The festival's relaxing pace belies its turbulent history — tossed out of its home at the castle in 2004, forced to regroup with a survival-level program that year, then scrambling to establish sponsorships and partnerships to support a full-blown program last year. The good news is that 2005 was an unqualified success, highlighted by world-class performers like Natalie Dessay, Gary Burton and Michael Nyman, and the festival is back this year healthier than ever.

This year's festival gets off to a rousing start with German cabaret queen Ute Lemper taking the stage at the National Theater, of all places, with her own band and repertoire (Sept. 24). "When she was here a couple years ago, she did a symphonic program with the Prague Symphony Orchestra," says Vrabec. "This will be totally different, she's singing real cabaret."

Czech singing stars are also on major stages as part of this year's festival. Iva Bittová stars in Don Juan in Prague (Oct. 22), a modern adaptation of Mozart's Don Giovanni that strips the orchestra down to a string quintet and supplements the original score and libretto with computer-generated music, graphics and videos. The piece was a hit when it debuted in New York City in 2003, and should have special resonance here at the Estates Theater, where the original debuted in 1787. (Alas, there is only one performance, and at press time it was sold-out.)

At the Rudolfinum Oct. 31, opera star Eva Urbanová gets the first of what will no doubt be many tributes over the coming year, as 2007 marks her 20th anniversary on the stage. She'll be performing a Czech and Italian program with the Prague Philharmonia under the baton of new Chief Conductor Kaspar Zehnder.

There are two other big names on this year's bill. Oboist Maurice Bourgue brings his considerable expertise in the music of Bohuslav Martinů to a sweet venue, the Church of St. Ann in Old Town, Sept. 27, with assistance from a fine local ensemble, the Talich Quartet. And American jazz pianist Brad Mehldau (Nov. 5), widely considered the hottest rising star in that musical genre, will give a solo performance at the Rudolfinum Nov. 5.

The lesser-known names in the festival often bring some of the most interesting and distinctive music, and this year is no exception. Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, known as the "jazz princess" of Azerbaijan, brings her unusual blend of jazz, folk and classical music to the Church of St. Ann on Oct. 10. Evelyn Petrova, a compelling accordion player and vocalist from St. Petersburg, will perform her complete Year's Cycle CD at the Czech Museum of Music Nov. 9.

And in the spirit of its crossover theme, the festival closes Nov. 19 with local dance-hall favorites Ondfiej Havelka and the Melody Makers in the classical confines of the Rudolfinum, playing the original big band arrangement of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.

As much as anything else, Strings of Autumn reflects the critical importance of corporate and artistic support in presenting high-quality music in Prague. It's fair to say that if a number of critical players hadn't stepped up when the festival was fighting to stay alive, it probably would not exist today.

"We're here because major partners like Eurotel [now Telefónica O2], Unipetrol and Privat Bank AG said, 'We trust the festival and want to keep it going' when we were in trouble," says festival Manager Dana Syrová. Vrabec is quick to add that cultural partners have been just as important. "We couldn't do this without the support of the National Theater, the Czech Philharmonic and the National Museum, who let us use their venues," he says.