AVIDduo made our European debut this past July! We are happy to write our long awaited European tour post! Here are just a few moments from our trip we'd like to share with you. We are so appreciative and grateful to all those in our lives who made this feat possible!
Enjoy!
BP & KH
Ostrava, Czech Republic
Ostrava is an industrial city near the Polish border. Lenka Sturalova hosted us and we premiered her piece, Interactions, in her hometown at her Alma Mater. Lenka took Kyle and I to a non-functioning coal mine for a guided tour. Hard hats in place, we followed Lenka into the mines! (Okay, Heavy Metal Museum…) The guide was a fast speaking elderly Czech man, but Lenka was kind enough to translate. What a great experience!
Lenka’s father and mother drove us to Poland, which is about 3 hours from Ostrava. After some “Polish hospitality” we wandered the city, had lunch, and returned to Ostrava. In our excursion to Poland, we encountered a minor road block… but took the opportunity for a snack to go!
With some Polish hospitality in tow, we boarded the train for a 4 hour ride to Prague. Our time in Prague was spent seeking out vegetarian restaurants, soaking up the music scene, and sightseeing in places like the Charles Bridge and Astronomical Clock! One highlight: At the Lobkowicz Palace, we saw a first edition of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) and the original manuscript for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 & his String Quartet, op. 18. Also on display- Mozart’s orchestration notes from his edition of Handel’s Messiah, in his own handwriting.