The Czech Philharmonic, a world-class pianist and a Czech piano: The open air concert on Hradčany Square.
On Wednesday 17th June the Czech Philharmonic gave a grand concert in the open air on Hradčany square.
The concert aroused record interest, attracting over 6,500 people. It ended with a standing ovation and spontaneous singing from all those present, including members of the orchestra and the audience. It was the culmination of the Czech Philharmonic’s 119th season, under the baton of Chief Conductor Jiří Bělohlávek.
The evening began with the symphonic poem Tábor from Bedřich Smetana’s cycle Má Vlast, to mark the 600th anniversary of the martyrdom at the stake of Mistr Jan Hus. Then the Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein performed George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Sergei Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op. 43. The concert continued with two extracts from the American composer Aaron Copland’s ballet Rodeo, portraying the life of the American cowboys - Saturday Night Waltz and Hoe-Down, and ended with the sound of the children’s voices of the Čhavorenge Romany Choir, led by Ida Kelarová, singing a selection of Romany songs.