People on the streets, music in the air – normal never felt so good. Or at least, approaching normal. Some of the best cultural offerings are still online. But the Prague arts community is doing heroic work bringing back live events, and whether your tastes run to rock, jazz, classical music, dance, theater or cinema, there’s something interesting on tap this week.
With the big crowds it always attracts at Bohnice, there was no way Mezi Ploty could be held this year. But organizers have done an impressive job moving it online, keeping nearly 80 acts in the lineup. In the cinemas, Days of European Film will be screening more than 40 films in three theaters.
The annual dance showcase Tanec Praha is giving audiences a chance to do their own creative choreography with a walking tour of Žižkov. Both Jazz Dock and AghaRTA are running full schedules again, and glorious noise is returning to Akropolis with a simultaneous live/live streamed Cocotte Minute concert.
Náplavka looks like it never shut down, with the pub and party boats already packed with thirsty drinkers. Two riverside events should pick up the pace even more this week. There’s Czech rock at Žluté lázně, and puppet theater for all ages on the Forman Brothers’ Tajemství boat, which opens for the season on Thursday.
On the classical side, the Czech Philharmonic continues its summer concert series at the Rudolfinum, this week offering opportunities to see a cimbalom ensemble and a world-class musician, violinist Josef Špaček. If singers are more to your liking, a trio of future opera stars is giving a recital at New Town Hall.
If you’ve grown accustomed to the entertainment coming to you, there’s no need to leave home. You can catch some first-rate flamenco, a Shakespeare play, mesmerizing music theater from Philip Glass and a modern music marathon (with local favorite Iva Bittová) all without leaving your couch. Access to venues like Royal Albert Hall, the Globe Theatre and the Metropolitan Opera was never so easy – or entertaining.
SUNDAY 14
Czech Philharmonic Summer Concert Series: Romantic Duets
Spend a relaxing afternoon at the Rudolfinum listening to sublime chamber music
Marta Kloučková at Jazz Dock
A great opportunity to catch the hottest vocalist on the Czech jazz scene (pictured at top)
Mezi Ploty
The annual Bohnice benefit is moving online this year without missing a beat
Bang on a Can Marathon
Six hours of nonconformist, noncommercial, boundary-breaking music from all over the world
MONDAY 15
Shakespeare Globe Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
A timely reprise of the Bard’s classic hallucinatory romp through the forest
Live at New Town Hall: Young Talents of World Opera
Beautiful music from a trio of rising stars coming out of quarantine
TUESDAY 16
Days of European Film
The festival brings cinemas back to life with 40 films from nearly 30 European countries.
Luboš Andršt at AghaRTA
Another welcome reopening, with the blues-rock guitarist getting the music started again.
Live with Carnegie Hall: Michael Feinstein
America’s premier singer-pianist leads a lively encounter with the music of Irving Berlin
Tanec Praha: GUIDEd Tour
The dance festival reprises a mesmerizing production by Věra Ondrašíková & Kolektiv
WEDNESDAY 17
Czech Philharmonic Summer Concert Series: Cimbalom Ensemble
Bright, upbeat music from a quintet of orchestra members playing cimbalom and strings
Whimsical Music Summer: Buty
Classic Czech rock in a relaxing green setting by the river
THURSDAY 18
Flamenco De Sofa: Nino de los Reyes
This Madrid-based dancer puts a contemporary spin on traditional flamenco
Loď Tajemství: Puppet Theater
The Forman Brothers theater boat is back with plenty of family fun
Royal Albert Hall: Nashville Meets London
Online concerts continue with this tasty sampling of British and American country music
FRIDAY 19
Czech Philharmonic Summer Concert Series: Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra
Superstar violinist Josef Špaček headlines a brilliant program of Penderecki, Stravinsky and Britten
SATURDAY 20
Tanec Praha: The Lungs of Žižkov
A walking art tour created in collaboration with the Landscape Festival
Palac Akropolis: Cocotte Minute
Jonesing for some head-banging rock? This band is bringing it both live and online
Metropolitan Opera at Home: Philip Glass’s Akhnaten
A spellbinding music drama with a minimalist score and fantastical costumes and sets
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