Prague Blog

On March 2007, Tiesto released his third author album called “Elements of life” and started his worldwide tour over totally 56 capitals and Prague is going to be one of the stops. The tour “Elements of life” is considered a professionally perfect and giant show, which is able to satisfy the most demanding fans. A concept of the tour is built on four basic elements of life: air, water, earth, and fire. Every of these elements appears in the show so you will have unforgettable experience.

Tiesto is the very first Dj in the world who twice sold off the stadium for 25.000 thousands of people. His remix Delerium in which Sarah McLachlan sings is the first house composition broad-casted by North America radios during the day. Above all it became the national anthem and was 8 weeks at the top of British Top 10. Tiesto performed in front of one milliard viewers.

Born in Holland, he became a Dj because he liked to share music with other people. At the beginning he traveled all over the Netherlands, later he performed at student parties and then regularly three days a week at a club. Tiesto was especially successful in the field of trance, but in his style there are also house and techno. Except for the usual club successes, his shelves are groaning under the weight of numerous awards – TMF-Awards, MTV, Dutch DJ – and gold discs…

And now the most important thing – when will this one of the best Djs of the world come? On 24th November, 2007. Tickets are available at ticketpro.cz and for more informations about Tiesto look at www.djtiesto.com.

An amazing spectacle – classical music, wonderful choreography, perfect technique of dance and unique artictic presentment. You can see the best ballet pieces from the notable Russian masters.

The ensemble was established by Victor Smirnov – Golovanov and it is one of the best ballet ensembles of the world. Victor Smirnov – Golovanov’s international career began in 1989 in Soul (South Korea), where he appeared for the first time in front of a foreign audience. Thanks to their great success, they are the most often performing ballet ensemble of the world. Since 1989, Moscow City Ballet has performed in Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Ireland, Japan, USA and other countries all over the world. In Great Britain they have performed even 1600 times; since 1991. And now we can see them in the Czech Republic.

Moscow City Ballet is going to introduce the best three performances of its repertoire. The first one is Romeo and Juliet, with ballet created according to William Shakespeare’s play. You will see the story full of passion, jealousy, hate and especially full of love. The atmosphere of the tragedy is underlined by Prokofjev’s music, which in one moment thunders and fades out in second. The perfect link between dance and music is almost unbelievable and you can get an unforgettable experience.

The second performance is Don Quixote, with music by Ludvig Minkus, the composer originaly from the Czech Republic. Choregraphy was created by a genius choreographer Marius Petipa. Ballet is created according to Cervantes’ novel. One of the most impressive part of the ballet is Don Quixot’s dreams. The scenes together with perfect ballet of Smirnov – Golovanov’s dancers accent beauty and uniqueness of the performance.

The third performance is Giselle – a romantic story about tragic love between a beautiful village maiden and a nobleman Albrecht who dissembles his identity and impersonates ordinary villager. When Giselle discovers the deceit, she is inconsolable and goes mad, then dies of a broken heart. Albrecht is condemned for his lies to live in solitude without the loved woman.

Moscow City Ballet performs during October in the Czech Republic. Don’t hesitate for a long time and go to buy the tickets at www.ticketpro.cz. Romeo and Juliet you can see on 23th October and Don Quixote on 22th October. These two performances will take place in Kongresove Centrum, Prague 4. Prices of the tickets are 770CZK – 1,490 CZK. Giselle will be performed only in Liberec.

“Music expresses that which can not be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” ~Victor Hugo

Czech National Symphony Orchestra was established in 1993 by a trumpet player Jan Hasenöhrl. The orchestra made its debut appearance on 10th November at the Dvorak Hall in Rudolfinum in Prague, with a conductor Vladimir Valek. The orchestra is made up of about eighty experienced musicians. The main founder of the orchestra is the legendary conductor Zdenek Kosler, who gave them his wide-ranging artistic knowledge. He also recorded CDs with them. The American Paul Freeman took over as a Chief Conductor in 1996 and currently he is the Music Director. Libor Pesek was appointed the conductor this year.

Orchestra’s recordings are on sale in the USA and Japan. They have had very successful tours in all over the world, for example in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Japan and Mexico. Orchestra has its own recording studio, which is located in Prague – Hostivar. Until nowadays they have obtained several Gold CDs for more than 30 000 copies sold and also have had several accolades. For instance Gustav Mahler Prize, the prestigious agreement with IMG Artists London and recording project with Tokyo media company Victor Entertainment. In recent years Czech National Symphony Orchestra has accompanied Andrea Bocelli on the tour of 30 European metropolises.

The 15th concert season starts on 18th October.

The first concert begins at 7:30pm and you can hear Marc-Antoine Charpentier – Te Deum, Preludium, Johann Sebastian Bach – Concerto for violin and oboe in D minor, BWV 1060 and Anton Bruckner – Symphony No. 4 in E flat major, the Romantic Symphony.

The second concert begins on 22nd November at 7:30pm and you can look forward to George Gershwin – Girl Crazy, Overture, Christopher Brubeck – “From The Blues To Beyond” for trumpet, trombone and orchestra (world premiere), Samuel Barber – Adagio for Strings and Leonard Bernstein – West Side Story Symphonic Dances.

The third concert in this year begins on 22nd December at 7:30pm. You will hear Jiri Suchy & Jiri Slitr – A Walk Worthwhile, the concert performance of jazz opera.

All these concerts take place in Smetana’s Hall of The Municipal House. For more information about tickets look at the website www.cnso.cz.

Who would not know the world famous and the most visited tourist attraction in London – Madame Tussauds wax museum? Maybe you will be surprised, but similar museums are also in the Czech Republic, two of them in Prague.

The first wax museum in Prague was opened in March 1997, and many of political and cultural personalities took part in the opening ceremony. Zdenek Kolcik had the plan that only Czech team formed of top sculptors, architects and designers should create the museum. His plan appeared successful.

Because of a great success with Czechs and also visitors from abroad, his team decided to realize more projects: Wax museum of Czech history in Mostecka street – there you can see historic personalities of the Czech Republic, interiors of the Old Town, interiors of Karlstejn, an alchemistic workroom from times of Rudolph II and Wax museum in Melantrichova street – there you can find personalities from cultural, political and sport life of 20th century.

In Melantrichova street the exposition is divided into three thematic sections: celebrities, a stand of dictators and a multimedia complex “Magic Prague”. It is so called optical kaleidoscope. It is a fantastic spectacle. The other museums are not in Prague – Wax museum of Czech history near Karlstejn castle and Wax museum in Cesky Krumlov.

Recently the collection of waxworks was enriched by Luis Armstrong, Bill Clinton, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Alfons Mucha, Bozena Nemcova, Bedrich Smetana, Antonin Dvorak, Ema Destinnova, Mick Jagger and Dalajlama.

Wax museum Prague in Mostecka street (Mostecka 18, Praha 5) is opened everyday from 9.00 to 19.00. Entrance fees are: for family (2 adults + max 2 children) 260 CZK, for adults 110 CZK, for pensioners, students and children 50 CZK.

Wax museum in Melantrichova street (Melantrichova 5, Praha 1) is opened everyday from 9.00 to 19.00 as well. Entrance fees are: for family (2 adults + max 2 children) 290 CZK, for adults 120 CZK, for pensioners, students and children 60 CZK.

Combined entrance fees for visit of both museums are for family (2 adults + max 2 children) 440 CZK, for adults 180 CZK, for pensioners, students and children 80 CZK.

The long-planned reconstruction of Charles Bridge began on 20 August this year. The reconstruction is divided into two stages. The first stage will be completed in June 2010 and the second will last for up to 10 years. Throughout the reconstruction, Charles Bridge will be accessible to experts and to the public that visits Prague to acquaint themselves with the cultural property. People will be able to watch the reconstruction.

The costs of the first part of the reconstruction are about 222 million CZK. Prague uses its budget to pay most of these expenses, but some are paid by contributions of the general public and sponsors.

Reconstruction begins from the Lesser Town Tower and the sewerage system is going to be rebuilt. The roadway will follow afterwards. The company “Stavby mostu Praha” (Bridgesworks Prague) is going to use water crafts on which for example a crane will be grounded. The Charles Bridge should mainly get new impregnation, because current impregnation does not caulk and because its masonry leaks and decomposes.

The second stage follows the first one and constructors will rebuild the stone surface of the bridge. Every blockstone will be registered and experts will decide if they put it back, clean it or replace it with a new one.

Since beginning of the reconstruction a part of the original masonry, that could date back to the 14th century, has been discovered. The expert commission decided to preserve the masonry and the builders thus gave way to archaeologists.

Do you dream about shaking your hand with genial physicist Albert Einstein? Do you want to see muscles of Albert Schwarzenegger or do you admire Lady Diana´s deep blue eyes? Believe me than you can meet them in Prague if you don´t mind they are little bit cold and waxy. If you long for high concentration of famous and important persons known world-wide then visiting the Museum of Wax Figurines would be the right thing for you.

In Prague you can find even two wax museums from the same owner, but the entrance fee is paid separately. The historic part is situated in Mostecka street leading directly from the end of the Charles bridge. In this historic exposition you can meet Charles IV, Jan Zizka, famous Czech character Svejk and many other persons of Czech history from the beginning until the end of twentieth century. You can see her also a replication of the interior of the most famous Czech castle Karlstein and an old alchemistical workroom. You will really feel like pulled into the atmosphere of old centuries.

If you are more attracted by contemporary society, go to see the second part of the museum near metro station Mustek. This exposition includes two parts, famous persons and dictators. You can meet her Diana, Mozart, Einstein, Salvator Dali, Masaryk and many others.

Both museums are opened daily from 9 AM till 7 PM. You have two possibilities how to get into the museum. The first is to pay the entrance or the second chance is to study and work hard and become so famous that you will be there forever and for free. But the first possibility is simpler and surer.

“Dance is your pulse, your heartbeat, your breathing. It’s the rhythm of your life. Its the expression in time and movement, in happiness, joy, sadness and envy”. ~ Jacques D’Amboise

Stop for a moment and think about this quotation. Do you have a feeling that something is missing in your life? Something what would give you energy, positive emotions and euphory? Yes, there are some ways how to make your life more cheerful. One way is dance. Dance is as old as humankind. Dance expresses your feelings, your mood. When you are dancing you are forgetting all troubles and you are only concentrating on your body and rhythm. Have these lines captivated you? So read on.

I recently found the Centre of Dance. It is the biggest dancing-school in the Czech Republic which offers classes of various styles of dance. The main office is in Prague, but this agency has its branches and assembly rooms in the whole Czech Republic. It was established as the Centre of Oriental Dance in 1996 and since 2006 it has been presented as the Centre of Dance. Nowadays more than 3500 dancers attends classes under the direction of almost 90 instructors.

Originaly Oriental Dance was being taught and then flamenco, African dance and Latin dance (Salsa, Samba, Cha Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive) joined. Teenagers and children are especially interested in Reggaeton, Hip Hop, R’n’B and Modern dance.

Besides ordinary lessons, the Centre of dance arranges seminars with native dancing-masters and with dancing-masters from abroad as well. Also tours with lessons of dance are being arranged. The Centre of Dance is the special guarantee of dance competition Miss Orient and the main organizer of the international dance festival Let’s Dance 2006 Prague International Festival, which took place in summer 2006 for the first time.

As mentioned above, the main office office of Centrum Dance (Centrum tance) is in Novakovych 20a street in Prague – Palmovka. You can contact them on telephone number +420 222-719-050 or by e-mail info@centrumtance.cz. For more informations see the websites here.

The Ministry of Culture permited construction of two new high-rise buildings in Prague Pankrac. Skyscrapers will cost 2,5 milliard CZK and should be built in three years. One building will be a flat-building City Epoque and the second will be a hotel Epoque. Both buildings are a part of the City project of the value of 8 milliard CZK. Thirty–floor residence building City Epoque which will reach the height 104 metres will offer 150 flats. In four-star hotel Epoque there will be more than 300 apartments. Every building will have 320 parking places.

But some arguments against this project occured. UNESCO expressed serious disquietude in July this year. This is the first step before striking Prague’s historical centre off the UNESCO list. After this step registration of the city to the list of threatened monuments might follow which may finally lead to striking the monuments off the UNESCO list. Prague has the term until 1st February from UNESCO. During this time the project should be reconsidered and a study, which will guarantee the protection of the historical heritage of the city, should be made.

Prague replies partially to the critique of UNESCO. A study which difines maximum height of building for each part of the city is currently being made.

And what is the opinion of Prague inhabitants? Some of them agree with conservationists and with UNESCO. They think these buildings will destroy the integrity of historical Prague and they see the loss of Preservation of Monuments Movement. But on the other hand some of them do not see any problem in this project. They say that this place is out of Prague historical centre and in the direction of Pankrac there are other skyscrapers. These buldings only help improve the view of Pankrac and Prague needs modern architecture as opposite to the Old Prague. Everybody has one’s own opinion. So it is up to you which attitude you choose.

Do you like cars? Do you like quick cars? Do you like tuned cars? Do you like new or historic cars? So do not hesitate and visit Autoshow Prague 2007 together with Transped / Comma 2007 in Prague exhibition area in Holesovice from 18th to 21st October.

Autoshow Prague 2007 is in its 13th year. It is the international fair of passenger-cars and light commercial motor vehicles and automobile styling. You can see Car & Audio Show, Tuning & Racing, Allroad Show and Veteran Car Show.

Transped / Comma 2007 is 14th international exhibition of trucks, water-rail and air-transport, logistics, warehousing and manipulation.

32 617 people visited the fair last year and they could see expositions from 115 firms. If you are interested in passenger and light utility vehicles participating in Autoshow Prague 2007 there will be: Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Citroen, Corvette, Dodge, Ferrari, Fiat, Gaz, Honda, Hyundai, Hummer, Chevrolet, Jaguar, Kaipan, Kia, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Mini, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Seat, Ssangyong, Subaru, Suzuki, Škoda, Toyota, Uaz, Volkswagen.

Opening Time is Thursday – Saturday from 9.30 to 18.00, Sunday from 9.30 to 17.00. Entrance fees are 120 CZK for adults, reduced fee is 60 CZK and for family it is 200 CZK.

Do you remember the summer of 2002? I usually don’t remember any dates. However, this particular summer I remember quite well. Actually, everybody in Prague remembers it. It has been five years already but it still feels live. In August 2002, the Czech Republic was struck by the biggest flood in its history. They called it a 1,000-year flood and its results can be seen till today.

Five years ago. That’s a history you may say. But I remember very well how I felt just as if it happened yesterday. I was awakened by sirens. I panicked since it wasn’t the first Wednesday of a month and it wasn’t noon. You can’t imagine the horror of mine! I immediately felt so powerless. Flood was coming to Prague…

We knew what was coming for some days. It had been raining heavily for quite a time. Other cities in the Czech Republic were having serious problems already. But flood in Prague?

People were being evacuated, leaving their homes in a hurry because nobody really expected this would go so far. We just didn’t want to believe the news and the weather forecast. But then the nightmare had turned into reality and the terrible question appeared: What about the Charles Bridge? Will it survive? And what about the historical parts of Prague?

Hurriedly, mobile walls were erected on the right bank of Vltava River, protecting the precious Old Town. No protection, however, was built on the left bank of the Vltava River, leaving the beautiful Lesser Town of Prague and Kampa Island on its own. Prague inhabitants as well as tourists were holding their breaths. It was like in some catastrophic movie from Hollywood. Except for the fact that this was too damn real.

The traffic network in Prague was near collapse for many weeks since Prague underground was damaged as well.

The most severely hit parts of Prague turned out to be the Prague district Karlin and Prague Zoo. In Karlin, there is still a hole after one collapsed building. Yes, even five years after the terrible floods. It is right opposite the subway station Florenc (yellow line B and green red line C), trams 8 and 24.

Prague Zoo experienced not only material losses due to the floods, but had also lost hundreds of animals.

Maybe thanks to the eggs added to the mortar, as the legend says, the Charles Bridge has survived. Nevertheless, in order to survive more, a huge reconstruction of the Charles Bridge is now in progress.