Award-winning actress Eva Burešová, Ondřej Ruml and Kateřina Maria Ticha, accompanied by 70 musicians from the Hradec Králové Philharmonic and the Permoník Karviná Choir, will put on stage a show featuring 27 songs from various genres, including classical music, pop and jazz, in new and innovative arrangements under the baton of Stanislav Vavřínek. “We are not preparing a classical Christmas concert, but a musical experience,” said arranger Jan Lstibůrek. “The audience will listen to Christmas melodies and themes they know from the radio, but for the first time ever in symphonic arrangements written specifically for particular composition performers, philharmonic and choir, and for the unique space of Prague’s O2 Arena.” Along with the sound, the evening will be illuminated by visual components of color and an extraordinary stage design. “At one moment, modest and intimate, the next moment, monumental, so that you feel like you are in a musical temple. All these elements together create a complete experience,” said Lstibůrek. The organizers say they hope for the concert to become the start of a...

by Melissa Santoyo Nov 13, 2023

Prague Planetarium Will be the Most Modern in the World

The Prague Planetarium is undergoing an unprecedented renovation as it updates its outdated display system with cutting-edge LED Dome technology. This technology will include 45 million LEDs distributed across the entire dome, making the Prague Planetarium the biggest and most contemporary in the world. The new system is anticipated to last up to 25 years, with outstanding picture contrast and minimal upkeep expenses. The new projection system, according to Jakub Rozehnal, head of the Prague Planetarium, will enable for a degree of quality and contrast not possible with traditional systems. The expenditure includes new air conditioning for waste heat recovery, ductwork, and hall machinery, as well as an increased number of chairs. The proposed rebuilding and modernization, which has received a CZK 250 million subsidy, is scheduled to take place from mid-May this year until spring next year. During this time, visitors will have restricted access to certain areas of the dome. If work allows, the display in the foyer, the underground simulator, the gift store, and school workshops, including the one that operates the Planetum-1 satellite itself, will stay available. With this technology, the Prague Planetarium will become the world’s biggest planetarium, beating comparable technology located in Dubai and...

by Cara Stevenson Nov 11, 2023

One of the First in the World! Czech Band Released Video Clip Created with AI

TAK CO?, the innovative musical ensemble known for pushing creative boundaries, proudly announces the release of their latest music video for the song “In the Belvedere Hotel.” The video, a stunning visual masterpiece created by the acclaimed director Petr Salaba utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), promises to captivate audiences with its unique blend of noirish aesthetics and cutting-edge technology. Band member David Hrbek shares insights into the band’s creative journey, stating, “After the success of our classically animated music video ‘Doctor Foltýn is Coming Here’ and the lyric video for ‘Autumn,’ we were eager to explore new artistic horizons. With ‘In the Belvedere Hotel,’ a song delving into themes of longing and emotional unfulfillment, we sought a fresh perspective. Enter Petr Salaba, who, with his expertise, embraced the challenge and brought our vision to life.” Director Petr Salaba sheds light on the creative process, saying, “I chose the noirish atmosphere of rain, shadows, and neon, not only because it complements the song but also because AI excels in handling such visual elements. The synthesis of general physical phenomena enhances the emotional depth of the video, providing a unique connection between technology and human sentiment.” Technologically, Salaba employed a combination of Stable...

by Prague Morning Nov 10, 2023

The Cremator – Dark Glory of Czechoslovak New Wave to be Screened with English Subs

An iconic Czech movie, banned for decades, unleashes its dark magic again, this time thanks to Some like it Czech project. Screened with English subtitles and an informative introduction on November 15 at cinema Aero. Buy your tickets here. Some like it Czech project invites you to a spine-tingling cinematic experience on November 15th as it resurrects the Czech cult classic, The Cremator (1968, watch the trailer). Meet Mr. Kopfrkingl, a man who deeply cares for his family and his job. He’s the crematorium manager and you would hardly find a man who burns for his occupation more than this quirky gentleman, brilliantly portrayed by one of the most acclaimed Czech actors Rudolf Hrušínský. Based on Ladislav Fuks’s novel and directed by the horror mastermind Juraj Herz, this poetic drama from the late 60s shows you the disturbing transformation of a loving human being into a monster, all under the influence of ideology. Because of the unsettling message the movie sends, it was banned and hidden away for two decades. However, in August 1990, the film re-emerged, capturing the hearts and minds of a new generation of cinephiles. In 2019, it underwent a digital restoration, preserving its timeless allure. One...

by Prague Morning Nov 08, 2023

November 11: St. Martin’s Procession to be Held on the Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge Museum together with the City of Prague is holding St. Martin’s celebrations on Saturday 11th November. The celebration will start at 11.11 am. On this day, Czechs traditionally roast a goose and at exactly 11:11 they open the first bottles of young wine, which are called St. Martin’s (Svatomartinské víno). St. Martin was a Roman Catholic saint, the bishop of Tours, who lived in the years 316 – 397. The most-repeated story about his life says that while he was a soldier, he encountered a scantily dressed beggar at the gate of the city of Amiens. He cut his military woolen cloak in half and shared it with the freezing man. The following night he had a vision of Jesus Christ, surrounded by Angels, and arrayed in the half of the cloak. As a consequence of the experience, he received baptism, left the army and became a monk. People in the Czech republic associate the feast with the onset of winter and snow. There are a lot of proverbs in Czech, which feature predictions for the winter weather. According to the most popular saying, the first snowfall of the season can be expected on this day since Martin may...

by Prague Morning Nov 07, 2023

December 1: The Machines Performs Pink Floyd in Prague

The Machine has forged a 30+ year reputation for extending the musical legacy of Pink Floyd. The New York-based quartet performs a diverse mix of Floyd’s extensive 16-album repertoire, complete with faithful renditions of popular hits as well as obscure gems. With stellar musicianship and passionate delivery, The Machine explores collective improvisation rivaling that of an early 1970’s Pink Floyd, while their use of expanded theatrical elements and elaborate stage displays and lighting continues The Floyd spirit of the 1980’s. On December 1, they will perform at the Prague Congress Centre. Tickets are on sale here. The band is also known for recreating entire albums as a part of their show, accepting requests from fans, and for taking an A – Z approach in which one song is played for every letter of the alphabet. The Machine has sold out theaters, premier showcase rooms and casinos across North America, Europe and Asia, performed at renowned music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Riverbend, and Gathering of the Vibes, and shared the stage with full symphony orchestras, including the Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Charlotte and San Diego Symphonies, as well as the Buffalo Philharmonic. The band features founding member Tahrah Cohen (drums), longtime...

by Cara McErlean Nov 07, 2023

November 17th is Twice as Important for Czechs

November 17th is not at all just an ordinary day in the Czech Republic. It is a very important day for Czechs not only for one but for two reasons. The original event that 17 November commemorated was the resistance of student demonstrators in 1939 to the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. Initially, a student named Jan Opletal was shot in a protest and died on 11 November. His funeral, attended by thousands of students, turned into another anti-Nazi demonstration. Students tore down the German street signs, which symbolized the humiliation of the Nazi occupation. This provoked the Nazis so much that on November 17 they ordered to close all Czech universities and colleges. One witness to those events said that the Gestapo and German soldiers had swept into student dorms in Prague, Brno, and Příbram, and dragged students off to Ruzyně prison. Nine student leaders were murdered by the Nazis and more than 1,000 sent to concentration camps. As a result of these tragedies, in 1941, the 17th of November was marked as International Students’ Day. Fifty years later, on November 17, 1989, history would repeat itself. Fifty years after such oppression, in 1989, Czech students organized a demonstration to commemorate...

by Prague Morning Nov 06, 2023

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