Friday, August 20th through Saturday, September 4th, the international classic music festival, Dvořákova Praha, will take place at the magnificent Rudolfinum, home to the Czech Philharmonic.
Dvořákova Praha is a celebration of the life & works of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák and his major impact on the Prague classical music scene in the 19th century.
The festival hosts a variety of international artists, each of whom will play a selection of Dvořák's famous pieces, among them the New World Symphony, the Slavonic Dances, and Rusalka.
Dvořák Hall
Although he spent much of his career abroad, Dvořák's heart undoubtedly belonged to the Czech lands, and especially the Bohemian countryside. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra's first concert took place in the gorgeous Rudolfinum on January 4, 1896, and was conducted by no other than Antonín Dvořák.
Dvořák
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The neo-renaissance Rudolfinum building is located on a site called Rejdiště. In 1873, this site was bought by the Czech insurance company, Česká Spořitelna, with the goal to build a House of Artists as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of its founding. Crown Prince Rudolf became the patron of the project and the building was named after him. Well known architects J. Schulz and J. Zítek won the bid competition and presented the first plans in the year 1875. The facade is an analogy of the fire-destroyed Semper Opera in Dresden (1838-1841). The building was finished in the year 1881, and the sculptures in the attic gable are from 1884, the same year that the concert hall and the surrounding spaces were furnished. The inauguration concert was held on February 7, 1885.
The roof of the Rudolfinum bears the statues of famous composers, including Wagner. A legend from World War II states that the Concert Hall was to be defaced by toppling Mendelssohn off the roof, but the Nazi lackey was so ignorant that he knocked off Wagner's instead.
Two majestic lions guard the carriage way
For more information about the festival, visit http://www.dvorakovapraha.cz/en/index.shtml
Rudolfinum
Alsovo nabrezi 12
11000 Praha 1
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