German orchestra performs at opening of Prague Spring for first time

The opening concert of the 70th edition of the Prague Spring International Music Festival took place at the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House on Tuesday evening. The North German Radio Symphony Orchestra played at the curtain-raiser, becoming the first German ensemble to do so in the history of the Czech Republic’s biggest classical music event. Under the baton of Thomas Hengelbrok the orchestra performed a rapturously received My Country by Bedřich Smetana, which traditionally opens the Prague Spring.