A standing ovationevent, to which the Italian Business Center had the honor of giving an organizational contribution
Standing ovation last 4th October at the Rudolfinum in Prague at the end of the Puccini’s opera “La Bohème”, played as a concert under the direction of the conductor Walter Attanasi.
The event has marked the debut in Czech Republic of the UmbriaMusicFest, a project conceived and managed by Attanasi himself, an Italian conductor who is well-known worldwide and has chosen Prague as his city of residence for some years now.
The UmbriaMusicFest is a travelling festival combining different art forms – sacred music, opera, jazz and drama which are perfectly matched with the beauties of the guest towns. Prague, the magic city par excellence is one of the most prestigious capitals of European music culture and represents an ideal stage for an event like this.
In fact, the UmbriaMusicFest has been involved for years in a cultural exchange with Czech Republic by proposing in Italy some masterpieces of the Czech music like for example two years ago with Antonín Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, which was played in Assisi and in Rome in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
“To be in Prague today is the natural development of this path” has actually underlined maestro Attanasi.
“I’m extremely satisfied. It’s an event I’d been expecting for years and in which I’ve been particularly interested, also due to the special relationship I have with this fabulous city, where I live. My aim is to bring on stage in Prague at least a great concert opera a year, just like we’ve done today”.
The fact that the UmbriaMusicFest has chosen exactly The Bohème to make its debut in Prague is not certainly accidental. “It wants to be a homage to Bohemia” so remembers maestro Attanasi by highlighting the origins of this French word which is used worldwide today to describe an anti-conventional lifestyle often referring to artists and musicians living a modest life.
The word bohemienne in fact derives maybe from that crowd of Czech students who, to avoid persecutions, left their country during the 30 years War and after the defeat of the White Mountain to move to Paris.
On the eve of this evening in Prague we have to admit that someone was not so sure that it would be a good idea to play this opera under the form of a concert. The renunciation of the set might in fact seem risky. But eventually the audience, being in the condition of reflecting in major concentration upon the exquisitely musical structure of the opera thus avoiding the distraction of the staging, showed appreciation about the idea.
The soloists, who were very good, deserve a particular recognition, since they executed this performance with great confidence and in an unusual way providing the spectators with measured but effective gesture. In particular Marcela Chacón (Mimì) and Luciano Ganci (Rodolfo).
To praise is also the Orchestra’s performance (Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra di Zlín), the treble voices (the choir of Holešov “Children of Moravia”) and the Choir of the City of Bratislava.
Maestro Attanasi was keen to remember how the project UmbriaMusicFest is not new to international experiences: “Our festival has successfully reached its fourth edition in Bratislava thanks to the twin relationship between the Czech capital and the town of Perugia. Objective of the operation is also promoting the Italian art by involving local and international art groups.
Very suitable was the choice of the Rudolfinum as privileged venue. It is a prestigious new Renaissance building, today the seat of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, especially built in the 19th century for Rudolf (the firstborn of Franz Josef of Austria and of the Sissi Empress)
The event was aimed at promoting the Italian culture abroad on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Unity of Italy and was held in co-operation with the Italian Embassy in Prague and the Italian Institute of Culture. To support the event also the Umbria region, the region and the town of Zlín (Moravia), and also some important Italian enterprises and organizations working in Czech Republic.
Progetto Repubblica Ceca has the honor to be the media partner.
By Kateřina Veselá