If you’re in town for a visit, or if you live here and you have friends or family arriving to stay, chances are you may be looking around for a sample of what is undoubtedly one of Prague’s most famous attractions – classical music.
Given that many of the top evening concerts at Prague’s most famous concert halls sell out way in advance, you may find that something a little more informal could better suit your needs for an impromptu slice of culture.
Enter the one-hour classical concert, available at a number of different places around the city (see also my previous post, “Lunchtime classical concerts at Prague Castle” ). The Velvet Violin recently made a trip to just such a show at the Clam-Gallas Palace in the center of Old Town Prague, and was quite impressed with the results.
Several well-known favorites by Mozart, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Dvořák were played during the sixty-minute performance by the string quartet known as the Chamber Ensemble Musica Pragensis (full program below).
While the tickets aren’t exactly cheap, it’s very affordable at around $32/22 euros if you’re not operating in Czech crowns.
My only quibbles with the experience were that people arrived late and left early between pieces – it’s a free country, for sure, but also breaks the spell somewhat – and that one of the players was noticeably being carried by the others, admittedly perhaps during that one performance alone.
But don’t let that put you off getting a taste of one of the treats of the Czech capital. Aside from the music, the setting itself is also a top draw, given that the concerts are held in the palace’s resplendent 18th Century ballroom known as the Marble Hall that once hosted balls and concerts attended by Mozart and Beethoven among others.
For some reason, the shows have an equal web presence to that of Mozart in his day, but if you are strolling around Old Town in the Husova area chances are you will be pressed with a flyer for the concert even if you are not planning to attend.
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons performed by the Chamber Ensemble Musica Pragensis
Eine kleine Nachtmusik – W. A. Mozart
Air on a G String – J.S. Bach
Allegro Passacaglia – J.N. Pachelbel
Divertimento in F – W.A. Mozart
Waltz in A – Antonín Dvořák
The Four Seasons – Spring and Summer – Antonio Vivaldi
Where: Marble Hall, Clam-Gallas Palace, Husova 20, Prague 1 (map)
Tickets: 550 Kč / concessions 450 Kč
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