Prague and the Czech Republik 1997

From 24. May through 1. June the JGO traveled Czech Republic with an extensive repertoire and had altogether 5 concerts in Prague and surroundings. The two conductors Roland Boehm and Helmut Oesterreich shared in conducting. The whole project had been organized with enormous commitment of Marika Jetelina, a member of the orchestra. She was born in Czech Republik and could use her local contacts. Of course she masters also the Czech language and was therefore our continuous translator. Thanks a lot, Marika!

The tour had begun by train with a quite adventurous night-trip from Stuttgart to Prague where we arrived in the early morning. We continued with the bus to the 60 km distant Mlada Boleslav where we were accommodated on a campsite in small log cabins. Mlada Boleslav is an important Czech industry-city, particularly because of the here resident Skoda - automobile-works. The sightseeing-tour on the next day was a first climax of the trip. Together, we visited the Hradschin, the government-seat of Vaclav Hável and the impressive Karl-church, from its tower we had a wonderful gaze over the whole city. With historic explanations, a Czech guide supplemented our impressions. In the evening we explored the the old part of town individually, saw the Wenzelsplatz, the old town hall, the astronomic clock and had opportunity for cheap music-purchases. We visited the numerous concerts or culture-events and met at last in the famous jazz-club " Reduta ", in which Bill Clinton and Vaclav Hável had once jammed together. Large-size photos at the walls reminded of this spectacular event. During a nightly ride with a horse - chariot the Moldavia opposite showed the brightly illuminated Hradschin, and a walk over the Karl-bridge with numerous street-music-groups playing, rounded off this eventful day. Also in Pragueour first concert took place. In the audience, among other important personalities of the Czech music - scene, was composer Vaclav Kúcera, who praised the varied tone colors, the dynamics and agogics of the JGO and who announced to write a piece for the orchestra. We also met the famous "Due Boemi" for the first time. The program was: Guitarianas of Kúcera, Renaissance-music, Bach, Grieg and the original composition Attic of Andrew York and Roland Boehm's Concerto.

The JGO with Vaclav Kucera in Prague

The next day we had two concerts. In the high school in Mlada Boleslav, we played a program for children and teenagers. In the overcrowded hall, the listeners went along enthusiastic. The music in connection with moderation of Mr. Oesterreich was due to an extremely positive echo. The concert in the already mentioned Skoda - museum with largely other program happened at night. We played Niutao of Violeta Dinescu as well as Kúcera, York and Boehm, and the two final pieces were "Mouvements Dynamiques". The day after, we went to the nearby located " Bohemian paradise ". In the oversleeps working town Podebrady, that looked like a health resort of the 19. Century with its parks, Viennese cafes, (outstanding: the Palatschinken!), and installations. Here we had another performance and finally, after the sightseeing of a palace of the family Wallenstein, we played there, in the palace-chapel our last concert.