PragueRadio Symphony Orchestra on the stage in Neung-dong

Photo: Prof. Kim Kyuchin

 

Seoul Metropolitan Government intentionally chose Czech music and Czech musicians within the three opening concerts, through which the largest and most modern open-air stage in Seoul (in Neung-dong Forest) was inaugurated. Both capital cities of the Republic of Korea and the Czech Republic are not only linked through the partnership agreement, but also through a series of cultural contacts. The popularity of Czech music and Czech culture surely played a significant role among Korean general public, for whom this "Open Air Festival 2009" was intended.

First of all, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vladimír Válek, performed in the Neung-dong Forest on May 3, 2009. Conductor Válek presented masterpieces by Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana as well as several Korean folk songs together with Korean children's choir. The next day, two dozens of Korean pop stars and musical stars performed in front of the fully occupied 8,000 strong audience. They presented the Korean versions of the most famous hits from four Czech musicals – Dracula, Hamlet, Cleopatra, and The Three Musketeers. The visitors could hear famous Czech hits – e.g. "You Are My Master" from Dracula by Karel Svoboda, or "I Want to Become Queen" from Cleopatra by Michal David – all already known also to the Korean public.

Even the third and final concert, performed by Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Chung Myung-whun, had a Czech flavour – not only due to the fact that one of the orchestra members is Michal Emanovský, but also due to the fact that the 1^st Movement of the From the New World symphony by Dvořák was performed.

More than a hundred thousand guests visited the Neung-dong Park and its vicinity during the weekend and following public holiday, which is celebrated as "The Children’s Day" in the Republic of Korea. Some visitors also set out into the nearby Naru Arts Center where Czech theatre group Drak performed their shows. Furthermore, an exhibition dedicated to a famous Czech cartoon character “Mole” (created by Czech animator Zdeněk Miler) took place. Finally, a Korean version of the exhibition Legends of Czech Castles and Chateaux was held, there.

All these cultural events - organized by Seoul Metropolitan Government in close cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic - became a part of cultural activities within the Czech Presidency of the European Union. All events were attended by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Korea H.E. Mr. Jaroslav Olša, jr., and by a group of Czech students and friends of our country.

 

_{In this regard, the Embassy of the Czech Republic would like to thank to Mr. Z. Miler and JUDr. M. Fischerová for their kind approval to display illustrations from selected books about the “Mole” on this occasion.}