A young Kafka takes control of Prague Spring
mainOnce the jewel of central Europe, the Prague Spring Festival has dwindled in the post-Communist era into something resembling irrelevance. Incompetence, cronyism, politics all played apart.
This week, the festival made an attempt to turn things around by appointing a rare member of Franz Kafka’s family to be its first full-time dramaturge.
Josef Třeštík, great-great-grandson of Kafka’s beloved sister Ottilie, is in his mid-30s and a bright spark in Prague’s intellectual cafes, He won his spurs by revamping the slumped Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, revitalising the programming style, engaging younger audiences and introducing Alexander Liebreich as music director.
Our man with the macchiato says if Josef can’t revive the Prague Spring, no-one can. Watch this space.
Kafka’s sisters were murdered during the German occupation.
“the Prague Spring Festival has dwindled in the post-Communist era into something resembling irrelevance.” It might not be as relevant as it was in the past, but this is a bit way off. It’s great that they are brining in new blood and try to revamp it, but Prague Spring is still quite an impressive festival.
Třeštík has clearly done some good job with COSR, but it’s a bit early to judge his impact there, one good season is just a start.