Interview: Varhan Orchestrovič Bauer

It all started in the Mirror Chapel of the Clementinum with a small ensemble and children’s choir, Chorus Angelus, led by Igor Angelov who I studied at conservatory with. Later on, we had some Christmas concerts at the Church of Saint Giles, but finally our event moved to Saint Salvatore’s Church, the biggest Prague Evangelical church. Their elders are very open and supportive to us and also the place provides great conditions for both the visitors and the musicians alike.

It began as a smaller event but it was always pretty original. What has changed through the years is that the musicians are finally paid and not only playing for a beer and sausage. Now it’s a serious thing. We have a whole team of organizers and it has become a professional event which takes its place among the list of serious cultural events.

One of the more interesting things about this event is that it usually takes place on the winter solstice and also the same day as the premiere of the Czech song, which later became the national anthem, “Where is My Home (1834)” and last but not least it’s on the birthday of my hero/guru Frank Zappa (1940).

We set a record around the year 2009 when three choirs joined with 50 musicians totaling 120 people on stage. This year the choir is going to be around 45 people and the same amount of musicians so it’ll be around 90 people on stage.

Of course there are a few, lets name my compositions “Nesem Vám Popinu” in the unusual 7/4 beat, “Eins, Zwei, Polizei” or “Dej Bůh štěstí” arranged in Arthur Honegger’s style. Unfortunately, to play all the compositions of my orchestra would take over 4 hours!

A brief aside: How did you make the connection with Václav Havel?

I am always working on some projects at the same time and also expecting my daughter to be born, she is year younger than my granddaughter, so besides good music its mostly about my family. Also some concerts of my OFO orchestra are in preparation and also I am in the middle of writing a big sacred composition.

I recently enjoyed the children’s performances of Divadlo Minor with my young son David. And then to get my favorite chicken ginger soup and fried rice and vegetables at Malý Budha besides Prague Castle. To both refresh and keep me warm then I’ll have their green tea with mint, ginger and honey. And then some more walking around Petřín. I live close by and enjoy the park both there walking with my family or alone. I dream of living in that tiny house in the middle of that park, like in a village while in the heart of Prague.