Martin Kasík performs at CELO in Hesperange;
Credit: Jazmin Campbell
On the evening of Monday 11 April 2022, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Luxembourg organised a piano concert at the CELO cultural centre in Hesperange to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Czechia and the Grand Duchy.
The Czech Ambassador to Luxembourg, Vladimír Bärtl, was joined on stage by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavský, and Luxembourg's Ambassador in Prague, Ronald Dofing, for the opening speeches. Ambassador Bärtl recalled that this special concert formed part of a series of events organised by the Czech Embassy in Luxembourg to commemorate this centenary. He later switched briefly from the French language to Czech to "greet the Czech part of the audience in their mother tongue".
Alluding to the Russia-Ukraine war, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský noted that these were "extraordinary times" not unlike the situation which led to the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918. He also highlighted the common history shared by Czechia and Luxembourg, which dates back to medieval times.
Ambassador Ronald Dofing also praised historic relations between these two countries, citing "a longstanding history, a great present and an even better future". He noted that Luxembourg and Czechia would continue to expand their bilateral relations and work together within the European Union (EU) - the Czech Republic is set to assume presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2022.
Award-winning Czech pianist Martin Kasík then took the stage to perform Vítězslav Novák's Memories, Op. 6, Leoš Janáček's Piano Sonata 1.X.1905 and Bohuslav Martinů's Three Czech Dances. He closed with a tribute to Ukraine: a passionate rendition of Modest Mussorgsky's Great Gate of Kiev. The performance was met with thunderous applause.
Martin Kasík ranks among today's top Czech pianists. He began playing the piano aged four. He studied with Monika Tugendliebová at the Janáček conservatory in Ostrava and subsequently with Ivan Klánský at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Prague. The winner of several national and international contests and the recipient of various prestigious awards, he has to his credit laureateships from the 1998 Prague Spring International Music Competition, the 1999 Young Concert Artists Competition, the 2000 Davidoff Prix and the 2002 Harmonie Magazine Award, among others.
The concert was followed by a reception where attendees networked over Czech beer (Pilsner Urquell), Luxembourgish crémant, soft drinks and finger food. Among those present were various prominent figures from Luxembourg's business community and several diplomats, including the United States (US) Ambassador to Luxembourg, the Ambassador of Japan to Luxembourg and Luxembourg's Honorary Consul to Ukraine, among others.
