Czech Philharmonic Lends a Hand

Watch the benefit concert from Prague's Rudolfinum in support of the medical professionals persevering in their efforts to treat patients with COVID-19 at four Czech hospitals. Directed by Michael Beyer.

The Czech Philharmonic delivered a special benefit concert to support the designated hospitals for treating patients infected with COVID-19. Broadcasted live on 28 March and now available for you to stream, you can hear well-known compositions by Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Václav Trojan and Johann Sebastian Bach in chamber arrangements. All performers appear with face masks and observe sufficient spacing on the stage, in which manner they hope to also appeal to the importance of safe and considerate behaviour among all citizens in this time of crisis.

“At first, we all watched the spread of coronavirus from afar and hoped it would pass soon without becoming too serious. At the end of February, in early March, we were still looking forward to Head Conductor Semyon Bychkov’s Prague premiere of the Requiem for Hieronymus Bosch by Detlev Glanert and to Jakub Hrůša as the key guest for Janáček’s opera Káťa Kabanová. But just a few days later all of our plans, which had been years in the making, had turned to dust. We had to cancel our concerts, but we also began thinking about how and whom we could help, especially when we ourselves had experienced such an incredible show of solidarity from our listeners, who refused to return their tickets so they could help us cover our losses. We teamed up with Czech TV and Česká spořitelna bank and came up with the idea of holding a benefit concert that could be performed even under the strictest safety recommendations”, says David Mareček, Executive Director of the Czech Philharmonic.

Proceeds from the benefit will go to help the medical staff of four hospitals taking care of the most seriously affected patients of the coronavirus infection – Na Homolce Hospital, Motol University Hospital, Brno University Hospital and St Anne's University Hospital Brno.

Performing: Jiří Vejvoda – moderation, Jana Boušková – harp, Václav Petr – violoncello, Jiří Vodička – violin, Martin Kasík – piano, David Mareček – piano, Josef Špaček – violin, Miroslav Sekera – piano and Lobkowicz trio: Jan Mráček – violin, Ivan Vokáč – violoncello, Lukáš Klánský – piano
Directed by: Michael Beyer
Length: 98 mins
Year of production: 2020
HD
Genre: Music