Music Suggestions

For Prague, try Smetana's "Moldau": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5zwt3B8Weg&feature=related or some of the incidental music from his 'Bartered Bride". Or anything from Dvorak. I know you said no Mozart, but "Don Giovanni" premiered there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK1_vm0FMAU List of composers who's careers were spent primarily in or near Vienna: Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Mahler, Johann Strauss II. This is the only example I know of modern Austrian pop music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwBMrYJODmM&feature=related (I think this was a novelty song, on the same level of serious intent as the Chipmunks). If you want serious Hungarian music, there Bartok's Music for Strings Percussion and Celesta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB_PTA4dGws&feature=related If you want something more fun, Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkktn2_-gsw
or Brahm's Hungarian Dance #5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X9LvC9WkkQ

Thanks... I will be spending my afternoon on utube...
Also, I didn't mean I didn't want any Mozart, just that I already had some, but I guess I am happy to hear favorites so I can check those out.

For Prague - though it's Czech authenticity is dubious - I would sugest: "If You Want Me" and "The Hill" by Marketa Irglova along with any music from the movie "Once" that those songs are from. The movie is set in Ireland and is a showpiece for the music of Irish "busker" Glen Hansard. But it's great music and, if nothing else, has a nice travel to Europe vibe to it. She also has more of her own music on iTunes and YouTube and she has a cute Czech accent. (yes, I'm a bit smitten...)

How about Falco, with Rock Me Amadeus? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auEGzIBUqS8&feature=related

I have also found a few new to share... Hungarian singer Kati Wolf singing What about my Dreams? in Hungarian...Also the soundtrack from The Third Man, and Zweitfrau- Intensiv.
Thanks for all these. I am building a wonderful playlist for our trip as well as dinner tonite. I can add more, so feel free with more suggestions. Tom... Mackie Messer is great...Love it

For something that combines the genius of Liszt, Mel Blanc, and Daffy Duck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxjU8JJEuSM

"On The Road Again" - Willie Nelson ;-)

Tom hit the major composers, but since we're so far from that with some of these other recommendations, I'll suggest a few really fantastic options to have on during a dinner party, but they have nothing to do with the countries you're visiting: Esperanza Spalding – Grammy for Best New Artist (jazz) Feist – Indie Cheb i Sabbah – World Music

I am always happy for lots of music suggestions...it can relate to the countries, or just travel in general. I love to have some new stuff that I have not heard before so it can bring to mind a particular trip. @Tex... I used "On the road again' for a slideshow that I did for my grandkids when I took them on a trip a few summers ago that we have dubbed The Country Music Trail...I am not a huge fan of most country music, but thought they should visit Memphis, Nashville, and of course, Graceland. They do love BBKing and though Elvis's place was interesting...

I don't know what this comes from, but I was looking for an excuse to post it. The clip is a really stylish, jazzy Czech version of that old "American standard" Mack the Knife... which actually originated from a German cabaret opera as "Mackie Messer": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDU_8hnWcbE Hey, Prague's one of the jazz centers of Europe, so why not include this?

I like to do the same thing as I prepare for trips. Leoš Janá?ek is another Czech composer, that's very popular in the Czech Republic. Franz Liszt (Hungarian) has several pieces called "Hungarian Rhapsody" that I like; they're numbered, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 1, No. 2, etc.