NewsCZECH the NewsNewsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic

Vol. 3, Fall 2006

Featured articles:Message from the Ambassador.......2

Visa Waiver Program......................2

Fulbright Exhibition........................2

Fulbright Marks 15 Years in theCzech Republic..............................3

Albright Receives 2006 GratiasAgit Award....................................3

Czech Government Helps BelarusianStudents........................................3

News Briefs...............................4–5

DCM Attends Czech Festivalin Nebraska..................................4

SVU Conference Held inCeske Budejovice..........................4

A Walk Through Czech History........5

New Staff......................................5

Upcoming EmbassyEvents.......................................6–7

Teatr Novogo Fronta to MakeAmerican Debut............................6

Happy Birthday, Mozart!.................6

Czechomor Heads for U.S. Tour......7

Rising Czech Artist Awakens DreamsThrough Art...................................7

Announcements.............(back cover)

Czech Missile Defense Site Discussed in Washington

A team from the U.S. MissileDefense Agency and aCzech delegation from the

Ministry of ForeignAffairs and theMinistry of Defense met in Wash-ington, DC, on August 16 and 17,2006. The two countries held ex-pert consultations on the potentialfor a Czech missile defense site.The Czech Republic is one of threecandidates being considered by the

The U.S. Senate unanimouslyapproved Richard W. Graberas the next U.S. Ambassador

to the Czech Republic. He replacesoutgoing Ambassador WilliamCabaniss who began hisambassadorship in early 2004 andis expected to leave Prague onSeptember 23, 2006.

Mr. Graber, a 49-year-oldattorney, studied law at BostonUniversity and has worked inelection reform. He currentlyserves as Director, President, andChief Executive Officer of theMilwaukee-based law firmReinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren.Mr. Graber is also the Chairman ofthe Wisconsin Republican Party

and in 2004 was spokesman forPresident George Bush’s electioncampaign.

Graber has expressed mixedfeelings about leaving U.S. politicsduring a crucial election seasonbut is honored to represent theUnited States overseas, especiallyin the Czech Republic which hedescribes as “a wonderful storyof moving from communismto democracy...with a thrivingeconomy and a vibrant democracy.”

Mr. Graber will be joined inPrague by his wife,Alex, and theiryounger son, Eric, 15. An olderson, Scott, 19, begins his studies atthe University of North Carolinathis fall.

New U.S. Ambassador to Prague

U.S. Government to host a missiledefense site in Europe along withPoland and Hungary.

The Czech expert delegation,led by Tomas Pojar, Deputy Minis-ter of Foreign Affairs, discussedtechnical issues of missile defensewith the Pentagon’s MissileDefense Agency. According toRichard Lehner, spokesman for theU.S. Missile Defense Agency,

the site will protect the territory ofthe host country, European allies,and the United States. In additionto its strategic importance, thebuilding of such a site in the CzechRepublic would bring economicbenefits. “If the missile defensesite is built on Czech territory,Czech companies will participatein contracts valued at severalbillion crowns,” said Pojar.

Czechomor and guest soloist Lenka Dusilova will be on tour in the U.S.this fall. For more details, go to page 7.

U.S. Ambassador to theCzech RepublicRichard W. Graber

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Miroslav Topolanek, a CivicDemocrats (ODS) partyleader, is the new Prime

Minister of the Czech Republic. Inearly September, President VaclavKlaus appointed Prime MinisterTopolanek’s 15-member govern-ment of 9 ODS and 6 unaffiliatedministers. The minority cabinethas until early October to receivea vote of confidence from theChamber of Deputies. AleksandrVondra, former Czech Ambassa-dor to the United States, wasnamed the new Minister ofForeign Affairs. Minister Vondraand Prime Minister Topolanekhave confirmed that the Czech

government’s foreign policypriorities remain the same with afocus on the 2009 Czechpresidency of the European Union,good relations with neighbors,strong transatlantic ties, andsupport for human rights aroundthe world. Speaking at a Praguemeeting with Czech ambassadors,Mr. Topolanek emphasized thatCzech diplomacy will maintain itscontinuity and trustworthiness,and called for using economicdiplomacy as “the basic tool ofCzech foreign policy” by increas-ing international promotion andmarketing of Czech exports,investment, and tourism.

Czech Government Formed

Current Events

Czech the News/Vol. 3, Fall 200622

Dear Friends,Welcome back from summer

vacation. I hope it was a restful time. ForCzech politicians the summer monthswere anything but quiet as they workedto build new coalitions after ourJune parliamentary elections. Guidedby constitutional mechanisms, thedemocratic process worked and President

Vaclav Klaus appointed Prime Minister Miroslav Topolanek andhis new government in early September. As anticipated, Czechforeign policy priorities remain the same, among them maintainingstrong bilateral relations with the United States, spreadingdemocracy, and supporting human rights.

Here in the United States, members of Congress alsowere busy with activity around the Czech Republic and other newEU member countries gaining entry into the U.S. Visa WaiverProgram (VWP). Two separate pieces of U.S. legislation wereproposed this spring and summer that could potentially open thedoor to Czech participation. (Please read the details of these VWPdevelopments in the article below.) While these proposals are noguarantee that our citizens soon will enjoy travel to the UnitedStates without a visa, they are a tangible indication that more andmore U.S. legislators are informed about the VWP issue and itsdamaging psychological effects on our otherwise strong U.S.-Czech relations. I am particularly grateful to theAmerican Friendsof the Czech Republic (AFoCR) for their support in the VWP issue,and to all of you who have contacted AFoCR, your senators, andyour representatives, to help remove the visa waiver issue from ourbilateral agenda.

With summer waning and schools and governments backin session, we have numerous fall events planned at the Czech Em-bassy. One highlight includes the Czech band Czechomor playingon the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center with an encoreperformance at the Embassy. A complete list of these events ap-pears on pages 6–7 of this newsletter. From concerts to film screen-ings, art exhibitions to lectures, there is something for everyoneand ample opportunity for Czechs and Americans to mingle andcelebrate our close Czech-U.S. friendship. I invite you to comeenjoy the Embassy and its offerings.

Warm regards,

Petr Kolar

Message from the AAmmbbaassssaaddoorr

The Czech Republic, alongwith Estonia, Latvia,Lithuania, Hungary, Poland,

and the Slovak Republic—allmembers of NATO and theEuropean Union (EU)—areworking to gain entry into the U.S.Visa Waiver Program (VWP). TheVisa Waiver Program allowscitizens of U.S. allies to visit theUnited States without a tourist visafor up to 90 days. Since the fall ofcommunism in the late 1980s,none of these countries hasimposed a tourist visa requirementon U.S. citizens, while theircitizens traveling to the UnitedStates are subjected to anexpensive and arduous visa

multilateral forces in Afghanistanor Iraq. Although all seven of thesecountries are participating in bothoperations, as written, this amendment applies to only one EUcountry not already in the VWP—Poland. The amendment’s mini-mum quotas of material supportare discriminatory to all other EUcountries also involved inAfghanistan and Iraq. Moreover,the amendment is attached to thecontentious Immigration ReformAct and is not expected to pass.

On June 29, 2006, State Representatives English (R-PA),McCotter (R-MI), Diaz-Balart(R-FL), Bordallo (D-GU), Wexler(D-FL), and Davis (R-VA)

application and screening process.The U.S. Government is underintense national and internationalpressure to admit these Europeanallies to the Visa Waiver Program,a change that would necessitatecongressional legislation. Followingare the latest developments in theVWP effort.

On May 17, 2006, U.S. Senators Santorum (R-PA), Mikulski (D-MD), and Frist (R-TN) proposed Amendment SA4000 to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006that would allow additional countries to participate in the VWPif they are providing material support to the United States or the

proposed bill H.R. 5730 to designate six NATO and EU member states as participants inthe Visa Waiver Program undersection 217 of the Immigration andNationality Act. This is a stand-alone bill and not dependent onany other legislation. However, itinadvertently left out Slovakia, andstill must be approved by theSenate Judiciary Committee be-fore going to a vote.

Although neither of these legislative proposals guaranteesadmittance of any country into theVWP, both are indications thatU.S. legislators are more informedabout the issue and are taking thenecessary steps to address it.

Visa Waiver Program Update

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The Fulbright Pro-gram, which sendsAmericans to teach

and study in other countries and similarlybrings international educators to the UnitedStates, helps foster productive dialogue between people of different cultures. Positively changing perceptions that nations have ofothers is only one of the benefitsof the Fulbright Program, and Fulbrighters serve as ambassadorswho contribute to public diplo-macy on a very human level. Secretary of State, CondoleezzaRice, summarizing the value of exchange programs such as Fulbright, described them as

contributors to “transfor-mational diplomacy.”Fulbrighters themselvesare transformed by theirexchanges and the impulse to creatively express that transforma-tion is inevitable. On September 26, 2006, at 7

pm, the Embassy of the Czech Republic will open the exhibition“Horizons,” a showcase of theunique art of Czech and American Fulbright scholars thatgrew out of their experiences living and working in both countries. The works reflect howinternational exchange altered theFulbrighters’ perceptions of theworld and introduced them to new“Horizons.”

Fulbright Commission Exhibition

Ambassador Petr Kolar andEconomic Officer MartinDvorak traveled to

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in July toattend AirVenture, the largestinternational celebration ofairplane technology. This week-long exhibition featured light andsport aircraft from around theworld.

The Czech Republic wasrepresented by 13 Czech-sponsored companies showcasingtheir latest products and ingenuity,with light-sport aircraft (LSA)dominating the tradeshow.Historically, the first LSA modelcertified in the United States wasCzech-made.

Every month, an estimated 30planes are imported into theUnited States with 12 to 13 ofthose coming from the Czech

AirVenture 2006

Republic. Ambassador Kolar wasimpressed by the aeronauticengineering he witnessed inWisconsin, calling it a “precise andsophisticated field of humanactivity.” He also appreciated thesuccess that Czech LSAcompanies are experiencing in theU.S. market, and the highrecognition that Czech aviationproducts received at AirVenture.

Ambassador Kolar (r)at AirVenture

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Current Events

33Czech the News/Vol. 3, Fall 2006

Fulbright Marks 15 Years in the Czech Republic

Since its 1991 inception in theCzech Republic, the Fulbright Program has sent

more than 450 Czechs to theUnited States and has brought almost 400 Americans to theCzech Republic. The Board of theFulbright Commission reviews itsagenda each year. Fields of studythat were subjected to heavy political intervention behind theIron Curtain remain priorities fortoday’s cultural and academic exchange. In the 15 years that Fulbright has operated in theCzech Republic, the country hasshown measurable progress in theinternationalization of its educational system, changes insecondary and high school curricula, and the emergence ofprogressive teaching methods.

The Fulbright Commission isfocused on enhancing the responsiveness and efficiency ofthe Czech educational system andFulbright alumni make significantcontributions to this goal. Progressis accelerating—teachers and administrators were recently challenged by the Ministry of Education to formulate curriculathat focus on class participation;

the percentage of international students in Czech classroomsgrows; and more international dialogue occurs among educatorsthan ever before.

The Czech Fulbright Commission contributes to thistransformation through a variety ofprograms. It offers scholarships forgraduate studies, research and lecturing, and high school teacherexchange programs, and has added

new programs targeted at previously unreached educationalsectors such as the Fulbright HighSchool Administrator Exchange.Fulbright’s programs allow Czechpolicy makers to draw from the experience of Czech Fulbrightalumni and their American counterparts via lectures, semi-nars, and round-table discussions.

Hana Ripkova, Executive Director of Fulbright in the Czech

U.S. Ambassador William Cabaniss meets with Czech Fulbright Alumni at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Prague

applicant will receive. Projectsnot chosen have no chance of appeal. Mr. Pavel Mazheiko,spokesman of the recently arrested Belarus opposition leader,Alexander Milinkevic, com-mented on the Czech educationalefforts saying, “Students who havea chance to study in Europe, get European education, and absorbEuropean habits, these studentsare essentially important for the new Belarus because after they come back, we will needthem.”

On July 10, 2006,Ambassador Petr Kolarpersonally presented the

2006 Gratias Agit Award to formerU.S. Secretary of State MadeleineAlbright. In May, Minister ofForeign Affairs of the CzechRepublic Cyril Svoboda acceptedthe award on behalf of Mrs. Albright who could notattend the award ceremony in Prague.

Annually since 1997, theCzech Ministry of Foreign Affairshas bestowed the Gratias AgitAward on prominent anddistinguished persons andorganizations that significantlycontribute to promoting the good name of the Czech Republic abroad. Mrs. Albright’scontributions are considerable. She earned the 2006 Gratias Agit Award for supporting

Albright Receives 2006 Gratias Agit Award

Czech Government Helps Belarusian Studentscampaign and demonstrations afterthe March 2006 elections.

The focus of this RFP is tooffer stipends, internships, short-term study, and other typesof educational programs to Belarusian college students andyoung people whose higher education opportunities in Belaruswere suspended due to their participation in anti-Lukasenkodemonstrations.

The proposal deadline wasMay 26 followed by a meeting ofthe Selection Committee on

In April 2006, the Czech government announced a request for proposals (RFP) for

projects that support developmentof a civic society in Belarus andopposition to the regime ofAlexander Lukasenko. The RFPwas a followup on the Czech government’s commitment to offerrelief programs to Belarusian citizens oppressed by the newregime, especially those whoprotested against nondemocraticaspects of Lukasenko’s govern-ment during the presidential

June 19. The Committee dividedthe projects into two groups. Thefirst group is comprised of organizations that propose creatingtheir own contacts with Belarusianstudents. The second group includes organizations that expectto work under the auspices of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and theEmbassy of the Czech Republic inBelarus. To date, 21 projects havebeen presented and successfullyvetted. The Ministry of ForeignAffairs has yet to announce thetype of grants each successful

Republic believes that Fulbrightscholarship embodies the truemeaning of exchange,

“American Fulbrightgrantees do not go to theCzech Republic to serve asrole models for their Czechcolleagues. Instead, thedifferent approaches toeducation of Czechs and Americans offer the othera basis for renewed cri-tique in their own methodsof research, teaching, or

studying.”

Anthony Caine, Chair of the Fulbright Board adds, “The impactof the Fulbright exchange is signif-icant—the qualifications of CzechFulbright grantees multiply aftertheir Fulbright experience, and theacademic focus of the programsalso changes—as do thegrantees—with positive impact onboth sides.”

For more informationon Fulbright in the

Czech Republic, go to: http://fulbright.cz/english.shtml

democratization of then-Czechoslovakia and accession ofthe Czech Republic into the NorthAtlantic Treaty Organization(NATO), for her many yearsof active work in building andstrengthening good relationsbetween the Czech Republic andthe United States, and for hergenerous humanitarian aid to thepeople of the Czech Republicaffected by the floods.

Ambassador Kolar congratulatesMadeleine Albright on receiving

the award.

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Czechs in America

Czech the News/Vol. 3, Fall 200644

DCM Attends Czech Festival in Nebraska

Representing the Czech Republic, Deputy Chief ofMission (DCM) Jaroslav

Kurfurst attended the annualCzech Festival in Wilber, Nebraska, on August 5 and 6,2006.

Mr. Kurfurst greeted festival-goers and participated inthe activities before serving as ajudge for the Miss Czech-SlovakUSA Queen Pageant, the closingevent of 3 days of Czech music,food, dancing, and cultural demonstrations.

Every year the festival attractsfrom 40,000 to 60,000 CzechAmericans and their supporters toWilber, a town of 1,700 in south-eastern Nebraska. The first Czechsettlers came to Wilber in 1865. By 1900, 90 percent of its inhabitants were of Czech descent.Wilber was declared “Czech

Capital of Nebraska” by the Gov-ernor in 1963, and upgraded to“Czech Capital of the UnitedStates” in a proclamation signedby President Ronald Reagan in1987.

The annual festival, begunin 1962 as a local celebration of Czech heritage, has grown intoa national event attractingthousands from across the UnitedStates. Mr. Kurfurst was struckby the number of attendees at theCzech Festival and their ethnicpride.

“The festival organizers really should be thankednot only for supportingand perpetuating Czechheritage but for creatingnew traditions in the U.S.Czech community,”

he said.

In addition to the Czech Festival,Wilber is home to a Czech museum, a Czech bakery, a Czechcraft shop, and numerous otherCzech businesses.

For more information on Czechsin Nebraska and the

annual Czech Festival, visit:www.ci.wilber.ne.us/.

SVU Conference Held in Ceske Budejovice

Jaroslav Kurfurst with pageant winner Sarah Middlebrook

The Czechoslovak Society ofArts and Letters, known byits Czech acronym, SVU,

held the 23rd SVU World Congress at the University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice June 25–July 2, 2006.The conference was attended bynearly 500 participants—300 fromthe United States. President VaclavKlaus opened the event speakingon the importance of the SVUCongress and the role SVU hasplayed on behalf of the Czech Republic. A panel of Ambassadorsfrom the Czech and Slovak Republics, the United States, andCanada discussed “Diplomatic Relations between North Americaand the Czech and Slovak Republics,” in a plenary sessionchaired by SVU PresidentMiloslav Rechcigl. Czech Ambassador to the United StatesPetr Kolar spoke on Czech-U.S.relations from a Czech perspective.

Attendees selected from asmany as 12 concurrent academicsessions covering a wide range oftopics from history, literature, philosophy, and the arts, to law,economics, the media, and the environment. This year’s Congressemphasized medicine and the natural sciences, with internationalscientists presenting panels onmental and public health, neuroscience, biological and physical science, and engineering.Congress symposia highlighted

university leadership and academic partnership betweenCzech, Slovak, and U.S. universities. Members of theCzech and Slovak diplomaticcorps talked about their experi-ences representing their countriesabroad, while leading archivistsdiscussed Czech archives and resources relating to the history ofCzechs abroad.

In addition to papers, panels,and symposia, the Congress presented several awards recogniz-ing those who have served SVU,

published books through SVU, orachieved distinction in their respective fields. The Congressconcluded with the presentation of the Andrew Elias Humanitarianand Tolerance Award to notedCzech journalist Petra Prochazkovafor her humanitarian work and for calling attention to violations of human rights. Ms. Prochazkova accepted theaward with a talk on “Illusion inthe West about the Impact of Humanitarian Aid” based on herpersonal experiences.

President Vaclav Klaus and First Lady Livia Klaus at the Congress

News Briefs

Skoda Auto Has Produced Its

100,000th Superb, the Car

Manufacturer’s TopLuxury Model

Based on the VolkswagenPassat, the Superb is a largefamily sedan designed tomatch the high quality standards of the Volkswagengroup, but at an affordableprice. The Elegance model,which includes satellite navi-gation and leather upholstery,starts at US $27,000. “Thefact that the Superb modelsuccessfully established itselfdespite competition fromluxury brands confirms ouropinion that Skoda’s return tothe higher class was logicaland correct,” said SkodaAuto Board of Directorsmember Horst Muhl.

Czech Beer Production Up

Czech breweries raised beeroutput by 5 percent in thefirst 7 months of 2006 com-pared with the same time lastyear. In the first half of 2006beer output grew by 4.4 per-cent, followed by a 9 percentspike in output in July. JanVesely, director of the CzechBeer and Malt Association,attributed the growth in Julyconsumption to the unusuallyhot weather and to increasedexports. Czech beer exportsrose by 17 percent to 1.7 mil-lion hectoliters in the first 6months of 2006 over lastyear, while domestic salesincreased by 2 percent to7.85 million hectoliters.Vesely predicted a slowdown in beer sales as thecooler weather arrives.

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Czechs in America

55Czech the News/Vol. 3, Fall 2006

New StaffJoAnn Cooper is the new Senior Public Relations Officer, bringing over 20years of communications experience to the Czech Embassy. Recently, Ms. Cooper served as director of the linguistic communications firm, LinguaBohemia, dedicated to improving the way the world communicates. Splittingher time between Prague and Washington, Ms. Cooper has worked with numerous international clients in the governmental and private sectors. Anaward-winning documentary filmmaker, she also has taught at the film schoolsof Charles University in Prague and American University in Washington, DC. Ms. Cooper holds a Masters in Communications from American University.

Andrea S. Pohl has joined the Embassy’s Public Relations Department as aPublic Relations and Communications Officer. She was born in Prague andimmigrated to the United States during Czechoslovakia’s communist era. Ms. Pohl graduated from Emory University College and Tulane UniversityLaw School. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and has practiced lawin both the Czech Republic and the United States. She speaks Czech, English,and German.

Zuzana Tornikidis is the new Political Secretary at the Embassy of the CzechRepublic. Recently, she served as Secretary to the Deputy Minister for Bilat-eral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Prague. She holds a Bach-elors degree in Business Administration from ESMA Barcelona (Spain) and a Masters in Communication and Public Relations from HES Amsterdam (TheNetherlands). Mrs. Tornikidis is currently finishing a Masters degree in Finance at the University of Economics in Prague.

The Czech lands have longserved as a crossroads whereEuropean travelers have met

and gathered, and the tapestry ofCzech history is interwoven withthe influences of all who havepassed through, weaving a longand lively story. For American audiences both young and old, andfor anyone who didn’t pay attention in school, Czech artistand writer Lucie Seifertova hasbrought Czech history to two-dimensional life in English withher colorfully rendered award-winning pop-up book The Historyof the Brave Czech Nation,subtitled “and a few insignificantworld events.” Nothing about thisbook is insignificant. It is a best-seller in the Czech Republic,and has won that nation’s highestawards for best children’s book,best educational book, and bestillustrated book.

It begins with Seifertova’sprehistorical chapter “The Mammoth Hunters” starting35,000 years ago and continuesthrough to modern democraticCzech society, with all the triumphs and tragedies in betweenillustrated in eye-catching detail.The book’s humorous and tongue-in-cheek illustrations please viewers of all ages, and, much likeAmerican animated films fromrecent years, it contains elementsthat children love but that onlyadults really “get.” Not only do thepages pop up, the book is actuallyone continuous scene that unfoldslike an accordion to 18 feet inlength.

The History of the BraveCzech Nation has been adaptedinto a life-sized exhibition of thesame name that was first displayedat the National Museum in Praguein 2005. Walking through the 6-feet-high panels that stretch for210 feet evokes a feeling of walking through history. On October 26, 2006, at 5:30 pm, U.S. audiences will have the opportunity to stroll throughCzech history as the exhibitionmakes its American debut at theCzech National Hall on East 73rdStreet in New York. The book’screator, Lucie Seifertova, will bein attendance to introduce and discuss the exhibition. Still underreconstruction and scheduled toopen its inaugural season in 2007,the Czech National Hall will hostthe exhibit for one evening only.After its New York debut, the exhibition will travel throughoutthe United States over a 2-year

period with planned stops in numerous U.S. cities.

In addition to The History ofthe Brave Czech Nation, which iscurrently being developed into ananimated film, Seifertova also hasproduced pop-up books on Prague,Prague Castle, Czech castles and

chateaus, as well as on the legendof the Golem.

For more information on Ms. Seifertova and

her work, please visitwww.seifertova.cz.

A Walk Through Czech HistoryNews Briefs

New Captain Selectedfor the Czech SoccerNational Team

Czech soccer’s national teamhas a new captain, TomasRosicky, a midfielder whoplays for the English club Arsenal London. A councilcomprised of the seven mostexperienced Czech nationalteam players, head coachKarel Bruckner, and otherteam members electedRosicky because of his skillsas a player and his naturaldisposition for leadership.The new captain is leadingthe Czech team in the qualifiers for the EuropeanChampionship in 2008,which began positively forthe Czechs on September 2,2006, with a 2–1 victory overWales, followed by a 3–0shutout over Slovakia onSeptember 6, 2006.

A page from The History of the Brave Czech Nationpop-up book

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Cultural Preview

Czech the News/Vol. 3, Fall 200666

Upcoming Embassy Events

www.mzv.cz/washingtonQuestions: (202) 274–9105

Sept. 20, 7 pmFilm Screening: SkritekDirected by: Tomas VorelAdmission: Free

A family of villagers headsfor the city, where a playfulsprite with a vicious sense ofhumor makes their lives evenmore unpredictable.

Sept. 26, 7 pmFulbright Commission Art Exhibition: HorizonsAdmission: Free

In celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the FulbrightCommission in the CzechRepublic, the Embassy presents a unique exhibitionof artwork by Czech andAmericans participating inthe Fulbright Program.

Sept. 28, 6 pmConcert: Czechomor andLenka Dusilova at theKennedy Center’s Millennium StageAdmission: Free

Czechomor brings traditionalCzech and Moravian musicto a wider audience throughtheir innovative arrange-ments using electric instru-ments that add a newdimension to their songs.

Sept. 29, 7:30 pmMeet the Band: Czechomorand Lenka Dusilova Admission: $20 online, or$25 at the doorFor tickets, go to:www.czechomorustour.com

In a very special evening at theCzech Embassy, meet themembers of Czechomor andguest soloist Lenka Dusilovaas they jam to popular songsfrom their What HappenedNext Tour.

Oct. 4, 7 pmFilm Screening: Bitter Coffee (Silny kafe)Directed by Bjorkur GunnarsAdmission: Free

Lifelong chums, Renata andMaya, reunite on a Praguestreet and decide to revisit their childhood village.

continued on p. 7

Cz e c h -Ru s s i a ntheater group

Teatr NovogoFronta will make theirWashington debut onOctober 14, 2006, at 8 pm, performing theshow Dybbuk at thenewly finished AtlasPerforming Arts Centeron H Street in Washing-ton, DC. The groupalso will lead a 4-dayacting workshop for thelocal community.

Ales Janak andIrina Andreeva cofounded TeatrNovogo Fronta (TNF) in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1993, butsoon relocated the physical theater company to Prague, Czech Republic. Their early work resulted from studying the relationship between the actor’sbody—the only material beingused by the actor—and the performance space.

Teatr Novogo Fronta constructs its performances fromimages on the frontier betweenmysticism and abstraction, circusart, and modern dance. With thefocus on action rather than words,audience members do not have tospeak Czech to understand the performance. TNF is purely physical theater. The group’s creativity and stage presentationrange in scale and variety fromhaving performed in street festivals, improvised sets andclubs, and in directed plays onclassical theater stages across

Europe.Andreeva presents a solo

performance of Dybbuk, a showshe developed from a Yiddish legend about a dybbuk, a disembodied spirit, possessing aliving body that belongs to anothersoul. The word “dybbuk” derivesfrom Hebrew meaning “attach-ment.” The dybbuk cleaves to aliving body, inhabits it, and mustbe exorcised by a religious rite. Inthe performance, viewers followthe spirit of a dead person who, fora limited period, occupies a livingwoman’s body, creating a new personality for itself. Andreevaconsiders one of the most essentialelements in her script the idea that Dybbuk portrays a disquietedmind that turns things upsidedown. “It’s a foreboding, the re-verse side of everything, whichdoesn’t let us sleep or live quietly,”she said, adding that the piece doesnot follow a neat narrative line.“It’s a flow of associations, much

more personal.”Theater critics compareTNF’s movement toButoh, a dance form originating in Japan thatinvolves a range of techniques and move-ments. TNF is cutting-edge physical theater,drawing something newfrom each show it performs. “Each time Iplay a solo, I know thechance to perform in thatmoment won’t be

repeated. It’s so intense, and givesme a chance to feel the essence oflife more deeply,” said Andreevaabout her Dybbuk performance.

Andreeva and Janak also willpresent a 4-day workshop in English with a two-man technicalteam from Teatr Novogo Fronta atthe Atlas Performing Arts Centeron October 16–19 from 6:30 to10:30 pm. The workshop, dividedinto three parts and lasting 4 hoursper day, guides actors to perform physical and mind exercises inorder to delve deeper into understanding the strategy ofmovement in an actor’s training.Participants also experiment withtheir space and themes that arisefrom the actor’s narration. The performance runs 60 minutesand costs $25.

For more information about purchasing tickets or participating

in the workshop, please call:(202) 274–9105.

Teatr Novogo Fronta to Make American Debut

Happy Birthday, Mozart!

At the age of 5, he wrote hisfirst two musical composi-tions. By 35, he had written

over 600. His recordings have soldmore than any other musician inthe world. Born on January 27,1756, and christened JoannesChrysostomus WolfgangeusTheopheilus Mozart, he is knownto the world simply as Mozart. Hisname “Theopheilus” translates asthe “beloved of God” or in Latin“Amadeus.” He was and continuesto be an inspiration, a gifted genius, and 2006 marks the 250thanniversary of his birth.

Although born in Salzburg,Austria, Mozart held a specialplace in his heart for Prague. Hesaid “Meine Prager verstehenmich” translating as “My Praguersunderstand me.” During his firstvisit to Prague, he conducted his

opera, Le Nozze di Fi-garo (The Marriage ofFigaro). Subsequently,he received severalcommissions in Pragueand premiered theopera Don Giovannithere on October 29,1787, at the EstatesTheater (Stavovske Divadlo), writing theoverture only the nightbefore the perform-ance. He later wroteLa Clemenza di Tito tocelebrate Leopold II’s1790 coronation, and attended itsPrague premiere in 1791. When hedied in Vienna on December 5,1791, members of the Prague theater orchestra organized a memorial ceremony at the Churchof St. Nicholas. While Mozart was

buried with little cere-mony in a communalVienna grave, 4,000people turned out tohonor and rememberhim in Prague.

In celebrationand memory of Mozart,the Embassy will holda free public screeningof Academy Awardwinning Director MilosForman’s Amadeus onNovember 8, 2006. The next day, DagmarWhite will present

a lecture and concert series with local artists on Mozart andPrague featuring excerpts fromDon Giovanni and La Clemenza diTito.

For more information, please call: (202) 274–9105.

The Estates Theater inPrague is where Mozartpremiered Don Giovanni

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Cultural Preview

77Czech the News/Vol. 3, Fall 2006

The dynamic Czech bandCzechomor will bring theirWhat Happened Next Tour to

Washington, DC, in Septemberwith a show at the Kennedy Centerfor the Performing Arts on September 28, 2006, at 6 pm followed by a Meet the Band concert and reception at the Embassy of the Czech Republic onSeptember 29, at 7:30 pm.

Deeply rooted in Moravianvillage music, Czechomor’s repertoire reflects the passion andanguish of a region molded bycenturies of Ottoman raids,Napoleonic battles, and folk ballads. The band’s music focuseson forgotten Czech and Moraviantraditional songs that have evolvedfrom the oral tradition of the lowerilliterate classes of the 18th and19th century, peasants working forthe aristocracy, and traders carry-ing merchandise from place toplace where songs and stories weresung and told in trade markets.Czechomor’s innovation and historical curiosity have renewedthese musical traditions with oldsongs serving as the foundationwhile the band adds a new twistthat captures the spirit of the piecesand translates them into their modern form.

Czechomor’s music echoesthe Celtic roots of Bohemian andMoravian culture. Its uniquemélange of traditional folk mixedwith Celtic rhythms, Ottoman dissonance, Gypsy czardas, andNapoleonic mustering dances havewon over audiences of young andold alike. The group’s innovativeusage of traditional music can beheard on the album Promeny,recorded in 2001 with the Collegium of Czech Philharmon-

ics conducted by Jaz Coleman. Inresponse to Czechomor’s transfor-mation of the music, Colemansaid, “In their music I find beautyand gentle humor, the essence oflocal culture, the silhouettes of theCzech countryside, and the natureof its people.” In 2001, Czechomorreceived both Band and Album ofthe Year awards from the CzechAcademy.

Their most recent album,What Happened Next (Co sa stalonove), continues to find meaningin traditional melodies, enliveningthem with a unique take on centuries-old tunes. “This albumkeeps drawing themes and songsfrom old traditional songbooks,but introduces the Czech-Moravian roots of Czechomor to abroader European context and discovers a connection betweenthe fragile world of our traditionalsongs and the musical dictionaryof kindred cultures,” said musiccritic Jan Krumphanzl.

Czechomor has evolved overtime from its predecessor, theCzech-Moravian IndependentMusic Society, established in thespring of 1988, and hails from Svitavy, a small town on the

border of Bohemia and Moravia.One of its founding members,Franta Brenek, died after a long-term fight with cancer in 1996.The group considered breaking up,but it persevered and is now one ofthe most successful bands in theCzech Republic going platinum in2005. Czechomor has sold over200,000 albums and is reputed tobe former President VaclavHavel’s favorite group.

Czech vocalist and AngelAward winner Lenka Dusilovawill appear with Czechomor.Dusilova began pursuing a musicalcareer at age 10 when she movedto Prague to sing in the legendaryBambini di Praga children’s choir.As a teenager, she moved on tohard rock with bands such as Slunicko, and during the early tomid-1990s, sang on two records ofthe Czech band Lucie.

To purchase tickets forCzechomor’s performance at theEmbassy of the Czech Republic,

please visit: www.czechomorustour.com.

For additional information, pleasecall: (202) 274–9105.

Czechomor Heads for U.S. Tour

Czechomor from left to right: Roman Lomtadze, Michal, Pavlik, KarelHolas, Radek Poboril, and Frantisek Cerny

Upcoming Embassy Events(continued from p. 6)

Oct. 14, 8 pmTheater: Teatr Novogo Frontaat the Atlas Performing ArtsCenter For tickets:www.atlasarts.org or call(202) 399-7993For workshop information,go to: www.capfringe.org

Dybbuk, freely drawn fromYiddish legend, is a powerfulcrescendo of visual incanta-tions that evoke the life of adisquieted mind.

Oct. 17, 7 pmArt Exhibition: Mila Judge-FurstovaAdmission: Free

Artist Mila-Furstova’s workis executed largely through etching. The ideas embraceand mirror everyday experi-ence entwined with myths,tales, and dreams.

Oct. 19, 7:30 pmClassical Concert: Washington Musica VivaAdmission: $20

Washington Musica Viva presents a Czech Music Series of selections by Bohuslav Martinu, VaclavNelhybel, and Jaroslav Jezek.The program includes someof Jezek’s famous “V+W”cabaret songs.

Nov. 1, 7 pmFilm Screening: AmadeusDirected by: Milos Forman Admission: Free

Composer rival AntonioSalieri secretly loathesMozart’s crude and bratty personality, but is astoundedby the beauty of his music.Envy consumes him, and heremains insecure in the face ofa genius—Mozart.

Nov. 9, 7:30 pmClassical Concert and Lecture: Mozart and PragueAdmission: $18

In celebration of the 250thanniversary of Mozart’sbirthday Dagmar White pres-ents a lecture and concert fea-turing excerpts from DonGiovanni and La Clemenzadi Tito.

Rising Czech Artist Awakens Dreams Through Art

Mila Judge-Furstova is oneof Prague’s fastest risingartists. In the last few

years she has won Print of the Yearin the Czech Republic, and presented art to the Queen of the United Kingdom and formerCzech President Vaclav Havel.

She works in the mediums of etching and silkscreen on glass, often incorporating papersculpture and more rarely drawing.Her work is popular for its deep interest inspired by dreams or fables and surrealism in her etchings and the fragility, move-ment, and originality of her

silkscreens on glass. Her work attracts a variety of viewers. Shepresents images as diverse as theTower of Babel, a computerscreen, a Roman coliseum, a crabclaw, and a Guardian Angel; all inthe same picture. Observers havethe task of determining what thismeans to them. Each person viewing her art draws differentmeanings that leads to stimulatingconversation and self realizationwith others viewing her work.

Ms. Judge-Furstova will present her latest works at the Embassy of the Czech Republic onOctober 17, at 7 pm. These include

her most monumental silkscreensto date and large scale etchings. “Iam opening a gate for the viewerto enter the worlds which I createin my mind, while encouraging projection of one’s own interpreta-tions and dreams onto the ambiguous images that I invent,”she says.

Artist Mila Judge-Furstova meets Queen Elizabeth.

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Czech Embassy

CZECHtthheeNews Newsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic NewsEmbassy of the Czech Republic3900 Spring of Freedom Street, NWWashington, DC 20008Tel.: (202) 274–9100 Fax: (202) 966–8540www.mzv.cz/washingtonManaging Editor: JoAnn M. CooperArt Director: Mary FetzkoContributors: Mary Fetzko, Dan Novy, Andrea Pohl, and Ales VyteckaCirculation: Romana Lesakova

ATTENTION:Mailing List Update

We are updating our mailinglist for Czech the News. Ifyou would like to continuereceiving this publication,please return the enclosedpink form with your current information.

You also may contact: Romana Lesakova (202) 274–9107

or e-mail:ctn_washington@mzv.cz.

Please write “Czech theNews” in the subject line ofthe e-mail.

In addition to the new staff thatjoined the Embassy this spring,the Embassy family added to

its ranks a new fawn born to a doethat makes her home on Embassygrounds. Located on 7 acres ofsemi-wooded land that abuts theforests of Washington’s Rock

Photo co

urtesy of J

oAnn

Coo

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Catch Me If You Can

The Embassy of the CzechRepublic is seeking to docu-ment and archive historicalU.S. papers from the found-ing of Czechoslovakia in1918. If you know of letters,photographs, diaries, or otherprinted memorabilia from theera leading up to the estab-lishment of Czechoslovakia,including documents pro-duced during the Wilsonpresidency, World War I, thewriting and signing of theCzechoslovak constitution,and earlier, please contact:

JoAnn Cooper,Senior Public Relations Officer,

(202) 274–9126,or e-mail:

jcooper@linguabohemia.com.

Please Help Us!

Creek Park, the Embassy’swooded hills and lush vegetationserve as an idyllic and safe refugefor wildlife. The fawn, once awobbly-kneed infant, has growninto a frisky and agile young deerthat rarely stays in one place fortoo long. Please Respond!