Prague Sounds – Concert for Europe with Semyon Bychkov & the Czech Philharmonic

For this special concert, the Vltava river in Prague turned into a unique concert venue. Floating stages were built especially for this concert. To celebrate Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Czech Philharmonic perform some of the most iconic pieces of Czech classical music. The concert opens with the anthem of the European Union, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”, and is completed by Smetana’s Vltava (The Moldau), Dvořák’s Carnival Overture and – as the main piece of the evening – Janáček’s monumental Glagolitic Mass, one of the most powerful sacred compositions ever. It is the perfect piece to celebrate Europe: “the ancient classical meets the spontaneously avant-garde in a special and optimal way.” (Lidové noviny) PROGRAM: Beethoven: ”Ode to Joy” Finale of Symphony No. 9, Op. 125; Dvořák: Carnival overture op. 92; Smetana: Vltava, a symphonic poem from the cycle 'My Country.' Janáček: Glagolitic Mass