The Czech Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in Prague. It belongs to the oldest and most important world orchestras and is appreciated for its specific warm tone. The main stage of the orchestra is the Rudolfinum concert hall.
The Czechs, or the Czech people, are a West Slavic ethnic group and a nation native to the Czech Republic in Central Europe, who share a common ancestry, culture, history, and the Czech language.
Hana Zagorová was a Czech singer-songwriter, actress, and presenter who recorded music since 1964. She is considered to be one of the most famous Czech singers. She won the national Zlatý slavík music award on nine occasions between 1977 and 1985, the second highest number of victories in the award's history, after Lucie Bílá, who won the successor award, Český slavík, thirteen times.
The Plastic People of the Universe (PPU) is a Czech rock band from Prague. They are considered the foremost representatives of Prague's underground culture (1968–1989), which defied Czechoslovakia's Communist regime. Members of the band often suffered serious repercussions, including arrests and prosecution, because of their non-conformist ideals. The group continues to perform, despite the death in 2001 of its founder, main composer, and bassist, Milan Hlavsa. Up to 2023, they had released nine studio albums and over a dozen live albums.
SK Dynamo České Budějovice is a football club from České Budějovice, Czech Republic. They currently play in the Czech First League, the first tier of football in the Czech Republic.
The Matadors were a beat band from Prague, Czechoslovakia active between 1965 and 1968, and intermittently between 1991 and 2008. Their most memorable lineup consisted of Otto Bezloja, Radim Hladík, Jan "Farmer" Obermayer (organ), Miroslav "Tony Black" Schwarz (drums), Karel Kahovec, and Vladimír Mišík. The latter two were replaced in 1966 by ex-Flamengo vocalist Viktor Sodoma. The Matadors released only one studio album during their career, the 1968 self-titled The Matadors, shortly before the band's breakup.
Jiří Jelínek was a Czech painter, illustrator, jazz trumpeter, and popular singer, one of the music legends of the Semafor Theatre in 1960s. His hoarse singing voice – similar to Louis Armstrong's – earned him the nickname "The Czech Satchmo".
Jiří Šlitr was a Czech songwriter, pianist, singer, actor and painter. Together with Jiří Suchý he significantly influenced Czech pop music and theatre in the 1960s.
Blue Effect was a Czech rock band, also operating under the names M. Efekt, Modrý efekt, or The Special Blue Effect, since their formation in 1968. The band's main and only permanent member, from its founding until his death in 2016, was guitarist Radim Hladík, formerly of The Matadors. Blue Effect changed their musical style several times, ranging from rhythm and blues, jazz fusion, to art rock.
How the World Is Losing Poets is a Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Dušan Klein, based on the novella Amatéři. Jak přichází svět o básníky by Ladislav Pecháček. It was released in 1982. The first of the "Poets hexalogy", the title is followed by How Poets Are Losing Their Illusions (1985), How Poets Are Enjoying Their Lives (1988), Konec básníků v Čechách (1993), Jak básníci neztrácejí naději (2004), and Jak básníci čekají na zázrak (2016). The film stars Pavel Kříž, David Matásek, and Miroslava Šafránková.
František Ringo Čech is a Czech musician, songwriter, painter, actor, comedian, publicist, politician, dramatist, screenwriter, and author.
Flamengo was a Czech rock band established in 1966, which, at the peak of its popularity consisted of Vladimír Mišík, Ivan Khunt, Pavel Fořt, Jan Kubík, Vladimír "Guma" Kulhánek, and Jaroslav Erno Šedivý. They only released one studio album, Kuře v hodinkách, which, though banned by the authorities, went on to achieve great success in later years. Flamengo reunited for an anniversary concert in 2012 and were later inducted into the Beatová síň slávy.
Jiří Schelinger was a Czech rock singer and guitarist considered to have been the first Czech hard rocker and an influential musician to this day.
Vladimír Večtomov was a Czech classical guitarist. He studied at Prague Conservatory under the tutelage of Štěpán Urban, 1964–1968, and gave his first concert at the age of 17. He concluded his studies in Mexico with a concert at Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. In 1973 he performed as a soloist in Bergen, Norway, with Slovak Chamber Orchestra. In 1974 he performed Bach's catalog in London to notable acclaim. From 1972 to 1976 he was a professor at Prague Conservatory.
Theodor Pištěk is a Czech painter, costume designer, set designer and former racing driver. His costume designs and film sets are internationally acclaimed. He won an Oscar for his costumes for Amadeus, directed by Miloš Forman. For Forman’s next film, Valmont, Pištěk won a César Award and was nominated for an Oscar. In 2003 he received the Czech Lion Award for Unique Contribution to Czech Film, in 2013 he was awarded the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema, and in 2017 he received the Golden Slipper for Outstanding Contribution to Films for Children and Young People.
Citron is a Czech hard rock/heavy metal band founded in Ostrava in 1976. The band's history is divided into two distinct eras: between 1976 and 1981, when their name was spelled with a long "ó", Citrón, and they played mainly blues rock. During this time, the band leader was bassist Petr Michalík. The second era, from 1982 until the present, signalled a change in musical style towards hard rock and heavy metal, with drummer Radim Pařízek as band leader and the group's name slightly altered to Citron. As of 2021, Citron has released twelve studio albums, two EPs, and three official compilation albums.
How Poets Wait for a Miracle is a 2016 Czech comedy film directed by Dušan Klein and written by Ladislav Pecháček. The final installment in the "Poets hexalogy", the title is preceded by How the World Is Losing Poets (1982), How Poets Are Losing Their Illusions (1985), How Poets Are Enjoying Their Lives (1988), Konec básníků v Čechách (1993), and Jak básníci neztrácejí naději (2004). The film stars Pavel Kříž and David Matásek as two lifelong friends, now in their fifties and still looking for love and the perfect job, and now also dealing with a child.
George & Beatovens is a Czech rock band, sometimes known as G&B or G+B, formed in 1963 in Prague by singer and guitarist Petr Novák. The band has released several albums and numerous singles throughout its career. They have broken up several times but remain sporadically active to this day.
