Bad luck comes in many guises, and in Prague its modus operandi can sometimes be unnervingly Kafkaesque. Such was the case with Strings of Autumn, a festival that offers a broad spectrum of both classical and crossover concerts, which used to be held at Prague Castle.

After eight successful seasons, the event was ousted from the Castle grounds in 2004, the year after the current administration took over. No one would say why. Marek Vrabec, the festival's artistic director, was forced to wander the streets in search of new sponsors and venues.

Fortunately, the townspeople proved helpful. Following a significantly reduced program last year, the festival is back on its feet, with the National Theater, the National Museum and the Czech Philharmonic as new co-presenters. Audiences can once again look forward to a rich, eclectic program, with concerts ranging from classical music played on period instruments to contemporary jazz to crossover performances that place music in new, unexpected contexts.

Among the highlights this year will be the British composer Michael Nyman, Italian accordionist Teodoro Anzellotti, French soprano Natalie Dessay and American vibraphonist Gary Burton, who will be performing with Japanese pianist Makoto Ozone. Local talent will also be represented by the likes of Jirí Bárta and Dagmar Pecková. With names like these, it's not surprising that tickets are selling fast.

Vrabec notes that despite its growing popularity, the festival remains an intimate affair. "We're not trying to compete with other big music festivals in Prague," he says. One of the things that sets Strings of Autumn apart from similar events is that it's spread out over several months. "This gives you the chance to fully savor each concert," says Vrabec.

To this day, Vrabec isn't sure why the festival is no longer welcome at the Castle. "I think it just didn't fulfill the new administration's idea of what sort of events should be held there," he says. "I do regret having to leave — the interiors of Prague Castle were a very majestic setting." But according to Vrabec, many of those spaces weren't ideal concert venues. "I see [the move from the Castle] as a step forward," he says. "The location of Prague Castle helped shape it, but the festival has come to have a life of its own."

Considering Vrabec's recent triumph over adversity, it's perhaps fitting that the festival's opening act this year (Sept. 25) is celebrating a comeback of her own. Natalie Dessay, the light, agile coloratura soprano from France, is famous for her performances of such challenging roles as the Queen of Night in Mozart's Magic Flute. At Strings of Autumn she will perform pieces by Boieldieu, Massenet, Thomas, Cherubini, Bellini, Auber and Donizetti.

Two years ago, Dessay underwent vocal surgery and there were fears about how well her voice would recover. Post-surgery, she had to reconsider her whole vocal technique.

"Before, because I was a high soprano, I didn't work very hard on my voice," says Dessay. But the surgery worked to her advantage. "I'm a better singer now," she says. "I had a lot of time to think about many things, and I've learned to take great pleasure in music."

A singer who had to learn to love music? Perhaps this doesn't sound so odd if you consider that Dessay initially didn't want to sing, but act. It was while acting that she discovered her potential as a singer. "I didn't fall in love with the opera — the opera fell in love with me," she quips.