Flemish-Czech dreams

"The Week of Czech Dreams was even something behind my expectations," confessed Jelle Dierickx, director of the renowned Lunalia music festival, which runs until 5 May in Mechelen, Flanders. During the first seven days of the festival, Czech artists enchanted the audience in the St. Peter and Paul Church, the City Cultural Centre, the Mandela Hall, and even at the Saturday market in the Grote Markt.

Musicians firmly established on the world stage, such as Iva Bittová, Simona Šaturová, Pavel Haas Quartet, Zemlinský Quartet, Duo Jedlinský - Fischer or Tiburtina Ensemble, performed at Lunalia during the Week of Czech Dreams alongside exceptional piano talents Klára Gibišová, Nora Lubbadová and Alexander Klement. They offered the Flemish audience a cross-section of the best of Czech music, led by the compositions of this year's jubilarian Bedřich Smetana. Jelle Dierickx, director of Lunalia, and Aleš Březina, dramaturge of Czech Dreams and creative director of the Year of Czech Music, also gave an engaging debate about Czech music in front of the audience. The highlight of the programme was the performance of Antonín Stehlík's dulcimer music, which made both the audience dance at the official events and the casual listeners at the traditional Saturday market on the main square in Mechelen, accompanied by a tasting of Moravian wines with the personal participation of renowned winemaker Stanislav Mádl.

The Week in Mechelen was held under the auspices and with the personal participation of H.E. Jakub Skalník, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Belgium, and enjoyed the interest of Brussels correspondents of Czech Television and Czech Radio.

Thanks to the great work of the Czech Dreams video team led by Lukáš Vídeňský, you can find yourself in the middle of the action in Mechelen (see more photos and videos on our FB or IG):