Mailbox
Today's Mailbox includes: Topics: Anarchists' convergence centre. Czechs' view on NATO summit. Communist protesters. Stomp and Czech musicals. composers Stanislav Suda and Josef Myslivecek. Quotes from: Ann Gridge, Peter Bailey, Janet King, Mark Hampton, Anthony Prochaska, Gerry Morrow.
Hello and welcome to Mailbox.
We've finally reached the weekend after the rather eventful and stressful NATO summit that was held in Prague but it looks like there are still a few questions open. We will not spend too much time on them as we have lots of other queries that we intend to answer today.
So, here's our first question from Ann Gridge, Nigeria:
"I came across some news that an anarchist convergence centre was closed down before the NATO meeting. Can you tell me more about that?
What the anarchists call the convergence centre, is a meeting place where protesters can make their banners and flags and other such things. On Wednesday, however, the owner of the building in which the centre was located called up the activist who rents it, saying that he has to leave the premises as the centre was damaging his reputation.
According to one anarchist web site, the eviction was monitored by riot police. Before that, the centre was watched by police who filmed and checked the ID's of everyone who went into it.
That's all we can tell you on that case. Here's another question on NATO from Peter Bailey from Georgia. It's an e-mail and it doesn't say whether it's the independent country or Georgia in the U.S. Anyway, Peter asks:
"You have reported a lot on the NATO summit lately but one thing I didn't get to learn from your broadcasts was how the average Czech outside of Prague views the summit. Are they just as concerned about the security of their country? Have they expressed support or have they opposed the summit being held in Prague?"
And we have another question from Janet King, Australia concerning NATO:
"I heard some 3000 Communists were expected to demonstrate. That's a large number."
The views on the NATO summit outside the Czech capital were somewhat mixed. The older generation was given the idea from what was said in the media that Prague was being turned into a fortress, with roads closed off, policemen everywhere and snipers on roofs. Others, however, were divided between the critical groups, analysing NATO and those who are proud to be citizens of the first post-Communist country to host such a historic event.
As far as the Communists are concerned. Several hundred people ended up protesting. Far less than expected but still quite a big crowd. They were mainly the elderly, reminiscing about the past, or the young generation who is voicing its opposition to NATO's means of handling conflict - and here I mean its involvement in Kosovo. There were very few middle-aged protesters, though.
Moving away from politics and into the arts. Here's a question from Mark Hampton, New York, USA:
"Is it true that Prague got to see Stomp? What did Czech audiences think of it? It is one of my favourite performances. I love going to musicals. Are musicals popular in the Czech Republic and are there any Czech-made musicals?"
Yes, Stomp was shown in Prague for a couple of days but unfortunately many of those who wanted to see it couldn't because tickets were far too expensive. The cheapest cost 700 Czech crowns but most of them were for 1800,- and even over 2000,- crowns.
There are quite a number of Czech musicals. They've enjoyed a long and popular history, both as political comment and pure entertainment. Some of the most popular musicals are The Hop Pickers, Lemonade Joe, A Thousand Clarinets, and the more recent Year of the Devil and Rebels.
Anthony Prochaska sent us an e-mail, asking about the Czech composer Stanislav Suda.
"Last summer, while we were in Prague, my wife bought some music by this composer. The sales clerk told us that he also composed music for the orchestra, but they didn't have any in their files. Do you have any examples of his music? I direct a small community orchestra and would like to expose my members to some Czech music."
We will be happy to send you information on where you can get his music. Stanislav Suda was born on April 30th 1865. He was the third of six children. When he was seven months old, he lost his eye sight. Despite this handicap, he learned to play the flute and violin. A friend taught him how to play the piano.
Thanks to his great musical talent and his amazing ability to remember music, he played the flute in concerts in Czech spa towns as well as concert halls abroad. But he was most active in composing his own music, which totalled some one hundred compositions of all genres - from simple instrumental pieces to operas and symphonies. He died from tuberculosis on September 1st 1931.
And staying with the topic of Czech composers, we had another e-mail from Gerry Morrow, who writes:
"Hello. I am very interested in the life and works of Josef Myslivecek. I have collected many recordings of his works. However, I have been unable to find very much information regarding his life and times. I would be grateful if you could provide me with any information concerning a reference text in English, Czech, French or German."
We will certainly provide you with links to Internet sites where you will find information on Mr Myslivecek in the languages you requested. But here's just a brief look at his life...
Josef Myslivecek was born in 1737. He was the son of a Prague miller and actually learned the trade before deciding to study music. In 1863, he left the country for Venice, where he was taught by the Italian maestro G.B. Pescetti. He was one of very few foreign composers to make a name for himself in Italy. He continued, however, to stay in contact with his home country and some of his work was performed in Prague. In Italy, he was nicknamed "Il Divino Boemo", the Divine Bohemian. He fell victim to a fatal disease in Rome in 1781.
And that's where we'll end today's Mailbox. Remember that you can find a copy of the winter schedule as well as a review of all of our programmes and lots of interesting information on the Czech Republic on our website - www.radio.cz/english.
We also have special reports such as on NATO, minorities, etc.
Send us your mail with questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected] if it's an e-mail or send a letter to the Radio Prague English Section, 120 99 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
My name is Martin Hrobsky, thanks for listening.
And my name is Dita Asiedu. Happy listening and keep on writing!
