SPIRIT April 2014 Mamaison Hotels and Residences | Page 11

June 2, 2014. Several venues around the city
will stage competitions, concerts and other
events. A special festival concert by the San
Francisco Symphony Orchestra will be held
Monday, March 24, in advance of the official
opening date in May.
This is the most important cultural event
of the Spring, and a must for music lovers.
Among the highlights of the festival:
Lithuanian soprano Violeta Urmana will
appear at Prague Spring on May 24 in
a programme featuring the music of
Mahler and Strauss. Venue: Municipal
House - Smetana Hall.
The Hilliard Ensemble will be ending its
professional career in 2014, and Prague
Spring may be your last chance to see them
together in concert: May 30, at Rudolfinum
- Dvořák Hall.
The Konvergence chamber ensemble will
be performing at St Agnes’ convent, on
May 19. In the programme: five world premieres, including Quartet No. 3 by Pavel
Zemek-Novák and Viola Walk by Peter Graham, among others.

Photo: Prague Fringe Festival, Letní Letná, Český pivní festival

Other stellar participants include the Vienna Philharmonic, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Prague
Symphony Orchestra.
Bohemian Pleasures: Czech Beer Festival
2014
The Czech Beer Festival appears in its 7th
edition for 2014. The fest will take place
between May 14 and May 31, at the Areál
Výstaviště exhibition grounds. This year’s
event will bring together some of the best
local breweries, showcasing over 70 brands
of top quality Czech beer. But there’s more
to the festival than good libations. Beers will
be paired with equally rewarding cuisine,
and the atmosphere this season will be enhanced by local bands, performing live, every day.
13th Prague Fringe Festival
Dubbed “the most beautiful fringe festival
in the world” by Tony Lankester, CEO of the
National Arts Festival in South Africa, the
Prague Fringe Festival offers a diverse programme, of theatre, comedy, music and entertainment. This is an international event,
with plenty to see for English-speaking

guests. Participating venues include: Divadlo Kampa, Divadlo Inspirace, A Studio Rubín,
Divadlo Na Prádle, and other small Prague
theaters. The Fringe Festival takes place from
May 23, to May 31, 2014.
Prague’s Largest Open-air Music Festival:
United Islands
The Prague International Music Festival
United Islands celebrates its 11th edition in
2014, and it already ranks as the city’s largest open-air music festival. The festival opens
with the traditional Club Night on June 11,
and it will last till June 24, 2014. Participants
include Nylon Jail, Vložte kočku, Voila!, Lanugo, Kieslowski, Palermo, Love Earth and
many others. The complete programme is
available online at http://unitedislands.cz.
Location: Kampa, Střelecký ostrov and Kinsky Garden.
Metallica By Request: Aerodrome Festival
Aerodrome Festival only lasts one day in July,
but it is set to attract thousands of fans at the
Incheba open air arena. Fans of heavy metal
will see Alice In Chains,