Full House for the Carolina International Chorale at St. Michael's Church in Budapest

The Carolina International Chorale concluded its 2010 Incantato Performance Tour to Central Europe on July 2 with a finale highlight concert at St. Michael's Church in the heart of Budapest. The singers & string players from Chapel Hill, NC under the direction of Dr. Sue Klausmeyer were supported by local musicians from the Matyas Templon Orchestra and enchanted the audience with works from Mozart and Vivaldi along with a selection of American spirituals. A full house and lots of applause was the perfect ending for the 11-day journey that started in Prague and went via Cesky Krumlov, the Wachau Valley and Vienna (Austria) to Hungary.

CIC finale 2010 European Tour Concert takes place at St. Michael's Church in Budapest on July 2 at 6 pm

On Friday, July 2, the musicians from Chapel Hill, NC, are presenting the last formal concert in the heart of Budapest, at the beautiful baroque church of St. Michael.
Here is a short history of the finale concert venue for the Carolina Chorale & String-Ensemble:
The Church of St Michael was built in the 18th century on the spot of a medieval dominican church destroyed during turkish wars. A temporary chapel was standing here between 1700 and 1716, present church was finished only by 1765. Figure of Virgin Mary adorning its frontal facade is considered to be created by Donner. Statues of Saint Dominic and Saint Thomas Aquinas carved by Joseph Hebenstreit also decorate this facade. The church had a vivid history in the XIXth century: although destroyed by fire and floods, it managed to survive and got restored. The latest restoration started in 1999. The single-naved church was decorated with ceiling frescoes and side paintings in the middle of the 18th century. The main altar, inlaid benches, furniture of the sacristy date back to 1760, they are works of Dominican monks. The main altar shows St. Dominic with Virgin Mary handing a rosary to him. Statues of important religious persons in connection with the Dominican order can be found around the painting. On the left: statue of Pope Pius V. and St. Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence. On the right: St. Augustine and Pope Innocent V. The first organ of the church was built in 1801 by organ builder Joseph Herodek which was entirely rebuilt by company Rieger in 1893. It was again renovated in 1951. Baroque statues depicting King David playing the harp and two angels are shown on the top of the organ.

The Carolina International Chorale & String Ensemble concertize at the Stiftskirche at the Abbey of Göttweig (Austria) on June 29 at 7:30 pm

The Benedictine Abbey of Goettweig, situated on the Göttweig Mountain, is - because of its location - sometimes called the Austrian Montecassino. The Monastery founded in 1083 by Saint Altmann sits on a hill 449 m above sea level in the Dunkelsteiner Forest south oft the city of Krems, on the eastern edge of the world-famous Danube Valley called the Wachau. With the Wachau, Göttweig was in 2001 placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. And on June 29 the Carolina International Chorale will be performing in the prestigious Stiftskirche pictured below.

At first, Augustines worked here, to be followed in 1094 by Benedictine monks from the Monastery of St. Blasien in the Black Forest. The Benedictines have been living, learning and teaching on Göttweig Mountain for more than 900 years. The goal of their life is to glorify God in prayer and work according to the Rule of their Order’s founder, Saint Benedict, the Patron Saint of Europe. Currently 54 monks belong to the monastic community. More than 30 of them give pastoral care to parishioners and pilgrims in the Dioceses of Vienna and St. Pölten.Forestry and viticulture have been the economic basis of the Monastery since it was founded - today completed by various touristic and economic efforts. For more information, visit the official website Benediktiner Stift Goettweig

CIC concert at Chapel of St. Ann in Panenské Brezany (Czech Republic) on June 26 at 6 pm

The beautiful Chapel of St. Ann was built by architect Jan Blažej Santini Aichel in the 18th century - and it will be the CIC concert venue on June 26! The chapel is based on circles crossing each other in intricate ways. The organ is precious and can be used for concerts.
Jan Blažej Santini Aichel (February 3, 1677 - December 7, 1723) was a Czech architect of Italian descent, whose major works represent a curious amalgam of the Gothic and Baroque styles. Santini was born in Prague to a family of stonemasons. His grandfather Antonin Aichel moved from Italy to Prague in the 30th of the 17th century. Borromini's influence is apparent in his predilection for star-shaped forms and complex symbolism. Many of his buildings are airy and elegant, yet he was considered a maverick genius by his contemporaries and exerted little influence on subsequent generations of Bohemian architects.

First Carolina International Chorale and String Ensemble Tour Concert at St. Nicholas Church in Prague on June 25, at 2 pm

The Church of St. Nicholas on the Old Town Square in Prague is the venue for the first CIC 2010 Performance Tour to Central Europe concert. The Carolina International Chorale and String Ensemble present an afternoon concert at this beautiful baroque church on Friday, June 25, at 2 pm.
The construction on St. Nicholas was completed in 1735. It replaced a parish church, mentioned in records dating back as early as 1273. It wasn't until 1901, when the Krenn House was demolished, that its lovely white façade became visible to the rest of the Old Town Square. It simply gleams, hit by the sun during the day and lit by strong white lights at night. St. Nicholas is a Baroque church, decorated with sculptures by Antonín Braun. The interior design was inspired by the chapel of St. Louis-des-invalides in Paris. The delicate stucco decoration was executed by Bernardo Spinetti, and the frescos are by Peter Adam the Elder. In 1781 decoration inside St. Nicholas was removed after emperor Josef II ordered the closure of all monasteries without a social function.From 1870-1914 St. Nicholas became Russian Orthodox. Then, during the second World War, Czech army units were stationed here and artists were set to work restoring the church. After the war, St. Nicholas was handed over to the Czech Hussite movement, with whom it remains today. It now serves as both a church and a magnificent venue for classical concerts.

Countdown for the Carolina International Chorale & String Ensemble 2010 Performance Tour to Central Europe

The Carolina International Chorale & String Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Sue Klausmeyer are heading to Central Europe on June 23. Below is their concert card - Incantato takes great pride in providing the fine ensembles touring with us to Europe with excellent marketing.

Eating in Prague

Eating in Prague can be difficult. There are so many places to choose from with traditional Czech dishes, but the closer you get to the Old Town Square, the more expensive it can become (but at least the beer is pretty cheap!). Here are a couple of suggestions from Incantato Tours.

If you do not mind spending the money, I can suggest Restaurace U Supa, quite near the Old Town Square. It is just one of many traditional restaurants in the old town of Prague. It has a great outside cafe area right on the pedestrian street Celetna, and on a warm day, you can watch the people walk by and take in the old buildings around you. Here was the view from my table.


The menu offers a variety of food, with a large section of traditional Czech dishes, as well as pasta dishes and great appetizers for beer drinking :)

I ordered a Caprese Salad and a Pilsner Urquell (the main beer brewed in the Czech Republic - it is like Guinness to the Irish), and had quite a nice lunch, but be prepared to spend about $15-$25 per person.


Keep in mind that there are cheaper places to go for lunch, such as Paneria, where you can get many different kinds of baguettes, paninis, salads, etc. for a very good price. A meal will cost you about 150-200 Czech Crowns (less than $10).

Happy Eating!

-Tasha

Incantato Impressions: Prague

Incantato Impressions: Cesky Krumlov