Getting to know Prague

Wednesday July 12, 2006

Today began our first rehearsal. There is a wide representation of singers for this event, high school, college, and community singers all combined to sing Carmina. I will get the actual listing of those schools and groups soon and post them when I can.

Our choral director for our time in Prague is Dr. Patrick Walders, from James Madison University. Let me just say, he is simply wonderful. He exudes energy, has a secure knowledge and understanding of the music, is very clear in his way of expressing his expectation of us…very professional, capable and enjoyable to sing for. He is also very young, no kidding, only twenty-nine! But the age is a non-issue because he has us focusing on warm-ups, and good techniques that are really enriching the sound.

Practice ran until 1:00, we ate a quick lunch in the hotel and then set out on our all-afternoon tour of Prague. Taking our bus into the city, we were divided into seven groups, each having a guide for the tour. The guide for my group I was named Lucka Kratochvil (pronounced Loo-ska) wife of the tour coordinator and Hartwick Director, Jirka Kratochvil.

We started our tour at the Strahov Monastery, which possesses books as old as 900 AD. It had many golden crosses and sunbursts on the outside and roof that with the sun shining on them made them shine with stunning brillance.

Next, we went to the Prague Castle complex, which includes Saint Vitus’ Cathedral and the Royal Palace among other things. We entered the complex through a guarded gate into one of several courtyards heading toward Saint Vitus’s Cathedral. It is an amazingly beautiful building, with many different architechural components: Neo-Gothic main entrance reminiscent of Notre Dame complete with gargoyles. 14th Century Medieval Gothic flying buttresses graced the Chancel end of the building. There were also Romanesque styled windows with beautiful medieval and modern stained glass. Within the church are the actual remains of the famous King Wenceslas (of the well known Christmas Carol).

One thing you might find interesting of Czech’s history is their use of defenestration (to throw out the window). There were three instances where governmental officials were thrown from a window whenever the people were not pleased with the work. We were shown the window where two governeors and their secretary were thrown some 50 feet out the window of the Royal Palace in 1618, which spurred the 30 Year’s War. (The victims survived the fall but the story of how they did so vary, though the Protestant’s said the men landed on a pile of manure that was under the window.)

We made our way to the Charles Bridge, the oldest bridge in Prague, built in the 14th century by King Charles IV, who some believe to be one of the greatest Czech Kings. Beginning in the 18th century, statues of Saints were erected on both sides of the bridge, though copies are standing today, with the originals housed in museums. Along the pedestrian path, vendors were selling crafts or artwork. Legend has it that the reason the bridge has survived seven centuries was due to the 14th century belief in the magic of time and numbers when deciding to lay the founding stone. The date chosen was 1357 on the 9th of July at 5:31 (It is a palindrome: 135797531.) The bridge will be undergoing restoration beginning next year for several years, which made our tour of it all the more special.

Our tour ended with our arrival at Old Town Square, where we viewed the Town Hall clock, an astronomical clock, with two faces, which tell the time as well as the movement of the stars, sun and moon. To prevent the inventor from ever duplicating this amazing timepiece the town leaders blinded him.

In the middle of the square is a huge statue of Jan Hus, who challenged the authority of the Catholic Church in the early 15th century. The people who followed his teachings are known as the Hussites.

It was at this point our tour ended and we were allowed over three hours of free time to explore as we pleased. A group of us wanted to purchase tickets to Mozart’s Opera, Don Giovanni. This is a special opera, made so because it is being shown at the same opera house it debuted at and that this is Mozart’s 250th birthday anniversary! We will be going to view the performance Friday evening and are very excited. It will no doubt be very hot in the theater, but at least I will not be a performer in theatrical clothing or wigs!!

My group consisting of Carol Loar, Barbara Barnes, Robert Mitchell, Eugenie Bierbrauer and Vic and Linda Bilanchone, found a Czech Restaurant where we had some wonderful beer and food. Two in the group ordered a meal the translated from Czech as “Good Grub”, which was mostly made up of different pork dishes.

After strolling around some more, we then met up with our buses and headed back to the hotel after another long, hot, exhausting, but very satisfying day!

I hope to include links and pictures soon!! My next post may not be until Sunday, but will be about: our trip to the German concentration camp, Terezin, more choral practice news, our evening at the opera, and of course, the reason why we are here: our performance Saturday evening!

Hope everyone is well!
Renee