A concert featuring Czech music, or rather a musical spectacle, was held in the prestigious Amricani Cultural Centre, including the presentation of slides and an exhibition of photos from the UNESCO series, ‘The Beauty of Czechia’. At the concert, the artists performed the works of some of the most important composers in the history of Czech music. The event opened with a performance by outstanding Ukrainian clarinetist, multi-instrumentalist and conductor of emerging KMA Orchestra, Viktor Shramko, with renowned pianist and pedagogue Karol Masternak.

They performed the Movement of Concerto by Jan Vaclav Antonin Stamitz (1717-1757). He was a Bohemian composer who founded the Mannheim school of symphonist, which had an immense influence of Mozart and Viennese classics. Polish soprano singer and pianist Kinga Masternak, well-known and admired both in Kuwait and abroad, along with Kamil Deryło, a singer who recently joined KMA and who is already very popular among listeners and students, performed the wonderful Czech folk songs, arias and songs by two of the greatest Czech composers – Bedrich Smetana (‘The Bartered Bride’ Opera) and Antonin Dvorak (‘Rusalka’ Opera). Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) was known as the Father of Czech National Music.

He belonged to the canon of Romantic music. Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) was a symbol of national pride and musical innovation. He promoted Czech musical culture throughout the world. At the same time, he laid the foundation for the American symphonic music of the 20th century and film composers. The program was complemented by the pieces of Zdenek Fibich, Bohuslav Martinu and Antonin Michi, together with a Kuwaiti accent – the warmly applauded song by Sulaiman Al Dekan & Muhmud Al-Kuwaiti ‘Al Brushiya’. Karol Masternak did not only accompany all soloists on piano, but also had an opportunity to showcase his mastery as a soloist in a four-hand duet with his wife, Mrs. Kinga, performing Dvorak’s famous Slavonic Dances. All the excellent soloists are part of the Kuwait Music Academy team. The audience, including diplomats, representatives of the State administration, business partners, Czech and Slovak communities, and the general public expressed their admiration through long applauses and a standing ovation at the end. The first comments on the Internet described the evening as “magical”. ‘The Beauty of Czechia’ expressed through music, will be remembered for a long time. That is the power of music and art.