For a number of years this was the website for the Prague Winter Festival.
The content is from the site's 2005-2010 archived pages.

In 1348 King Charles IV founded the first central European university in Prague. Over the following centuries Prague became the centre of European culture and education, hosting important scholars, artists and serving as home to world famous Czech artists and composers.

Prague City
Prague City

It was from these cultural roots and traditions that in 1972 IfB decided to found and regularly hold a music festival in Prague. At that time the political and cultural cohesiveness of Europe was disrupted by the expansion of communism. The Prague Winter Festival then became a unique opportunity to renew cultural relations amongst Europeans who were living on both sides of the, then insurmountable, “iron curtain”. This idea found a resonance with Czech artists many of whom were involved in the birth of our Festival in 1972 – the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with its former leader Václav Neumann and the National Theatre opera and ballet departments with the famous conductor, Zdenek Kosler. Many famous artistic bodies have continued to participate in our Festival throughout its many years and new noted personalities will be participating in the 2005 Prague Winter Festival.

 

WELCOME TO THE 2008 PRAGUE WINTER FESTIVAL
JOIN US FOR OUR MOST EXCITING FESTIVAL EVER
 

The 2008 Prague Winter Festival will feature many opportunities for you to enjoy performances of classical music, opera and ballet by night in some of the world’s most beautifully ornate venues; whilst by day some wonderful concerts and events await you.

New for this year, together with many familiar favourites from previous festivals, is the opportunity to enjoy Michelin Star dining in The Mlynec, one of Prague’s top restaurants, with musical accompaniment from a string quartet. Elegant and sophisticated, The Mlynec is situated on the banks of the Vltava with magnificent views of the 13th century Charles Bridge and the Old Town Bridge Tower, which will literally take your breath away. Chef Marek Purkart was the first chef in the Czech Republic to win the coveted Michelin Bibendum award three times, elevating him to the same status as Gordon Ramsay’s in London. International fusion cuisine is The Mlynec’s speciality with Grilled Atlantic monkfish, Danish Veal Mignon, New Zealand Lamb and Traditional Czech Crispy Duck key features of its mouth-watering menu.

Whatever the season, Prague is a beautiful city. With good reason it is often called the Golden City or the City of a Hundred Spires and new for 2008 is the option to include a city tour as one of your chosen daytime events. Prague has something to offer everyone; charming and forgotten lanes just a few steps from the busy streets of the old town, buildings in all possible architectural styles, the peace and comfort of baroque gardens and an amazing array of ecclesiastical architecture.



Prague



The city’s historical centre, which escaped bombing during the Second World War was designated a UNESCO World Cultural heritage site in 1992, emphasising the importance of edifices such as Prague Castle, where visitors can see palatial rooms like the Vladislav Hall, traditionally used by Bohemian Kings for jousting, St. Vitus’ Cathedral and St.George’s Basilica.

Views over the Vltava, spanned by many bridges including the famous medieval Charles Bridge, enhance Prague’s reputation as ‘a fairy tale city’, while the reflection of Prague Castle in the river and the night-time glow of the lanterns around the 18th century Estates Theatre all contribute to the “Mozart was here” feel of this gem of Bohemia. The Lesser Town beneath the Castle is a quarter of a mile of winding, narrow streets with palaces and small artisan houses dating from the 17th and 18th century; the Old Town across Charles Bridge includes some important sites such as the Old Town Hall with its astronomical clock and the Gothic Tyn Church behind the square while the area around Wenceslas Square is the principal shopping area of the city, with many shops to browse.
Another first time inclusion in this year’s list of daytime options is a full day tour to Vyoska, a charming village where Dvorak was inspired to write his opera about the mythical water nymph, Rusalka. This day-tour also includes lunch and musical entertainment.

Puccini’s wonderful Madama Butterfly makes its debut appearance at the Prague Winter Festival this year. This much loved opera with its tale of love, blind devotion and betrayal tells of the ill-fated Butterfly’s marriage to the American Naval Lieutenant Pinkerton.

Bizet’s Carmen, another much loved work, is presented in the Prague State Opera. After the performance a grand buffet dinner with drinks will be served over the venue’s many levels.

For the first time since 2003, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a complete cycle of the 6 symphonic poems that comprise “My Country”, Bedrich Smetana’s hymn of praise to his home country. After the concert

More Good News!
This year you can tailor your programme to suit you by joining us for either 3, 4 or 5 nights. You can choose from our 3, 4 or 5 night packages, all offering a choice of 3 evening performances and 2 daytimes events.

There will also be the opportunity to attend Mass or services of other denominations in various churches in and around the City centre. Classical Sung Mass, in Czech, will be celebrated in St Vitus’ Cathedral in Prague Castle at 9.30am on Sunday 6 January (the Feast of the Epiphany), and presided by a Bishop or Cardinal.

 

Related: I have attended this festival for a number of years. Each year seems to outdo the year before. I tell friends in the US that winter in Prague is one of the best times of the year for travelers. And since December does attract a good number of travelers who know that the Prague Christmas market is one of Europe’s best, I recommend that any one planning on going should plan well in advance. The festival serves as a month-long cultural experience for visitors, who shop for handmade decorations and gifts, taste Czech holiday pastries, and enjoy open-air musical performances. And then there are the other events and holidays which include St.Nicholas Eve on December 5th, New Year's Eve, and the Three Kings procession on January 5th. My neighbor who came with me one year is an avid gambler. I think he spent his entire time in the airport on his favorite online slots USA player-friendly site. He wanted to know if there were any casinos in Prague, I assured him there were. It turned out that by the end of each day we were there, he usually ended up playing slots on his computer rather than get bundled up again against the cold and go out to a land based casino. I can't imagine how thrilled players like himself must have felt when online gambling became possible, especially those sites with slots designed for US players. And my friend is a huge slots player, spending not only time, but also money on slot games of all kinds. Now where ever there is internet, one can always play their favorite slots, poker, or any other table game to their hearts content. I will say, he was most impressed with the Prague Winter Festival and has encouraged other friends in our neighborhood to come with us each year we attend.

 

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS BUREAU

 

What is IFB?

Over the past 40 years IFB has organised tickets and ticket inclusive tours for customers to visit the most important art, classical music and operatic festivals around the world.

We work with the Directors of some of the best music venues in the world offering them efficient ticket distribution. As a result, we are accredited distributors for some of the leading opera festivals and cultural events in the world including the European Festivals Association, Lille – Cultural Capital 2004, Arena di Verona, Bregenz and most major Opera Houses of the world.

History.

IFB was formed in Germany in 1963. The Company offered opportunities for travellers from West Germany to visit opera, theatres and music festivals in Eastern Europe. The Company sold educational tours and traded as an institute, Institut fur Bildungsreisen (Institute for Educational Travel), thus making it easier to secure visas to visit iron curtain countries.

During the 1960’s the Company launched a new destination every year including the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Hungary, France and Italy. In 1972 IFB created the Prague Winter Festival and by the mid 1980’s was taking thousands of visitors a year to the Czech republic.

Further development in the 80’s saw IFB offices open in Switzerland, Belgium and Holland. By the 1990’s IFB was the leading European opera and arts travel specialist.

In 1997 IFB became part of the Seatem Group. Seatem is a world leader in the distribution of entertainment tickets and ticket packages. The group objective is to represent venues and events in a wide range of countries offering international ticket marketing and distribution. Seatem Group includes leading ticket distribution names such as Keith Prowse Ticketing and Tours, Applause, First Call and Global Tickets. Seatem has 15 offices worldwide with a further 10 countries holding registered distribution agents.

Immediate confirmation

Unlike many cultural ticket distributors in the UK, IFB can offer immediate confirmation of availability. Our technology allows us to sell tickets from all over the world in real time. We can confirm today what seats you will have in New York tomorrow. A phone call will direct you to our team who can confirm your booking there and then. No booking forms. No 24-hour confirmation. No delay. Or you can book on our website.

Transparent pricing

IFB will offer tickets for sale at the purchase price. Sometimes we have to charge a booking fee. Our prices are displayed on the ticket and will be confirmed with you at the time of purchase. We do not hide our booking fees in the small print. Opera tickets need no longer be elite and overpriced. With IFB there are no hidden surcharges.

Excellent supplier relationships

Our global network means we have an extensive range of tickets available from all over the world. In all cases our contracts are made directly with the opera houses, festival organisers, concert halls, exhibitions and art galleries. We cut out the middleman thus ensuring fast response times and competitive prices.

Over 40 years experience

Our established presence in the market means our relationships with suppliers are second to none. We can offer a depth of knowledge and experience that many UK companies cannot offer. We are an experienced specialist.

Freedom to choose

We can offer flight or land only packages to suit the needs and budget of our customers. We don’t expect our customers to travel on fixed dates in groups. Our products are offered with accommodation to suit any diary or pocket. Customers are free to buy tickets, ticket and hotels or the entire package. We will tailor make your request to suit you to ensure fully individual travel.

CCI has been providing services to choirs in Germany for over 20 years. Every year we have helped hundreds of European and international choirs to take part in CCI associated choir festivals and competitions. CCI has a network of offices around the world to help you organise travel for your choir to great festivals throughout Europe.

 

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INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS BUREAU WELCOMES YOU TO OUR 33RD PRAGUE WINTER FESTIVAL

 

PROGRAMME OF 2005 PERFORMANCES & VENUES

 

Sunday, January 2nd

Estates Theatre, 8pm - Don Giovanni


Don Giovanni

Opened in 1783 as the Nostic Theatre, this neo-classical theatre famously hosted the world premiere of Mozart's opera Don Giovanni in October 1787, conducted by Mozart himself.

Changing its name to The Theatre of The Estates in 1799 this marvellous venue also played host to the first performance of ‘Kde Domov Muj’ in 1834, a song that later became the Czech national anthem.

This performance of Don Giovanni offers an opportunity to witness a grand opera partly set in and dedicated to Prague. (Italian version)

Above is the complete programme from which to make your selections, please see pricing for details.

 

Sunday January 2nd

  • Estates Theatre, Don Giovanni
Monday January 3rd
  • S + H Theatre, Of Mice and Marionettes
  • National Marionette Theatre, Don Giovanni
  • St Simon and Juda, Suk Chamber Orchestra
  • Prague State Opera, La Traviata
  • Prague State Opera, Buffet and drinks
Tuesday January 4th
  • St Simon and Juda, Bambini di Praga
  • The National Museum, Apollon Quartet
  • The National Theatre, The Taming of the Shrew
  • Charles Bridge, Firework display
Wednesday January 5th
  • Metro Theatre, The Best of the Black Theatre
  • St Agnes Convent, Three Kings Concert
  • Prague State Opera, Dvorák’s Rusalka
  • Prague State Opera, Buffet with Drinks
Thursday January 6th
  • Klemintinum, Martinu Collegium
  • Motion Theatre, Pantomime from the Balustrade
  • Rudolfinium, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Rudolfinium, Champagne & Canapes

 

 

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