Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the London Symphony Orchestra bring together three works that define the ‘Czech sound’, by composers who drew their material from Czech history, legends and landscapes – Dvoak and Janacek. Janacek’s Ballad of Blanik and Dvorak’s Golden Spinning Wheel are both symphonic poems that take Czech legends as their inspiration –... Read more »

An evening talk and recital. Samantha Crawford and Lada Valesova explore the female roles in the operas of the great Czech composers, Dvorak, Janacek and Smetana. During this entertaining and illuminating evening they will perform highlights and discuss the music and characterisation in depth. Afterwards there are limited spaces for a dinner with these two... Read more »

Slovak writers' tour 22 -25 October - Manchester, Oxford, Cambridge, London Join a panel of renowned authors chaired by Diana Vonnak for a celebration of modern Slovak literature. Ursula Kovalyk, Ivana Dobrakovova and Balla will discuss their award-winning works of fiction. Also taking part will be their English translator, Julia Sherwood. Ursula Kovalyk is a... Read more »

Composers pouring their most personal thoughts and feelings into their work is not unusual, but these two pieces by Dvorak and Suk feel much more deeply connected than most. Dvorak and Suk had a very long and close relationship as father-in-law and son-in-law. Suk’s Second Symphony, ‘Asrael’, named for the Hebrew Angel of Death, was... Read more »

Miro Žbirka – a living legend of Slovak and Czech popular music is celebrating his 40 year-long music career with concerts in London, Prague and Bratislava. Don't miss this greatest hits show supported by Abbey Road Studio musicians with whom he recorded his last two albums. Drums – Blair Cunningham Bass – Hamish Stewart, Pearse... Read more »

As contemporary politics drift closer to totalitarianism, historiography from scholars and thinkers who have experienced twentieth-century totalitarian regimes is more important than ever. A professor of legal philosophy Jiri Priban and Pavel Seifter, historian and former Czech Ambassador to the UK, search for the roots of contemporary problems in our past, examining how we navigate... Read more »

A concert by Romani children from the Chavorenge Children’s Choir led by Ida Kelarova and her team accompanied by musicians from the Czech Philharmonic. “Romani children don’t feel welcome in our society. Breaking free from the vicious circle of settlements and ghettos into a world where they are expected to succeed, be self-confident and achieve... Read more »

The ensemble took the name of a Czech composer, and continues its commitment to music from his country in this programme, with a work by Erwin Schulhoff alongside a quartet by Smetana. The contemporary Slovak composer L'ubica Cekovska is also represented. L'ubica Cekovska (b.1975) A Midsummer Quartet Erwin Schulhoff (1894-1942) String Quartet No. 1 Bedrich... Read more »

Inspired by the real-life story of a woman in the small town of Štúrovo in southern Slovakia. A portrait of a woman compelled to listen to music known for pushing boundaries and conventions in contemporary Slovak theatre. Author, director, actor and conceptual artist Sláva Daubnerová blends authenticity and documentary techniques with fiction to pose fundamental... Read more »

One-day seminar hosted by UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies. Co-organised with the Centre for the Study of Central Europe, UCL SSEES and the Institute of Slovak Literature of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, this one-day conference, open to the public, aims to introduce the reading public as well as publishers, journalists, translators,... Read more »