Please sign in to post.

Seeking symphonic Dvorak and Smetana in Prague

We are venturing to Prague for 3 nights, arriving Monday, and hope to experience quality performances of gems by each of these masters, especially hoping to hear Smetana’s Moldive with a full orchestra. On the website, Pragueexperience.com, I see Pearls of Czech & World Class Music to be performed at the Lobcowicz Palace at Prague Castle and a Classical Concert at St Nicolas Curch in the Old Town Square. There is also the Chamber Music Concert at St Simon & St Jude Church.

In Vienna we experienced a very touristy production amidst a non-sophisticated audience (photos of concert hall, sleeping or talking during the performance, not applauding). The performance was a fine musical variety of offerings, musicians and vocalists in period costuming; quality music and engaging performances. Very disturbing to be amidst such disrespect for this gift of music. We don’t wish to repeat this kind of experience. We also purchased side view opera tickets where we could only see 1/3rd of the stage. The voices were stunningly beautiful, but seeing if the production in full view would have beeen worth added planning and expense.
Thank you for your recommendations and guidance.

Posted by
21145 posts

See what is playing at the Municipal House concert hall. They often do Dvorak 9th (New World) and Smetena's My Country (including On the Moldau). The orchestra is professional, but you have to understand that Czech music lovers will more likely be going the Prague Symphony which does a full classical repertoire. Even Czechs would tire of nothing but Dvorak and Smetana. So yes, these concerts are primarily aimed at tourists. The Municipal House concert hall is beautiful.

For opera, see what is playing at the Estates Theater. They often have Don Giovanni, since that is the exact theater where Mozart himself conducted the premier in 1787. The Estates Theater is rather small, only 600 or so seats. The productions, orchestra, and singers are excellent. But again this is not the main opera venue in Prague, which handles the standard international repertoire with big name singers. Both are under the auspices of the Czech National Theater.

Edit - Checking the National Theater website, if you are talking about this Monday (22nd), Mozart's Magic Flute is at the Estates Theater 7 pm. They have English supertitles. Still tickets left on the main floor for 1190 CZK ($55)
https://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/en/show/7867?t=2018-10-22-19-00

At the National Theater (main opera house) they are doing Dvorak's Rusalka on the 24th at 7 pm. They have English supertitles. Tickets on 2nd balcony middle for 790 CZK ($36)
https://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/en/show/5318?t=2018-10-24-19-00

Posted by
2681 posts

http://www.bohemiaticket.cz/
have a look at this company and you should be able to find things on at the many venues in the city,see if something suits.
A couple of months ago I was in the Vysehrad cemetery taking some friends to see Dvorak's grave and managed to get the New World Symphony on my phone and played it at the graveside .

Posted by
4161 posts

If you are arriving in Prague by rail , keep your ears peeled for the announcements of arriving and departing trains , they are always preceded by the opening measures of the first movement of " Ma Vlast " , " Vyseherad " , A classy touch , indeed .

Posted by
93 posts

I too was looking for that magic combo and with our stay already booked had to search within the time parameters of a week in May. Best I could come up with was Prague Ticket Office-Via Musica “The best of classics with soprano” at St.Georges Basilica. Excerpts from the 9th and Moldau along with others being peformed by 6 musicians in the intimate 10th century church(no heating either!). So out come my cd’s for the full orchestra experience...