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<\/a><\/p>\nThat is the history and rather dreary part.\u00a0\u00a0 Once we entered the building it was instantly transformed into magnificence!\u00a0 The lobby, where the concert was to be held, was in the center of the building where four staircases meet.\u00a0 The landing was the stage, complete with a big grand piano!\u00a0 There were chairs for people to sit on, as well as seating on the lush red carpeting on the stairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here we see Soprano Liana Sass and Tenor Vladimir Koval singing one of their arias.\u00a0 They were lively and funny and interacted with the audience.\u00a0 During one scene, Liana flirted with the man you see in the blue shirt and Koval kissed an older lady during his part of the act.\u00a0 They brought the audience right into their songs and actions with a sly wink of the eye and smiles freely given.\u00a0 Most of the Christmas songs were a bit more serious.<\/p>\n
Having just arrived in Prague, neither of us had much time yet to practice our Czech.\u00a0 I noticed the lady sitting next to me was really enjoying the music, so much so, that at one point she had tears in her eyes.\u00a0 When it was finished, I turned to her and in English explained that I also had felt very moved.\u00a0 She understood, rattled away in Czech, held my hand and in parting planted a kiss on my cheek!\u00a0 Language was no barrier. . . music and song breached it.<\/p>\n
Our second Concert was held in Old Town in the Baroque Library Hall of the former St. Michael’s Monastery.\u00a0 This Monastery was founded in 1626 but has not been a church since the 1800’s.\u00a0 Unfortunately many beautiful objects were sold and the building was in disuse and disrepair.\u00a0 At one time it was even a warehouse!\u00a0 It has recently been turned into a music hall with a beautiful and unique fresco-ed ceiling (at least in my opinion).\u00a0 This concert was a mixture of Czech Christmas Carols and other World Carols.\u00a0 Also on the venue was music from Swan Lake, The Four Seasons and music by the Czech composer, Smetana.\u00a0 We were warmly greeted at the door with champagne and since the gathering was small it almost had the feel of a private concert just for us!\u00a0 No pictures were allowed, but I managed one of the ceiling fresco.<\/p>\n
\n This view was out the window. . this was once an old courtyard, which now is the entrance to Mike’s Cafeteria, appropriately named after St. Michael’s!\u00a0 Maybe the friars from the monastery drank beer here?\u00a0 Ha, ha.\u00a0 Notice the Christmas lights and Santa by the Christmas Tree all made more beautiful by a light dusting of snow.<\/p>\n Our third and last concert was in February.\u00a0 It was at the Municipal House on Republic Square.\u00a0 This building was built in a magnificent Art Nouveau style and since the very beginning was meant to be a multi-functional building.\u00a0 Our concert was held in the large Smetana Hall.\u00a0 I had walked past this building many times and taken photos of the outside but never did I ever get a full shot.<\/p>\n Entering the building I felt very posh and once seated in the Hall and looking around, I truly appreciated it’s beauty.\u00a0 Unfortunately I\u00a0 did not enjoy the music of this concert very much, finding it too heavy for my taste.\u00a0 (To this day, I cannot remember the name of it.)\u00a0\u00a0 I spent a great deal of time craning my neck to see all the ornamentation and wall paintings by some very famous artists.\u00a0 It boggled my mind just thinking of all the music played in this hall over the years.<\/p>\n Smetana Hall holds a lot of people!\u00a0 The singers took the top half and stood for the entire concert, only singing for about the last 10 minutes!\u00a0 The symphony sat below on the stage.<\/p>\n I strongly encourage people to be sure to go to concerts while in Prague.\u00a0 It is truly a city of music.\u00a0 Everywhere you go, any day of the week, any hour of the day, there seems to be a concert, an opera or ballet to go to.\u00a0 It is a common sight to see musicians carrying their instruments, getting off and on trams and metro.\u00a0 Living over us in our apartment was a man who played for the Prague Symphony and we would quite often hear him practicing his trumpet.\u00a0 That might sound rather annoying, but believe me it wasn’t!\u00a0 It only added to the flavour of Prague!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Christmas is definitely a time for concerts.\u00a0 When I looked on the internet at the various venues offered plus the wonderful buildings they were in I felt I was getting a double whammy\u009d!\u00a0 Two for the price of one!\u00a0 Sightseeing … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n