Lifestyles Magazine Prague - Largest English language magazine in the Czech Republic » Interview

NOT SO FAST: You’re not going to the boardroom with those manners

John Brooks Lobkowicz — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:48:37 +0000

It is a generally accepted fact that Central and Eastern Europe have a higher share of complaints about conformity to international standards of business and social behavior. This is certainly a consequence of the previous era with restricted access to business activity and Western norms.While there is no shortage of business talent, fast promotion, and growing remuneration, there are equally important skills required to succeed at the most senior levels- both locally and internationally. The “ Small Things” such as ignored replies to communications, the missing thank you note, or inappropriate attire speak to the individual’s standards and character…and often can close the most coveted doors when ignored.

Lifestyles Magazine® interviews an international authority on the subject, Ms. Eliška Hašková-Coolidge.

Have standards changed significantly since you first began offering guidance in the areas of business protocols and etiquette, or have the standards remained the same and the execution is fallen by the wayside?

As far as the Czech Republic is concerned, the standards have definitely gone up since I first came here, but I’m not sure they haven’t been somewhat “surface”. It is rare now to see people walking around wearing sandals with socks in them, it is rare to see those unfitting purple jackets that people used to wear, but the details are still missing across the board. Being able to walk into a Hugo Boss store with a healthy credit card does not mean that you will come out looking like a gentleman. As far as behavior goes –- and the outer impression cannot be divorced from the inner self- – we may have progressed even to something a little bit worse than before. Manners are not something that are written in a book, but are something that come from within. Because manners come from the heart, they are sometimes better in a village than in Prague where people should really know better. Manners are intrinsically based on respect for others and on the desire not to offend. They are the glue that brings people together and makes them feel at ease.Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the US and my daughter´s grandfather six generations ago, once wrote that the manners and spirit of a society preserve it in vigor. No matter how strong the laws and constitution of our new country, he said, if manners failed, then our society will fail as well.

Since first impressions are so vital, what (5) etiquette faux pas would you say create the most harm to a customer/client relationship from the very beginning?

First impressions are vital. There was a poll recently taken,according to which, within the first 4 minutes when you meet somebody, that person makes his opinion of you. Their impression is based on 4 pillars, the first is general appearance and it counts 35%,the second is dress which counts 15%, the third is manners which count 10%, and the fourth is intelligence with only 5%. You maynot have a second chance at another meeting to change a bad first impression. The first impression is vital in business, in government and everywhere you work with people or try to influence them or to negotiate an agreement.5 etiquette faux pas:(1) Little or no eye contact with the person with whom you are speaking.(2) Wrinkled attire, unpolished shoes, no pleats or cuffs in the trousers,bad or “faddish” haircuts or colors, inadequate personal hygiene.(3) Being either too late for a business meeting or too early for asocial event.(4) Not getting up when a lady enters a room or when speaking to a lady.(5) Improper table manners, from not knowing how to hold silverware to putting elbows on the table, playing with hair, using tooth picks and the like.

Considering the informal nature in which business is often conducted these days, are there consequences to having a standard of etiquette that is too high?

I don’t think so. The standard provided should come from the heart and not from a textbook. It is never too high. The standard must indicate respect for the company where you work, identity with its culture and respect for colleagues and for those with whom you are meeting. You must put people at ease while keeping in mind who you are and where you are employed. It’s not just a question of the external physical appearance, but of body language, facial expression and basic good manners.

It is generally accepted that some business customs vary from culture to culture- American versus European versus Asian. Will you describe some of the differences? What are the common customs you believe should be followed throughout the business world?

There are too many differences to explain – whole books have been written on the subject. But one thing is absolutely clear: every intelligent businessman or traveler should learn about the customs and culture of the nation they visit. You don’t have to change yourself and adopt these customs, but you have to know about them, workaround them and respect them. In other words, if you go to China,you should know about chop-sticks. You don’t have to use them,but it is not a brutal insult to anybody if you really can’t eat with them. There is nothing wrong with asking for a fork. But it should be done with an apology and without arrogance. In some societies,for instance, you don’t cross your legs for fear of showing the sole of your shoe to another person, or present flowers of a certain color that is associated with mourning and death. These are things that we don’t know unless we ask and do a bit of homework. There are plenty of books on this topic. Embassies also are good sources of such information.

Do you feel a course in social and business etiquette is necessary? In other words, are there things we must be taught or do we simply need to be more aware of our behavior and be more polite and courteous?

A very small percentage of people worldwide are brought up with a full knowledge of the intricacies of correct social behavior. I tell to the young people whom I coach: You have to ask yourself daily not just once a year: “Who do I want to be?”, “What do I want to be in life?” By answering this question you determine to what extent you wish to improve yourself. Manners provide us with self control. The are the “grease” that makes social relationships work. They come from the heart. You must have a bit of humility to realize that a humble background will not keep you from rising to the top but a lack of integrity and manners may prevent you from staying there. It takes both job skills and people skills to be successful. People do come from different backgrounds, with different experiences. Manners teach us to respect one another.John Huntsman, a colleague on the White House staff, recently wrote a book called ‘Winners Never Cheat: Everyday Values We Learned as Children (But May Have Forgotten)’. He is living proof that you don’t have to come from an affluent background to navigate life with integrity, success and a social conscience. John has a very humble family background and had to struggle to the top. He built the largest chemical company in the US and gave back to the society in which he achieved his success by building one of the largest private hospitals for the treatment of cancer. John believes that there are three kinds of people in life: those who for whatever reason never achieve any success; those who achieve success but are unable to keep it; and those who are able to achieve and hold on to their success throughout their lives. The difference between them is character. Character is our most prized possession. It is the basis of all our actions and being. Those who have character are not ashamed to seek out help in learning manners, in improving themselves. A person of character is self-critical and has the humility and courage to address the areas in which he is lacking. One is never too old to improve. Life stops when we stop learning.

At home with daughter, Alexandra

What do you think the informality in business communication,and the approach taken nowadays, says about us as a society?Is our lack of etiquette a reflection of a growing lack of respect for others?

J.P. Morgan Private Bank in New York, where my daughter Alexandra used to work, is a good example of how a strong company culture and equally strong employee integrity can make a difference. Every client receives the attention and respect he or she requires. This makes a business organization much more resilient in times of crisis and recession. Generally speaking, there is recently a trend in New York toward more formality in the workplace.Women at J.P. Morgan, for instance, were asked not to wear tennis shoes to work, or to change them before entering the office building, lest they meet a client in the elevator. Bank officers were asked to address hand-written letters to clients instead of sending typed ones or communicating with them through email. A strong sense of culture results in having fewer misunderstandings with business partners and better employee teamwork. It makes things,surprisingly, more relaxed, while remaining in focus. It is a known fact that egos often stand in the way of good business relations and yield negative informality, which is also a gateway to corruption,lack of respect towards individuals and general social discord. Every aspect of professional conduct is significantly interconnected with every aspect of one’s personal behavior and also with one’s personal character.

Can you give 3 (or more) examples of commonly observed poor business etiquette on a corporate level? (i.e. not returning calls, ignoring correspondence, disrespectful behavior towards subordinates, etc.) What are the implications for further advancement? The effects on the company this person is employed by?

(1) Everybody knows that there are time limits, as far as phone calls are concerned. And it is a well-recognized fact that it can be very difficult to keep up with all of them, but we should definitely acknowledge every phone call we receive and get back as soon as possible. If we are late in doing so, we should apologize.(2) Sending thank-you notes is almost ignored by our society. It is extremely rare in the Czech Republic to receive a thank you for anything – and almost never in the form of a letter. Even if one brings flowers as a token of appreciation they should be accompanied by a brief note, since flowers wilt and disappear, but the note remains.(3) The so-called “gender issues”, which mostly come down to sexual banter at the workplace, especially men making discouraging or belittling remarks about women. This happens rather often, and is, of course, highly inappropriate, and not as likely to happen incorporate environments in the United States. Women are to blame for this, as well, since many of them dress in an overly provocative manner instead of being attractive in a business-like way. A woman working in a business environment and looking like a fashion model for an extravagant designer is not a woman who can be viewed as a business partner. Czech women are generally very pretty and should be careful to dress to impress with their minds, not their bodies.Czech men should refrain from making untoward remarks, especially about bodily parts.

Can you offer 4 examples of proper etiquette that businesspeople should follow to continue their career growth? ( The”do’s”)

(1) Do listen: show respect, listen to your interlocutor. Do not start forming the reply in your head before the other finishes his or her question. Listen, think about it, and then reply.(2) Do be appropriately dressed for any given occasion. Being familiar with and following the proper dress code is very important.The etiquette surrounding the intricacies of buttoned versus unbuttoned jackets is, unfortunately, still a mystery to many men asare pleats in trousers and polished leather shoes.(3) Do be neatly groomed, see a barber or hairdresser, if needed,and be cleanly shaved. (Richard Nixon´s afternoon shadow lost him an election).(4) When in doubt do have enough humility to seek advice. Do not hesitate to call your host in case of uncertainty in the wording of an invitation. It only shows your respect and confirms your desire not to offend. Every nation, every organization and every event has its own rules of conduct – make it a point to learn them and respect them.

What are some of the most obvious faults at the retail/service level? How do these shortcomings vary by region (Eastern vs.Western Europe, Asia, and the U.S.)? Do you believe that lower standards of customer service affect the population as a whole,or is it presumed to be “a given”?

The Golden Rule was: “Treat people as you would wish to be treated yourself.” In the 21th Century this Golden Rule has changed to read “Treat others as they would wish to be treated themselves.”We must recognize that people are all very different. If we work in a service industry, we must show respect for all the people who use our services and anticipate even their unspoken needs and wants.Please give us a memorable example of excellence you have experienced in a corporate setting, and the same in which you were a customer/client. One of the nicest things that can be said about customer-care in the Czech Republic is that people greet each other everywhere. It is a lovely habit which is missing in many other parts in the world.But this is where it stops. It is not because people don’t want to be nice, but because of their lack of experience with proper customer care. If one has not enjoyed such attention it is difficult to know how to give it. I well remember being yelled at once when I didn’t take a shopping basket in a store. I cannot count the number of times I have entered a store or office and been made to feel that I was an imposition on the personnel. These are the unpleasant remains of the Communist era. As people here experience caring behavior on their travels they will adopt it and expect it here at home.Some good basic principles are: remembering customer names,even after years have gone by since their last visit; accommodating their previously expressed preferences in drinks, food, bed making and the like. Careful attention to small details makes an immense difference. Attention to detail wasn’t possible in the Communist Era,and it is still missing in the high-end restaurants, hotels, stores and offices. If you are in a service industry, you must know about and show interest in the needs and demands of your clients, be ready to offer assistance and advice where necessary. Greeting with a smile and appropriate body language and attaching “Madam”, “Sir” or a last name to the salutation helps.No work is too unimportant to make a difference. People are sensitive to what you do. Everyone should do their job in the best way possible. The world is diverse. Some people are the finest housekeepers and some are the best bankers. They need each other and neither is any less important to the good of the whole. This is a key concept in any service business. The competition is fierce and the client can be easily lost.

About Eliška Hašková Coolidge

Eliška Hašková Coolidge was born in Prague. At the age of eight,she, her mother and brother fled across the border to Germany and immigrated to the United States to join her father – a banker by profession, who at the time of the Communist takeover in 1948 was a guest of the U.S. government and simply couldn’t return back to his Czech homeland. Mrs. Coolidge attended several private schools in Washington D.C. and graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Her career in U.S. Government Service spans over thirty years, of which eighteen were dedicated to her work at the White House.Mrs. Coolidge then returned to Prague to manage a restituted family property and to share her acquired knowledge, together with experience, in her native country.In 2003, the Senate of the Czech Republic honored her with the ‘Outstanding Czech Woman in the World’ award, and at the request of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), she ran for the Czech Senate in 2006, winning the first round but losing by a narrow margin during the second when the Socialists were joined by the Communists to defeat her. Author of an autobiography, which was published in2005, she is also a co-author of a children’s book on etiquette,as well as a lecturer and frequent guest on Czech Radio and well-known television programs.

National Treasure – Catching up with Národní Divadlo player Taťjana Medvecká

John Brooks Lobkowicz — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:03:55 +0000

A Choice Voice: Interview with Taťjána Medvecká, The great stage actress enlivened
a recent literary reading, proving her status
as national treasure is very much intact.

A young Taťjana Medvecká aspired to dance ballet but hung up her Pointe shoes for Shakespeare after a candid instructor suggested that her physical stature wasn’t up to the task. This simple twist of fate led to a storied theatrical career beginning in 1975 with studies at Prague’s Theatrical Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU) — upon graduation she joined the Národní Divadlo (National Theatre) repertory where she has since featured in 80 plays — and ulminating in professional accolades and the admiration of her peers and the public, who regard her as one of the leading actresses
of Czech stage and screen.

Despite Medvecká’s numerous film and television appearances — she recently logged a part in the 2008 tale of royal bloodletting, Bathory — live theater is her true métier. Her diverse roles have graced Prague’s other prestigious stages as well, among them the Rokoko Theater, Kolowrat Theater, and Divadlo na Zábradlí, earning the actress much acclaim. In 2000 and 2002 Medvecká received the Thálie Award, bestowed annually for best dramatic performance, for her portrayal of Elizabeth in Schiller’s Mary Stuart (2000) and Antonie Nikolajevna in Nilin’s Married for the First Time (2002). She has also collected countless awards for her voice-over and broadcast radio work.

of sitting down with the lovely Ms. Medvecká afterward.

Tell us how you got involved in the Night of Literature project.
I like reading as a discipline as such — be it on the radio, various openings, christenings or other presentations (though I seem to have less and less time to read for pleasure). I was approached by the organizers of the event and I had some free time and I liked the text so I thought I’d give it a try. I had no idea that it would become so popular, which pleased me very much. The audiences were lovely and appreciative so I survived so I survived those 250 minutes of reading aloud with my full health intact.

Who is your personal favorite writer?
A. P. Čechov — an author ahead of his time.

Your husband Jiří Dufek is a writer as well. Have you worked together?
Yes, my husband is a screenwriter and playwright but first and foremost a lecturer at FAMU, so he works much more with students then with me. The last time we worked together was on a fairy-tale program some 25 years ago.

What is it like having two artists under the same roof?
Our life is definitely not one of great order. But now that both of our daughters are adults it is much calmer. The earlier years were quite hectic. Fortunately, our parents used to help us out quite a lot in their own, different ways, which was a tremendous help. To this day I am grateful for their assistance

Are you brutally honest about
each other’s performances?
Of course we are! Though it is a little one-sided as it is difficult for me to judge the way my husband lectures but after every premiere we discuss my performance and I am a very attentive listener. I believe that he is a great analyst in that
sense.
You also do a lot of voiceover
work. What are the challenges
and rewards with regards to
that particular craft?
The challenge is to portray the characterin such a way that the viewer has the feeling that Susan Sarandon [Medvecká has voiced Sarandon multiple times] or Liza Minelli is actually Czech. The voice talent must inhabit the actual actor and
assume her rhythm, not simply copy the actual intonation of he original language. A good dubbing director not only keeps a close eye on synchronization but also makes sure that the oiceover actor speaks in a natural manner.
I always feel the film’s spirit and the actor’s performance get lost or watered down in translation. Any thoughts on this?
There was a time when people in the industry took it very seriously to the point of talking about launching Czech voiceover schools. I dare say that many of the dubbed films of that era were on par with the originals. Today the work is often done at a hectic tempo, the actors not even meeting in the studio, but recording their parts separately so there is no spontaneous dialogue. Technology may be improving but at the great cost of professional quality.

Why do you believe dubbing is so popular here in the Czech Republic while other countries rely solely on subtitles? Which do you prefer?
I’m not sure, perhaps because of the comfort factor or perhaps just habit. My personal preference is for original language films with subtitles. It makes sense then that language is such a passion for you. Share some of your linguistic background with us. I am like a parrot and a monkey. I have a good ear for music and I also like conversation. If I am speaking with someone who has an accent, I am quite adept at imitating it. I love the English language for its conciseness, Russian for its softness and French for all the rattling Rs and melody. Whenever I speak a foreign language I really pretend that I am a citizen of that nation. And I like that, that game.

What kind of a traveler are you? Do you go to see the country or its people?
Travel satisfies and appeases my curiosity, be it at home or abroad. I prefer to organize my own travels as opposed to tours from travel agents, though I am not an adventurer, I would not travel to Patagonia alone with just a backpack. I like visiting various landmarks and monuments, and natural wonders and I am also interested in architecture. I love the heat and the sea.

What is your favorite journey?
To the countries around the Mediterranean Sea — Cypress, olive groves, lavender, cicadas, the heat — heaven!
When you are here in Prague do you consider thetheater a second home?
It is true that sometimes I spend more time in the theater then at home, but it is not a second home (because a person only has one, no?) nor an office as such. It is a strange world in a world of its own, to the outsider it might seem slightly disjointed, introverted, even comical, but a person is never bored there. Who would you like to work with on stage? Who were your film heroes coming up and which contemporary performers do you admire? I have always wanted to work with Peter Brook on the stage. Growing up it was always Audrey Hepburn, Richard Burton, Paul Newman, Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman. Today it is Cate Blanchet, Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman, Johny Depp and Al Pacino.

Do you think that being an actress behind the Iron Curtain limited your own opportunities for worldwide exposure?
I’m a realist and I know that unlike many other artistic forms, acting is first and foremost connected with the spoken language. That does not mean that the very limited opportunities to travel, intern and tour did not extremely anger me. A terrible experience and one that is all but incomprehensible to today’s young generation.

How do you react to criticism? How has your approach towards criticism changed over the 30‑plus years you have been an actress?

Considering the fact that most criticism or reviews are more about
retelling the story and listing the names of the actors rather than
a detailed polemic commentary of the play, I perceive it as more of
an informational tool for readers, rather then a mirror aligned at the
actors and creators of the play.

Proudest career achievement? Any regrets?
I suppose I regret that I have not been in any comic films of any real note.
I am not an overly proud person. I am happy when a performance comes into being that the audience enjoys and accepts. I am extremely happy that I still enjoy doing theater.

Catching Butterflies in Tehran: H.E. Peter Nicolay Ræder

John Brooks Lobkowicz — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:57:31 +0000

As his tenure draws to a close, Norway’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic talks about the Middle East, Czech progress, and a passion for casting his net across the country’s meadows.

Your Excellency; please tell us about your background, your law studies, your family, and life with Inger. Were warmth and a beautiful tan promised as a condition of marriage?

The warmth and tan was easy, since it has been supplied by our choice of postings (never too far away from the equator). All this has been contrary to my upbringing by parents who, despite their own careers, warned against a life of foreign service. I was born in war-time London where they worked for the Norwegian government in exile. We moved a lot — to Belgium and Spain where I developed a penchant for Tintin and Real Madrid. I completed my law studies at Oslo University in 1969 and started out as a banker and a judge. My very first diplomatic post was Hong Kong in 1975, which I liked very much, especially the off time.

Your expertise in Arab affairs has been recognized by your work within the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and varied Middle East postings. What’s behind your interest in the region?

I got those postings mostly because nobody else was all that keen, which boded well for us (see wife’s tan above) and for my butterfly-collecting hobby. After Hong Kong I put in for Europe and got Cairo instead. Norway then opened a “field” embassy in Beirut in 1981, due to the sudden presence of a thousand Norwegian soldiers along the Libano-Israeli border. I got that posting (the butterfly hunting there beats Egypt) for a couple of years, was then hauled back home and bored stiff in the legal department until two years later a position came up in post-revolutionary Tehran. Nobody queued up for it — I met my wife there at the embassy.

Did you apply your legal training in the Middle East or here in the Czech Republic? Any noteworthy contrasts between the two regions, vis a vis legal structures?

Law is useful absolutely everywhere as a problem-solving method in general. The problems may vary, but the method works with all of them. In 1990, for instance, Mr. Saddam Hussein saw fit to grab Kuwait and take a lot of Western hostages into the bargain, including close to 60 Norwegians. Our ambassador to Iraq had a heart attack and I was sent there in a rush to get the hostages out. As for contrasts, the Czech Republic now belongs to a peaceful par of the world that’s vastly different from nearly all of the Middle East where occasional bombings spices up desert life.
There have been other assignments — and personal challenges — in equally diverse climes. Please discuss.

In 1994 I was given my first assignment as ambassador in Buenos Aires, a real change, but the butterflies were numerous. I also covered all the — ays: Uruguay, Paraguay, and Boliviay (easy to remember), and traveled extensively in South America. In late 2001, after a stint back in the Ministry bogs, fate looked benignly at me and suddenly Norway needed an instant embassy in Kabul. Short assignment there, then back to the Ministry where they secretly had plotted to hand me Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], making my wife unhappy (ladies can’t drive there, you know, and she values her freedom). So it was a lonely couple of years.
How has your work in the more temperate climate of Prague varied, both in objectives and results?

I arrived in Prague in 2004, my first European posting (not counting my time as a NATO corporal in Paris in 1963—1964). It was a considerable change from the Middle East, different climate, different job priorities, but quite good Lepidoptera. Since Norway does not belong to the European Union the embassy spends a lot of time lobbying for our interests in its 27 capitals. The EU is a colossal labyrinth and one doesn’t have the same sense of personal achievement as in more distant countries. On the other hand we have some good cards — we supply, for instance, the Czech Republic with about a fourth of its gas needs.
Are there unresolved issues that you had hoped to settle?

I am happy to state that there are no problems between Norway and the Czech Republic. The Czechs would like to buy some more gas and we would like to sell other products on top of that, especially salmon. But the Czechs still seem to feel that carp is piscatory sacrifice enough. (But they’ll change). Our problems with the EU at large are of the surmountable kind and mostly come from our decision not to join the club. We have a comprehensive agreement, called the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement, which almost makes us members.

The EEA and Norway Grants substantially impacted this country, especially in the area of medicine. How will the Czech Republic benefit from them for years to come?

That agreement makes funds available to newer EU members, including this country. The total sum for the period 2004—2009 is around € 1.2 billion, of which slightly less than ten per cent, about € 110M, has been allocated to the Czechs. We’ve had excellent cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, and it seems that at least 99 per cent will be used toward a number of smaller projects in areas like environmental issues, cultural heritage, health, the judiciary, transfer of know-how, and so on. Many good projects have been turned down due to lack of funds, but a similar agreement is being completed right now and many will, hopefully, have a second chance. These funds have put Norway on the Czech map, so to speak.

Any plans to introduce the extraordinary successes of Statkraft [Europe’s largest renewable energy company] here, helping this country develop similar resources?

I don’t know to what extent we can assist with renewable resources here. Statkraft is based on differing historical and geographical realities. Norway consists mainly of mountains made out of hard rock, and has copious rain and snowfall every year. We are practically self-sufficient for our electricity needs through hydropower. This includes high-energy-consuming industries like metal shops and ore refineries.

In addition, we’ve large deposits of oil and gas offshore. The rivers in the Czech Republic can’t give much more electricity. Tidal and wave power is out. Wind power can be utilised, but other countries dominate this field technologically. We will do some pioneering in offshore windmill farms or solar power production but the development of “clean” use of brown coal and modern, safe, and efficient nuclear stations is the best bet for the Czechs. But considerable investment must be found and resistance from
environmentalists must be overcome. And, when you run out of
uranium, Norway has a lot of thorium…

What potential contributions can the Czech Republic make to Norway and Europe, which are currently undeveloped or not fully realized?
EU membership has already made the Czechs better off and that will in itself result in increased contact, trade, tourism. This is also the rationale behind the EEA funds. Opportunities will no doubt appear that will benefit both economies. Our biggest investor here is the so called Norwegian oil (or pension) fund, but you don’t exactly see it splashed on the front pages.

Favorite place outside of Prague and why? Favorite place in Prague? What do you and Inger enjoy doing together when alone in Prague (outside the residence)?

This could easily become indiscreet. My best places outside Prague are isolated hilltops, valleys, and uncut meadows with lots of butterflies. My wife prefers castles, palaces, and other meccas of culture. She might like the Obecní Dům best of all. Together, we enjoy going to Norwegian-owned restaurants without Norwegian cooking.

What will you miss of daily life in Prague when you return to Norway? What will stay with you that you never experienced in your previous postings?

I won’t miss a thing. I never do. I don’t mean to be unkind, I’ve enjoyed my stay tremendously, but knew from the start that it would end after a maximum five years, as it now does, and I’m reconciled with that. My wife will miss the intense cultural life and all the friendships we’ve developed. She is under the misconception that in Norway culture is going to speed skating competitions and freezing your butt off, and that it’s hard to hang pictures in an igloo.

What’s next? Retirement doesn’t exactly seem like your cup of tea.

I take things as they come. I expected, at 66, to crawl into the cosy darkness of pension as per September, but a couple of days ago the Ministry called and begged me to take on another assignment which hopefully will involve travel to icky places where my net may have some work to do. Butterflies never seem to take sides in human conflicts. They are smarter than we think.

Peter Nicolay Ræder
Born: 20 August 1943
Cand. jur., University in Oslo
2004—2009 Ambassador to the Czech Republic
2002—2004 Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
2001—2002 Chargé d’affaires in Kabul
1999—2001 Regional adviser for Latin America, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Oslo
1994—1999 Ambassador to Argentina
1993—1994 Regional Adviser for Arab States, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Oslo
1993 Chargé d’affaires in Tehran
1991—1993 Regional Adviser for Afica and Arab States, Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Oslo
1990 Chargé d’affaires in Bagdad
1989—1990 Head of Unit, Division of Justice, MinIstry of Foreign
Affairs, Oslo
1987—1989 Chargé d’affaires in Damaskus
1983—1987 Chargé d’affaires in Teheran
1981—1983 Senior Executive Officer, Minstry of Foreign Affairs, Oslo
1979—1981 First Secretary, Embassy in Beirut
1978—1979 First Secretary, Embassy in Kairo
1975—1978 Deputy Counsellor, Embassy in Hongkong

Prague National Theatre: Lukáš Slavický Interview

Tinuola Awopetu — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:51:14 +0000

What does it mean for you to return to the Prague National Theatre stage as a principal in Swan Lake? A lot of happines, but at same time a great deal of responsibility.I’m very happy that I was invited to perform at the National Theatre.I’ve known the house since I was a child. I held my graduation performance there and also danced two gala performances on its stage. With my return, I hope not to disappoint the audience and myself.

Your father, Jaroslav Slavický, is the director of the PragueDance Conservatory; your mother was a dancer. Growingup, did you have any doubt that you would be a dancer?As a child, I danced at home often and spent a lot of time in thetheatre, which was a magical place for me. I think because of thisI probably always had to be a dancer. Sure, like any little boy, I hadwild fantasies about what I would do as an adult, but then myconnections to dance were so strong, none of those fantasies stooda chance.

What was the experience of learning ballet under your father’s tutelage at the Prague Dance Conservatory?

I have beautiful memories of my time at the Conservatory, and I’m very grateful to all my past teachers. My father was always demanding, but he was also fair. It was not always easy being known as Jaroslav Slavický’s son, but I worked hard so that no one would say I was getting special attention or privileges.

You have danced on the international stage (Japan, Hungary, Russia, etc.) and have won many awards; what inspires you about ballet and each time you get on stage?

I think dance is one of the most beautiful arts. I even like the word “dance”. Dance has the power to tell powerful stories and convey strong feelings. I enjoy getting on stage to try to get the story and the emotions across to the audience.

You’ve performed in Swan Lake a number of times and as a soloist. Is it your favorite piece?

I enjoy dancing in many roles and in different types of performances. As a dancer, I think it is very important to experience various styles and techniques. This makes you a more mature dancer.

As a soloist for the Bavarian State Ballet, how do you manage the pressure of the spotlight?

I try to do my work as well as I possibly can. If a dancer is honest about his talents and gives his all, it will show on stage.

How would you describe the current state of ballet art in the Czech Republic?

I think there are many talented people here with passion and ambition. This is great, but I wish that we could have even more. More support for the art from the state would be a tremendous help,but we know what the reality of that is.

What advice would you give to young dancers or those interested in ballet?

I’m still very young myself to give much advice, but I believe young dancers have to have a real passion and dedication for ballet. And they have to be ready to give everything towards it.

Dance is a very physical art that can take a toll on the body, how do you keep yourself healthy?

Regular training is very important, and one should listen to one’s body. I’m still looking for that magic pill myself.

Will you make another return to the Prague stage in the future?

I hope so. I would be very happy to perform again in my home city.

What are your future goals?

This is a difficult question. I’m still young! I hope to stay connected to dance and to the arts in general. Time, however, will tell.

A Czech National Treasure- Taťjana Medvecká

Vítek Jirava — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:23:15 +0000

Catching up with Národní Divadlo player Taťjana Medvecká

A Choice Voice: Interview with Taťjána Medvecká, the great stage actress enlivened a recent literary reading, proving her status as national treasure is very much intact.

A young Taťjana Medvecká aspired to dance ballet but hung up her Pointe shoes for Shakespeare after a candid instructor suggested that her physical stature wasn’t up to the task. This simple twist of fate led to a storied theatrical career beginning in 1975 with studies at Prague’s Theatrical Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU) — upon graduation she joined the Národní Divadlo (National Theatre) repertory where she has since featured in 80 plays — and culminating in professional accolades and the admiration of her peers and the public, who regard her as one of the leading actresses of Czech stage and screen.

Despite Medvecká’s numerous film and television appearances —
she recently logged a part in the 2008 tale of royal bloodletting, Bathory — live theater is her true métier. Her diverse roles have graced Prague’s other prestigious stages as well, among them the Rokoko Theater, Kolowrat Theater, and Divadlo na Zábradlí, earning the actress much acclaim. In 2000 and 2002 Medvecká received the Thálie Award, bestowed annually for best dramatic performance, for her portrayal of Elizabeth in Schiller’s Mary Stuart (2000) and Antonie Nikolajevna in Nilin’s Married for the First Time (2002). She has also collected countless awards for her voice-over and broadcast radio work.

Medvecká recently lent her prized voice to May’s Night of Literature event, a series of poetry and prose readings held at various Prague locales, giving an inspired and extremely well-received interpretation of the work of José Luis Peixoto at the Rotunda of the Holy Cross. We had the good fortune to attend the event and the even better fortune of sitting down with the lovely Ms. Medvecká afterward.Tell us how you got involved in the Night of Literature project.
I like reading as a discipline as such — be it on the radio, various openings, christenings or other presentations (though I seem to have less and less time to read for pleasure). I was approached by the organizers of the event and I had some free time and I liked the text so I thought I’d give it a try. I had no idea that it would become so popular, which pleased me very much. The audiences were lovely and appreciative so I survived so I survived those 250 minutes of reading aloud with my full health intact.

Who is your personal favorite writer?
A. P. Čechov — an author ahead of his time.

Are you brutally honest about each other’s performances?
Of course we are! Though it is a little one-sided as it is difficult for me to judge the way my husband lectures but after every premiere we discuss my performance and I am a very attentive listener. I believe that he is a great analyst in that sense.

You also do a lot of voiceover work. What are the challenges and rewards with regards to that particular craft?
The challenge is to portray the character in such a way that the viewer has the feeling that Susan Sarandon [Medvecká has voiced Sarandon multiple times] or Liza Minelli is actually Czech. The voice talent must inhabit the actual actor and assume her rhythm, not simply copy the actual intonation of the original language. A good dubbing director not only keeps a close eye on synchronization but also makes sure that the voiceover actor speaks in a natural manner.

I always feel the film’s spirit and the actor’s performance get lost or watered down in translation. Any thoughts on this?
There was a time when people in the industry took it very seriously to the point of talking about launching Czech voiceover schools. I dare say that many of the dubbed films of that era were on par with the originals. Today the work is often done at a hectic tempo, the actors not even meeting in the studio, but recording their parts separately so there is no spontaneous dialogue. Technology may be improving but at the great cost of professional quality.

Why do you believe dubbing is so popular here in the Czech Republic while other countries rely solely on subtitles? Which do you prefer?
I’m not sure, perhaps because of the comfort factor or perhaps just habit. My personal preference is for original language films with subtitles.
It makes sense then that language is such a passion for you. Share some of your linguistic background with us.
I am like a parrot and a monkey. I have a good ear for music and I also like conversation. If I am speaking with someone who has an accent, I am quite adept at imitating it. I love the English language for its conciseness, Russian for its softness and French for all the rattling Rs and melody. Whenever I speak a foreign language I really pretend that I am a citizen of that nation. And I like that, that game.

What is your favorite journey?
To the countries around the Mediterranean Sea — Cypress, olive groves, lavender, cicadas, the heat — heaven!

When you are here in Prague do you consider the theater a second home?
It is true that sometimes I spend more time in the theater then at home, but it is not a second home (because a person only has one, no?) nor an office as such. It is a strange world in a world of its own, to the outsider it might seem slightly disjointed, introverted, even comical, but a person is never bored there. Who would you like to work with on stage? Who were your film heroes coming up and which contemporary performers do you admire?
I have always wanted to work with Peter Brook on the stage. Growing up it was always Audrey Hepburn, Richard Burton, Paul Newman, Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman. Today it is Cate Blanchet, Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman, Johny Depp and Al Pacino.

Do you think that being an actress behind the Iron Curtain limited your own opportunities for worldwide exposure?
I’m a realist and I know that unlike many other artistic forms, acting is first and foremost connected with the spoken language. That does not mean that the very limited opportunities to travel, intern and tour did not extremely anger me. A terrible experience and one that is all but incomprehensible to today’s young generation.

How do you react to criticism? How has your approach towards criticism changed over the 30‑plus years you have been an actress?
Considering the fact that most criticism or reviews are more about retelling the story and listing the names of the actors rather than a detailed polemic commentary of the play, I perceive it as more of an informational tool for readers, rather then a mirror aligned at the actors and creators of the play.

A Quiet Evening with Diana Krall

- Staff reporters — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:20:03 +0000

The Grammy winning chanteuse debuts “Quiet Nights” at Prague Congress Centre, November 26

Some music is intended to paint a romantic scene — a candlelit dinner, a walk along a moonlit beach. Quiet Nights — Diana Krall’s twelfth album — ain’t about that. Using Brazil as a musical point of reference, the award-winning pianist and singer is not suggesting a night out; she means to stay in.

“It’s not coy. It’s not ‘peel me a grape,’ little girl stuff. I feel this album’s very womanly — like you’re lying next to your lover in bed whispering this in their ear.”

She’s not kidding. From Krall’s refreshing version of “Where or When,” to an utterly soul-stilling rendition of “You’re My Thrill,” the ten songs on Quiet Nights are disarming in their intimacy. Even those already familiar with the breathy vocals and rhythmic lilt in Krall’s music — and now there are millions — will be taken aback by just how far the music pushes, unabashedly, into the realm of sweet surrender. “It’s a sensual, downright erotic record and it’s intended to be that way.”Krall is the first to credit the musical team she assembled — her loyal quartet, ace producer Tommy LiPuma, engineer Al Schmitt plus legendary arranger Claus Ogerman — for much of the seductive power on Quiet Nights. But there’s a deeper, palpable sense of maturity that she brought to the recording as well. “Most of my singing and playing on the album is really just first or second takes. ‘You’re My Thrill,’ was a second take — “Too Marvelous,” first take.”"She’s completely matured,” says Tommy LiPuma, who should know, having first worked with Krall in 1994. “Even in the past few years. She approaches her vocal phrasing much more like an instrumentalist than a straight singer. It’s in her reading of the lyrics, and the timbre of her voice, much more misty like Peggy Lee in her mature period.” (“I didn’t want to over sing — I was drawing also from Julie London very strongly on this album,” Krall confesses, noting that such influences are not always conscious on her part. “It just came out that way.”)

As such, the Brazilian focus of Krall’s new album could not have been a more natural next step. “She’s been very sympathetic to this music for a long time,” notes LiPuma. “When we did The Look of Love, we were very much leaning in the bossa nova direction. Quiet Nights is really a celebration of this music. Diana sings three Brazilian classics, she rhythmically turned four standards into that style, and three ballads. So really there are ten songs on the album of which seven are just straight up bossa novas.”It makes sense that Quiet Nights (also the English name of the bossa nova classic “Corcovado” that is the title track) draws much of its musical spirit from the land that puts the “carnal” into its annual Carnaval celebration. “I was inspired to do this record because of my trip last year to Brazil,” says Krall, who returned to Rio de Janeiro to shoot a concert for a new DVD release. “Then I just kept going back and found that everywhere you go you still hear the sounds of Jobim and bossa nova.

“For those who may not remember or weren’t yet around, Brazil’s bossa nova wave (literally “new bump” or “new way” in Portuguese) was the widely popular musical style, based on the country’s traditional samba rhythms, that swept up from the sidewalk cafes of Rio in the early ‘60s and seduced the entire planet with its hypnotic, swaying beats, sultry melodies, and new, exciting harmonies — all with generous room for jazz improvisation. Antonio Carlos Jobim (who composed “Quiet Nights” and “The Girl from Ipanema”) and Joao Gilberto (“Este Seu Olhar”) are two of the pioneers of the music, revered as national heroes in Brazil to this day.

“It’s their standards — even the kids know all the songs,” says Krall. “In concert, I started singing “Este Seu Olhar” and the audience just opened their mouths and sang along — like a choir! It’s in their blood.”

Claus Ogerman was the arranger on many of bossa nova’s first wave of recordings, working with the likes of Jobim and Gilberto, as well as Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz and Bill Evans. That he pulled himself out of semi-retirement in Munich to work on Quiet Nights says much of his respect for — and enjoyment working with — Krall.

Krall — at the age of 43 — has experience in her favor. Born in Nanaimo, Canada, to a musical family — her father is a stride-style pianist and serious record collector — she grew up absorbing music that guided her future growth. She attended Berklee School of Music in the early ‘80s, then moved to Los Angeles where she continued her studies with bassists Ray Brown and John Clayton, drummer Jeff Hamilton and pianist Jimmy Rowles; Rowles convinced the young pianist to focus on her singing as well. By 1990, Krall relocated to New York City and began performing with a trio, and in 1993, she released her debut album on a small Canadian independent label.

Fifteen years later, she can look back over a stellar career path: in ’99, signed to Verve, her career exploded when When I Look in Your Eyes won a GRAMMY® for best jazz vocal and became the first jazz disc to be nominated for Album of the Year in twenty-five years. In 2002, The Look of Love was a #1 bestseller in the US and a five-time platinum album in Canada. 2004’s The Girl in the Other Room, was her first to focus on her own songwriting (with six tunes co-written with husband Elvis Costello); 2005’s Christmas Songs proved one of the season’s best-sellers; and 2006’s From This Moment On was an upbeat, critical success that coincided with the birth of her twin sons — a life-affirming event that LiPuma feels enhanced Krall’s continuing growth as a musician. “Motherhood definitely agrees with her and marriage. I think she’s really come into her own.”As moving as Quiet Nights is — deriving from Krall’s feelings for Brazil and bossa novas — the singer is not shy in admitting that its sensuality is as much about her home life. “It’s my love letter to my husband — just an intimate, romantic album.” As they say in Rio — obrigado!

H.E. Peter Nicolay Raeder: Diplomatic Pursuits (and catching butterflies in Tehran)

John Brooks Lobkowicz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:10 +0000

As his tenure draws to a close, Norway’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic talks about the Middle East, Czech progress, and a passion for casting his net across the country’s meadows.

Your Excellency; please tell us about your background, your law studies, your family, and life with Inger. Were warmth and a beautiful tan promised as a condition of marriage?

Your expertise in Arab affairs has been recognized by your work within the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and varied Middle East postings. What’s behind your interest in the region?

Did you apply your legal training in the Middle East or here in the Czech Republic? Any noteworthy contrasts between the two regions, vis a vis legal structures?

Law is useful absolutely everywhere as a problem-solving method in general. The problems may vary, but the method works with all of them. In 1990, for instance, Mr. Saddam Hussein saw fit to grab Kuwait and take a lot of Western hostages into the bargain, including close to 60 Norwegians. Our ambassador to Iraq had a heart attack and I was sent there in a rush to get the hostages out. As for contrasts, the Czech Republic now belongs to a peaceful part of the world that’s vastly different from nearly all of the Middle East where occasional bombings spices up desert life.

There have been other assignments — and personal challenges — in equally diverse climes. Please discuss.

How has your work in the more temperate climate of Prague varied, both in objectives and results?

Are there unresolved issues that you had hoped to settle?

The EEA and Norway Grants substantially impacted this country, especially in the area of medicine. How will the Czech Republic benefit from them for years to come?

That agreement makes funds available to newer EU members, including this country. The total sum for the period 2004—2009 is around € 1.2 billion, of which slightly less than ten per cent, about € 110M, has been allocated to the Czechs. We’ve had excellent co-operation with the Ministry of Finance, and it seems that at least 99 per cent will be used toward a number of smaller projects in areas like environmental issues, cultural heritage, health, the judiciary, transfer of know-how, and so on. Many good projects have been turned down due to lack of funds, but a similar agreement is being completed right now and many will, hopefully, have a second chance. These funds have put Norway on the Czech map, so to speak.

Any plans to introduce the extraordinary successes of Statkraft [Europe’s largest renewable energy company] here, helping this country develop similar resources?

In addition, we’ve large deposits of oil and gas offshore. The rivers in the Czech Republic can’t give much more electricity. Tidal and wave power is out. Wind power can be utilised, but other countries dominate this field technologically. We will do some pioneering in offshore windmill farms or solar power production but the development of “clean” use of brown coal and modern, safe, and efficient nuclear stations is the best bet for the Czechs. But considerable investment must be found and resistance from environmentalists must be overcome. And, when you run out of uranium, Norway has a lot of thorium…

What potential contributions can the Czech Republic make to Norway and Europe, which are currently undeveloped or not fully realized?

EU membership has already made the Czechs better off and that will in itself result in increased contact, trade, tourism. This is also the rationale behind the EEA funds. Opportunities will no doubt appear that will benefit both economies. Our biggest investor here is the so-called Norwegian oil (or pension) fund, but you don’t exactly see it splashed on the front pages.

Favorite place outside of Prague and why? Favorite place in Prague? What do you and Inger enjoy doing together when alone in Prague (outside the residence)?

What will you miss of daily life in Prague when you return to Norway? What will stay with you that you never experienced in your previous postings?

What’s next? Retirement doesn’t exactly seem like your cup of tea.

Peter Nicolay Ræder

Born: 20 August 1943
Cand. jur., University in Oslo
2004—2009 Ambassador to the Czech Republic
2002—2004 Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
2001—2002 Chargé d’affaires in Kabul
1999—2001 Regional adviser for Latin America, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Oslo
1994—1999 Ambassador to Argentina
1993—1994 Regional Adviser for Arab States, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Oslo
1993 Chargé d’affaires in Tehran
1991—1993 Regional Adviser for Afica and Arab States, Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Oslo
1990 Chargé d’affaires in Bagdad
1989—1990 Head of Unit, Division of Justice, MinIstry of Foreign
Affairs, Oslo
1987—1989 Chargé d’affaires in Damaskus
1983—1987 Chargé d’affaires in Teheran
1981—1983 Senior Executive Officer, Minstry of Foreign Affairs, Oslo
1979—1981 First Secretary, Embassy in Beirut
1978—1979 First Secretary, Embassy in Kairo
1975—1978 Deputy Counsellor, Embassy in Hongkong

Liberec on the Rise

Vítek Jirava — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:15:23 +0000

The city’s dynamic mayor cooks up progress

The 46-year-old took the reigns of the city in 1999 though if he hadn’t you might find him in akitchen somewhere, plating up gourmet meals, as cooking is one of his passions. Kittner even shares some of his best-loved recipes on his personal website, as well as cooking competitions in the crowds and good community relations.
Liberec’s energetic and approachable city mayor, Ing. Jiří Kittner, is alively character, arare thing these days. Upon graduating from university in 1986 with an economics degree, Kittner started his career in Liberec at local crystal giant Preciosa, and later moved to Komerční banka (KB) where he worked as a loan advisor. In 1994, Kittner joined building company SYNER, s. r. o. and worked his way up to the position of Financial Director.
An avid traveler, the mayor has explored most of the world’s continents and tries to cross Czech borders at least twice a year. Given the fact that Germany and Poland are just beyond his backyard it’s hardly a difficult task. Peru remains adream destination and France and Greece count among his favorite European destinations, especially for eating. Sampling spirits in Ireland and Scotland also rank among favorite Kittener adventures.
Despite his packed schedule, Mayor Kittner managed to set aside abit of time to chat with us about his beloved city, his culinary pastimes and what makes the city move.

What sorts of lifestyle chances have occurred in Liberec in the past ten years?
Liberec has changed a lot in the past ten years. The city has seen many changes in the workforce and architecture. While 20 years ago the city was in the shadow of Ústí nad Labem, today we have two large functional industrial zones, a large selection of leisure and sporting facilities. Apart from that the city has managed to build an infrastructure which has attracted investors and increased the quality of life for our residents. In my opinion, Liberec is currently one of the most developed cities in the Czech Republic.

In which direction is Liberec heading and where would you like to see it in 10 years time?
I think it is now important to maintain our “well-running motor”so the city keeps on evolving. We need to work closely with schools, so in the future we have well-educated residents and also with investors who bring economic stability to the city. Last, but not least, it is important to concentrate on tourism. Tourism here has along tradition but today innovation and new ideas are very much needed in this area. In ten years time I see Liberec as one of the top Czech cities, aleader in the tourism industry, an affable city for both residents and tourists alike.

How has the economic crisis affected Liberec?
We’ve noted a decrease of incoming revenues in city coffers and also a great number of local firms have been impacted by the automotive industry. The industrial zones are operating and some businesses are even increasing their staff numbers. But, of course, some negative effects have been felt.

Do you try to attract foreign investment in the city?
Every city welcomes investors and Liberec is no different. One of the ways we tried to make the city attractive to investors was building of the aforementioned industrial zones, where today there are dozens of companies with foreign capital. But investors are also eyeing real estate possibilities and the past few years have seen a real breakthrough. The construction of new shopping centers and other projects have sprung up. We always try to deal with each investor individually and cater to their needs.

Why should an international investor consider Liberec?
Liberec boasts a high quality, well-educated workforce. The local technical university is one of the few institutions that has kept its focus on technical studies instead of following the modern trend towards humanitarian studies. Liberec has a rich history in technical fields.

Liberec has a controversial relationship with Germany. What is the city’s relationship with its neighbors today?
After the eviction of the German population from the region during the Second World War, Liberec was resettled by Czechs. A large portion of that expelled population moved to Augsburg, Germany. We have a very active cooperation with this city, and I must say that these people enjoy visiting Liberec and that they are always welcome here.

What improvements are underway for Liberec?
There is always something to improve and I would not be a good mayor if I did not see the city’s limitations and try to think of ways to surpass them. Lately, I have been observing the not-so-idyllic relationships between people, not only here but all over the world. The global economic crisis supported by negative, and often overblown, media coverage drives some of the nervousness the public feels. My wish is for everyone to frown a little bit less at each other.

You are a well-known gourmand. What is your favorite food?
Fine food is one of my great hobbies; this not only extends to consumption but also to preparation. I’m not particular. If someone wants to impress me it can easily be done with an ordinary meatloaf. I don’t always long for the gourmet cuisine of expensive restaurants, though I do admit that, from time to time, it is nice to pamper the taste buds in this way.

What achievement are you most proud of?
Probably every father will tell you that they regard their own children as their greatest achievement. I have one daughter and I am truly proud of her. This probably says it all.

Interview with Marie Fajtová- The New Face of Czech Opera

- Staff reporters — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:36:57 +0000

Vocal Talent

The next generation of world-class Czech operatic talent begins to make itself heard

Czech opera talent has held the world spellbound for well over a hundred years. From composers like Dvořák, Smetana, Janáček and Martinů, to opera stars like Ema Destinnová, the Czechs have been responsible for more than their fair share of extraordinary artists. Now new stars like Marie Fajtová are on the way to entering the Czech operatic firmament.

As Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, Marie was lauded in 2007 for her “magically sounding Callas-like changeable timbre, her brilliant coloraturas, piercing accents and overall vocal control of this highly demanding part… Many people around the world will cry for this Violetta.” Combining such talent with good looks and flowing red locks, a place alongside the current crop of local world-class operatic performers like Eva Urbanová and Magdelena Kožená (all three have their own requisite website) can’t be far off.

It didn’t always look that way though. Originally, it seemed that Marie was destined to become a pianist rather than a singer of note. She had to make a choice at an early age between singing and the piano, and it was the ivories that won out for many years.

She even completed her piano studies at the Prague Conservatory 1992–1998.

“One day, however,” says Marie, “an offer came to sing with the Musica Bohemica choir and do a couple of Christmas concerts with them around Europe. And so I discovered the world of singing, but only concert singing, which is totally different from the piano. I had to content myself, however, with only one melodic line and leave the rest of the harmony to somebody else.”

She became more and more fascinated with the opportunity to communicate the lyrics of music, which she often found exquisite and affecting. And so she started over at the Prague Conservatory studying opera singing (1998-2003). She enacted her first operatic role in the 2005/06 season at the JKT Theater in Pilsen as Norina in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale.

It hasn’t taken her too long to make her mark on the wider stage, however. Last year she won the Grand Prize for female vocalist in the highly prestigious Barbara Hendricks International Vocal Competition in Strasbourg.

“I went to the competition to find out what level my similarly-aged colleagues are at in the world. I was happy that I didn’t embarrass the Czech Republic,” Marie says very modestly. In truth, there were more than 200 competitors in the first round, and successful entrants in the second round got there on the basis of a recording, so the quality of graduating contestants had to be very high.

Marie performs as Armida in Handel’s Rinaldo- currently at The Estates Theatre

There followed two more elimination rounds and the final before Marie was eventually awarded the top prize. It was possible to obtain only one single main prize.

“I was very happy it was awarded to me. What‘s more, competition around the world is really strong. But it’s also important to say that while competition proves the quality of a singer, it doesn’t always guarantee further success. It’s necessary to have a fair amount of luck and a good agent who’s able to ‘sell’ you,” Marie adds.

After tasting such success, Marie is looking forward developing her career further.

“It seems that the most suitable roles for my voice are those from La Traviata and Donna Anna [from Mozart’s Don Giovanni]. That is, slightly dramatic with slightly higher tessitura and coloratura. It’s very important for a singer to correctly recognize the scope of their voice. This reveals itself with a mature technique and often after many years of stage experience. I’m actually looking forward to my future development and I’m curious about where my voice will go.”

In the meantime, Marie is currently performing as Armida in Handel‘s Rinaldo, which has its premiere at the Estates Theater on Saturday, 4 April. She is particularly pleased with her role because she especially favors Baroque opera.

“I have to say that I am very pleased that the theater decided to have at least one Baroque opera in its repertoire. Our production will be truly Baroque; we’re trying to do everything to create it like it probably would have taken place at the time. It starts with gestures and ends with an educated musical interpretation. The orchestra also plays on Baroque instruments and in Baroque tuning. I think spectators can look forward to a wonderful experience,” Marie says proudly.

As for upcoming performances, Marie is awaiting another two premieres at the National Theater: as Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, and as Antonia in The Tales of Hoffmann.

Maintaining a beautiful operatic voice for these types of demanding performances involves a lot of time and effort. Just what is required?

“I’m trying to take care of my vocal chords mainly by using a good singing technique, and it’s true that if a singer is to sing well, the whole body has to be in good condition. So I try to play sports; I love running – I would even say that I’m addicted to it – and overall I try to keep in good physical and psychological shape. Otherwise, I don’t do anything special.

“Thank God I can eat anything before singing, even nuts and ice cream, which isn’t good for some singers … But each singer is different, so they have different needs. The warm-up depends on one’s physical conditioning; the length of an actual exercise also differs depending on the role,” Marie adds.

And what about the audiences that she sings for? Is opera such a high brow art that it requires an especially well-attuned ear in order to fully appreciate it?

Yes,” says Marie, “the perceptions and reactions of audience members are very different. Even in the Czech Republic. There‘s a big difference in singing for listeners in regional theaters and listeners in theaters in Prague. I believe that opera requires a trained listener. A performance is then so much more enjoyable (and appreciated, as the case may be).

“It’s the same as football. When I watch it, even though I have no idea about the rules, perhaps I admire their fast running, but the real enjoyment comes only once you’re fully knowledgeable. But on the other hand, it’s also true that a really well-made production – really high quality art – should touch even the untrained listener, who should have a beautiful experience even though he doesn’t know why.”

As Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart.

So what would Marie recommend to those uninitiated in the joys of opera and who want to learn?

“I personally believe that for those who haven’t been to the opera and don’t know it, it’s important to carefully choose a title that would be well-staged and interpreted. Sure favorites are Carmen, Rusalka, La Traviata, and so on. The music absorbs the listener at the first hearing and the subject matter is very interesting.” But thanks to a rich operatic tradition in the Czech lands, audiences here tend to be relatively well-versed already in the grand musical art in comparison to other countries. In case they forget, then can always remind themselves with a quick look in their wallets; so strong is the operatic legacy in the Czech Republic that the nation’s greatest ever opera star, Ema Destinnová, appears on the CZK 2000 note.

Upcoming performances of Handel’s Rinaldo at the Estates Theater.

All performances begin at 7:00 pm.

Sat, Apr 4 – Premiere

Mon, Apr 6

Fri, Apr 17

Sun, Apr 19

Fri, May 1

Sun, May 3

Sat, 16. May

Sun, 28 Jun

Sat, 10 Oct

Tues, Oct 20

Swedish secrets

Mary Matz — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:13:04 +0000

H.E. Catherine von Heidenstam shares some of her country’s strategies for success.

Looking at an official photograph of Her Excellency, Catherine von Heidenstam, Ambassador of Sweden to the Czech Republic,you might expect to meet someone athletic – a skier, perhaps. That’s why you’d be surprised to find she is rather more average sized, to-petite, thin, not a muscled silhouette, but a compact bundle of dynamic energy. She rushes into her office, almost simultaneously introducing herself, offering coffee, and apologizing for being delayed by a staff member’s birthday tea.

But it doesn’t take long to appreciate a certain graceful attitude

exuding from this soft-spoken, yet precise, diplomatic service

specialist, her dark brown hair tinted with a few strands of gray.

The ambience is reminiscent of that created by a certain kind of

elementary school teacher which the somewhat-aged among us

were fortunate to be tutored by – women who commanded instant

respect and trust, and who somehow conveyed an air of being

EBTV (educated before television), when using their imagination

without presumption of audio-video resulted in a different kind of

appreciation for learning. And a different kind of appreciation for

the world.

A topic with a world view that immediately comes to mind is the

difference between the land-locked Czech Republic and Sweden’s

11,500km of mainland coastline. An additional 10 percent of Sweden

is shelved under lakes, rivers, and wetlands. “I miss water,” Ms von

Heidenstam admits. “I’m so used to it, especially in summer – you

go to swim, fish, sail, go out in a boat, or in winter, skate. Or you just

look at the water.

“But,” she continues, “what we really have in common with

Czechs is this love for nature. Weekends and holidays [the Czechs]

disappear to the country, to their country houses. It’s the same

in Stockholm. You do not find many Swedes left during the

weekends of summer; there are only tourists and guests. This Friday

afternoon-evening exodus, and Sunday evening struggling to get

back, is very common.”

Sweden is one of 11 nations comprising the Baltic Sea Region,

which, of course, is not geographically shared with the Czech

Republic, but still interesting for the Czech government. The

Ambassador explains, “This EU Baltic Sea Strategy is the same idea

as the creation of the Visegrád Group. The idea is that cooperation is

good for everybody, for protecting and improving the environment

in and around the Baltic Sea, for making it easier for students to

study abroad; and broadening the cooperation between all these

countries can help create a strong market, also benefitting the

Czech Republic.”

She cites as an example prohibiting ships without double hulls

from passing through the Baltic. “Well of course it’s a burden on the

shipping industry, but it’s also related to building these ships, and

at the same time protecting the environment. It’s necessary to stop

having problems from accidents and oil spills and all seaside being

destroyed.” In other words, it’s an idea that is ultimately good for

everybody, even those living beyond the Baltic.

“If you try to change the perspective,” she continues in her

typically Swedish lilt, “there are almost always opportunities in trying

to change old habits which proved to be detrimental to the air,

or sea; or possibilities for regions and countries to develop, or for

people to travel.”

The tendency to change old habits and to examine situations for

new possibilities seems to be a particularly Swedish tactic, judging

by the country’s consistent placement at the top of surveys on

everything from sports performance to quality of life. What is the key

to their success?

The Ambassador pauses, takes a breath, and muses for a moment.

“Yes,” she says, nodding thoughtfully, “I often get this question

regarding sports. That goes for music, for research too. There’s this

trend and wish to give everybody an equal opportunity at ther same

time as special schools and programs are available for students –

in addition to their normal schooling – to allow them to develop

special talents.” She divulges another secret to Swedish success: “It’s research

and innovation,” she explains. “Many of the companies here (in the

Czech Republic) are subsidiaries of foreign companies, meaning that

research and development is usually carried out in the headquarters

(abroad) but not here.” She notes that in Sweden it’s “a tradition” that

companies devote special budgets for research and innovation.

She also cites the importance of partnerships among universities,

companies and townships to create “innovation cities.”

One example is Ericsson, the telecommunications firm, which moved

its headquarters from urban Stockholm to participate in creating

a single location, Kista Science City, partnering with both a

technical university and companies, to build a whole research and

development community. That includes flats for employees,

students, and families, as well as day care centers and schools.

Further, she describes a kind of “eagerness” to find alternatives.

“Some parts of Sweden were very dependent on ship building,

or forestry, or textile production,” she says. “The competition from

abroad was so strong that they had to close down.” Rather than

accept the loss, or to rely on government subsidies, several

companies also battling environmental, climate, and energy

challenges turned to new activities, including production and use

of alternative energy sources such as ethanol, “black liquor” from

tree pulp, and other biomass materials.

The Swedish Trade Office and Embassy have arranged

conferences in the Czech Republic so Swedish and Czech

companies and/or communities could meet to discuss new

alternatives and possible future cooperation. “We’ve had a

conference on district heating technology, one on automotive

products as well as a big conference led by the three ministers

of environment from the Czech Republic, Denmark and

Sweden on environmental measures,” she recounts. “The

main message to primarily the business leaders was that

today’s environmental challenges offer an opportunity to make a

win-win situation by protecting the environment as well as doing

business.”

Suddenly there is a knock at the door. The Ambassador hops up

to confer with a staff member, and Swedish – that singing language

packed with pressed vowels and the sound of skis sloshing

through slush – fills the doorway for a moment. Out of all those soft

sounds an agreement is reached, and the Ambassador turns back

again. “I’m sorry, we have to finish soon,” she says, “we have another

meeting …”

There’s only time to ask how her job as Ambassador will change

when the Czech Republic assumes the presidency of the EU in

January, and Sweden takes its turn in the fall.

“It has changed my job already!” she exclaims, laughing. “During

one week’s time we have had three ministerial visits, which is not

normally what happens. So there is the wish, the desire, and need for

not only reading each others’ papers, but to meet, and to sit down

and go through what is to be expected of us, and also to a certain

extent what we would like to add.”

She says, speaking seriously and from the heart, “During the year

2009 we will be reminded of the fact that it is only 20 years since

the Wall came down, and to celebrate what fantastic development

and advances have taken place in Europe since then. And with the

common aim not to create new barriers.”

Suddenly she rises, apologizing, and whisks us out the door and

down the blond wooden steps to the front door of the Embassy,

chatting as we pull on our coats on the run. She adds that she feels

both lucky and grateful that in the midst of all this there’s still room

for her to enjoy her family. And then – a quick handshake, a smile,

and she vanishes.

H.E. Ms Catherine von Heidenstam

MB in Law, University of Lund, Sweden; Licence en Droit

Européen, Brussels; European Commission, 1971

Some career highlights:

1973, Second Secretary, Permanent Representation to the

OECD, Paris

1974-83, Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA)

1983-86, Second Secretary, Swedish Embassy, Vietnam

1986-89, First Secretary, Swedish Embassy and Permanent

Mission to the UN, Vienna

1989-91, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN,

New York

1991-93, Head of Section, Press Department, MFA

1994-96, Deputy Director, UN Department, MFA

1996, Minister Counsellor, Swedish Embassy, Finland

1996-98, Ambassador, Swedish Embassy, Tunisia

1998-2001, Ambassador for Human Rights, MFA

2003-06, Chief of Protocol, MFA

2006-, Ambassador, Swedish Embassy, Czech Republic