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  • Prague, Czech Republic
    Prague, Czech Republic

Birthday Gala Concert at Radio Palace

Prague, Radiopalac — Main

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Total Price
$ 36

About the Event

Every time in the history of the Prague Symphony Orchestra a round anniversary was approaching, we were naturally very excited. But at the same time we had to circle around the exact date of the first concert. It just wasn't known. But in the summer of 2023, the circling ended. Former orchestra office manager Jiri Hannsmann found the holy grail in the midst of the newspaper blackout — an announcement and review of the very first symphony concert on October 24, 1934. Thanks to Jiri we also know the programme of the concert, its conductor and the stage: the Radiopalac. And the contemporary reviewer was not wrong: 'The new FOK orchestra, which is already outwardly recognizable as a representative and numerically adequate instrumental ensemble, is already heading for great artistic performances now, immediately after its foundation.'

Program

  • Ludwig van Beethoven – Leonore III, overture
  • Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No.5 C minor "Fatal" (1st movement)
  • Bedrich Smetana – The Moldau
  • Bedrich Smetana – Surprise
Program is subject to change

Artists

Orchestra: Prague Symphony Orchestra

Today's Prague Symphony Orchestra was founded in the autumn of 1934 by the conductor and musical organizer Rudolf Pekárek. He defined the new ensemble's fields of activity with the words Film‐Opera‐Koncert, which as the abbreviation FOK became part of the orchestra's title. By recording music for the majority of Czech films in the 1930s and performing regularly in live broadcasts of Czechoslovak Radio the FOK Orchestra made a name for itself and its economic existence was assured. 

After many years of efforts by the orchestra's leadership starting in 1945, the City of Prague followed the model of other European cities and in 1952 established its own professional concert ensemble to represent the city. The traditional acronym "FOK" was retained, and the new title of the orchestra became Symphony Orchestra of the Capital City of Prague — FOK. In 1957 the orchestra departed on its first foreign tours — to Poland, Italy, Austria, and Germany — and thus inaugurated its regular and intensive engagement on the international scene.

Violin: Ivan Zenaty
Conductor: Tomáš Brauner
Narrator: Ondřej Havelka
Cello: Jiří Bárta

Address

Radiopalac, 40, Vinohradská 1789, Prague, Czech Republic — Google Maps

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