Generální konzulát v Chicagu uspořádal koncert v chrámu Chicago St. James Cathedral. Koncert nabídl reprezentativní přehlídku české klasické hudby z děl Antonína Dvořáka, Josefa Suka či Bedřicha Smetany až po vlastní novodobou tvorbu Jaroslava Svěceného. Uvedeny byly také skladby světových mistrů klasické hudby, Ludwiga van Beethovena či Astora Piazzoly.

Na úvod vystoupil generální konzul Bořek Lizec s projevem, ve kterém stručně připomenul historii vzniku Československa a také jedinečnou roli, kterou v ní sehrálo Chicago. Po koncertě následovala číše vína.

 

Projev:

 

Dobrý večer dámy a pánové,

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

National day for me is a day of national pride. Please allow me briefly mention at least few reasons why I am proud today. I think that at least once a year during this special time we owe to remember these reasons to our ancestors who made the once unlikely dream of modern, independent Czech statehood a reality. 

I am proud of the first Czechoslovak Republic whose example we still aspire to follow.

I am proud of Professor Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first Czechoslovak President, of his leadership based on values of democracy, freedom, humanity, gender equality, and not at least his ability to defend these values even in situations when it conflicted with majority view of the nation.

I am proud of our ancestors who fought for the independence of our nation in the Czechoslovak legions.

I am proud to have the honor to represent the Czech Republic here in Chicago. I am proud of incredible successes that our countrymen have achieved in this great city, including the Mayor of Chicago Antonín Čermák who first started to work here in the mines, just as his father. I am grateful to the University of Chicago, Samuel Harper and particularly to Charles Crane for inviting Professor Masaryk to Chicago to lecture as the visiting professor here. Later, Charles Crane, with the help of his son, introduced Masaryk to President Woodrow Wilson who ultimately agreed to recognize the sovereign Czechoslovakia. In my opinion, there is little doubt that without this recognition, Czechoslovakia would probably not have come into being. The United States proved to be, not for the last time in the past century, the closest friend and ally of our nation. 

I am proud of the American Sokol organization that has been always there for us Czechs in the homeland for over 150 years. Sokols have been the foundation of our state even before it was officially established. I heard recently an answer by a young Sokol in Nebraska to the question why was she proud to be Czech. She replied: “This is what I am, what I will always be and what I would die for.” I will never stop to be impressed to hear such an answer from a sixth generation Czech-American.

I am very pleased that one of the best Czech violinists Mr. Jaroslav Svěcený and the superb pianist Václav Mácha kindly accepted our invitation to perform on this occasion in Chicago. The Czech classical music is certainly an area of which we Czechs can be proud as well.

Please enjoy the concert and the special evening!