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- From
Trilobites to the Velvet Revolution
- From
Emperor Charles IV to Dissident Vaclav Havel
- A
Musical Celebration of 300 Million years of Czech History.
Touch the Stars
with internationally acclaimed actress Dasha Blahova in her moving
portrayal of Libussa - Mythological Priestess and Soothsayer.
Share with
Libussa the Mystery, the Tragedy and the Triumphs of Prague.
Live Performances
by some of the Country's most respected Musicians add an Acoustic
Dimension to the Nation's History.
Fresh from
a Triumphant Command Performance for the
World Presidents' Organization, Washington, USA
Touch
the Stars
is proud to be associated with those who contributed to this success:
Dasha Blahova
Dun an Doras
Iveta Dufkova
Hradistan
Daniel Hulka
Josef Janicek
Ida Kelarova and Romano Rat
The Brass Band of the Presidential Guard and the Czech Police
Written and
Directed by Michael Havas
Produced by Jan Remiser
Cell Animation by Pavel Koutsky
Computer Animation by Matous Havranek
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Background:
originally commissioned by the World President's Organization (WPO)
in Washington DC as the official opening ceremony to their Prague
University in October 2002, this event was premiered at the Estates
Theatre on October 28th, 2003. Michael Havas was commissioned by WPO
(an association of 6000 international business entities from all over
the world) to write, produce and direct an entertaining cultural history
of Prague for a gala performance attended by 500 WPO members and their
wives.
Concept:
the programme
presents the history of the city of Prague from the Trilobite to
the Velvet Revolution. The city's history is narrated by Libuše,
played in English by Dasha Bláhová, and is built around audio-visual
sequences projected onto a giant screen. These comprise 3D computer
animation by Matouš Havránek, cell animation by Pavel Koutský, and
historical archives. Various aspects of the city's history were
illustrated by live music - Dun an Doras revived Celtic traditions,
a Gregorian choral evoked the age of cathedrals, Daniel Hůlka performed
an aria from Mozart, Hradišťan performed a werbunkstanec from the
Napoleonic Wars, Iveta Dufková reminded the audience of the operetta,
Hudba Hradní Stráže celebrated the end of World War II with the
Beer Barrel Polka, and Ida Kelarová demonstrated the pain that comes
from emigration.
Aim:
the programme, which in its current form plays for about 70
minutes, has been designed to introduce an international audience
to the city of Prague and motivate them to come and explore the
city for themselves. Havas worked closely with WPO chairman John
Galston for nearly two years to develop a concept which would combine
a learning experience with pure entertainment. The content and style
have been calibrated for the attention span of an average, perceptive
foreigner and presume an almost total lack of knowledge of Prague's
history.
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Evidence
of success:
we are proposing an event which was applauded enthusiastically by
500 WPO members, some of whom said it was the best opening ceremony
they had experienced in 20 years of international travelling. Among
those present were US ambassador to the Czech Republic, Craig Stapleton
and his wife, Jacques Rupnik, Petr Pithart etc.
Modification:
the producers are proposing to reduce the 9 live musical performing
groups in the original version to 3 or 4, replacing the others with
playback material to cut costs.
The Team:
Dasha Blahová surely needs no introduction. Michael Havas, internationally
respected filmmaker, and Jan Remišer, have together co-produced
two of the Czech Republic's most inventive interactive CD programmes:
BIRD OF PARADISE (Alchemy and Rudolph II) and PRAHA STROJ ČASU,
both of which have won the Czech Republic's Best Multi Media Award
and the Tourfilm Festival. PRAHA STROJ ČASU, also available in English,
was the official multi media programme for PRAHA - european city
of culture 2000.
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