Czech opera star performs uplifting 'surprise' outdoor concert on Vltava

Last night may have seemed like a normal evening on Charles Bridge, as people strolled across taking in the sights of the city – until they began to hear an angelic voice coming from the river.

On the ship Explorer, floating close to the bridge, National Theatre soloist Andrea Tögel Kalivodová began to sing opera classics to the hundreds of listeners around. The outdoor performance, which lasted more than 30 minutes, took place on the very day government restrictions on theater and concert performances were lifted – as long as there is no audience.

The idea for the performance came from tour boat operator Daniël Hagen who owns and operates the ship Explorer.

"We set up the sound system and went out on the Vltava for the evening. It sounded so great, we decided with Andrea that it could be a wonderful idea to do a concert on the water for the people of Prague," he explained.

"We simply wanted to do something for the people as they have no possibility to go to the theater or do something else that would normally make them at least a little bit relaxed, like take a beer with friends," Tögel Kalivodová said after the performance. "Especially now before Christmas, when it is normal to meet even more, talk with friends and family about the past year or simply go out and enjoy time with others."

The soloist says this was something completely new for her, singing on a boat in the open-air. "I have never sung on a boat, and with the beautiful scenery around, the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the National Theatre, all that history, it made it a very exceptional moment for me."

Giving a bit of happiness and relief to people during the time of corona restrictions was very important for her. "I must say I am also proud of everyone who helped organize this little concert, because we decided to make it only on Saturday, so we had just three days, but everything worked-out great," she said.

Tögel Kalivodová believes everyone needs social contact and that is in short supply these days.

As for not being able to perform due to the worldwide COVID lockdown, she says, "It made me happy to be able to perform at least like this as the theaters are closed, and not only in Czech Republic, but all over the world. For example, the Metropolitan opera in New York is closed for one year until next September, in Dresden they tried to work for some time with masks and other reorganization, but they realized it is impossible."

She says she is using the downtime to learn new pieces, "Actually, I needed to slow down a bit anyway as there is a premiere of the opera 'Le Grand Macabre' by György Ligeti in the State Opera next June and it is an extremely difficult part. There is dialog and singing in English, a really difficult role. It is the most performed opera in the world but in Czech Republic we'll be doing it for the first time."