Selected passages from May by Karel Hynk Mácha were recited in English this friday by actress Jitka Čvančarová and director Václav Marhoul in a musical-literary band prepared by the Czech National Building in New York.The event was part of Czech Week in New York. The reciters were accompanied by a string quartet composed of members of the Czech philharmonic, which performed three times this week at the famous Carnegie Hall.
Around a hundred listeners gathered in the chamber hall of the Czech National Building, including Czech President Petr Pavel. Marhoul dedicated the evening to Englishman Julian Sands,who in 2019 acted in his film Painted Birds.Last January, the actor tragically died in a storm during a mountain climbing tour in California, he was 65 years old.
“Julian Sands plays the character of Garbos in The painted Bird, which is actually the most negative actor, but in reality Julian was an incredibly sensitive and empathetic person,” recalls Václav Marhoul. In the evenings, an Englishman read to him the verses of the English romantic poet from the 19th century, John Keats, on the veranda of a hotel in Český Krumlov. “I admit that I didn’t understand him at all,but the melodiousness of his speech caught my attention. The news that he died in the mountains hit us terribly, so we vrey quickly agreed to dedicate the evening to him,” explains the director.
The remains of Sands’ body were found by hikers on Mount Baldy last June.Rescuers and volunteers have been searching for the actor in the mountains of southern California since January. His wife reported him missing to the police after he did not return from a mountain hike. There was bad weather and an avalanche warning in the area at the time.
Sands was originally from Great Britain, but moved to Hollywood in the 1980s to work. He is most famous for the main role in the romantic film Room with a View or the role of a wizard in the film Demon Warlock. The actor visited the Karlovy Vary festival in the past.
His memory has now been commemorated by Václav Marhoul and actress Jitka Čvančarová through Mája, a lyrical epic composition by Karel Hynek Mácha published in 1836. It is indeed considered the pinnacle of Czech literary romanticism. in it, Mácha entirely deviated from the revivalist program of the first half of the 19th century. He conceived it as a personal confession of a torn person full of insecurities and questions about the meaning of life.
“By studying Mája,we got deeper into this work. I was a little ashamed of how little I had ever paid attention to it. As the poem is brilliant,” says Jitka Čvančarová. “I think that Václav Marhoul and I will be talking about Mája for a long time, because only now have we found out how many layers the poem really has,” adds the actress, who played the crazy Ludmila in the director’s The Painted Bird, which was awarded nine czech Lions.
According to Marhoul, Máj has the disadvantage of being perceived as compulsory reading. The poem is so complex and tragic that one really discovers its beauty only when one begins to examine it in depth, the filmmaker believes.
“The second thing is English. I found out that there are six translations, but the problem with the translation is in the iambic verse, in the melodiousness, in the emphasis on other syllables or in other phrasing, so we struggled terribly with it and we are glad that it turned out , how it turned out. Because I’ve never had stage fright in my life like before this performance, the sound engineer had to fasten the cuffs on my tuxedo,” concludes Václav Marhoul.
The recitation of Mája was part of the accompanying program of the Czech Week in new York. The three concerts of the Czech Philharmonic in Carnegie Hall and the performance of the Prague Philharmonic Choir in Times Square will be complemented by the film festival, which will offer the American premiere of the new biographical film Smetana in the Czech National Building, and also documentaries about the conductors Jiří Bělohlávek and semjon byčkov or the Čhavorenge project of Ida Kelarová.
Until the end of the year, you can also visit Štěpánka Stein and Venda Mlejnská’s photo exhibition Allegro Forte: Faces of Czech Music in New York.
what are the key themes of Karel Hynk Mácha’s “May” that resonate with audiences today?
Interview between the Time.news Editor and Cultural Expert, Dr. Anna Novak
Editor: Good afternoon,Dr. Novak! thank you for joining us today. There’s been quite an exciting event recently, part of Czech Week in New York, where selected passages from Karel Hynk Mácha’s “may” were recited by actress Jitka Čvančarová and director Václav Marhoul. Can you tell us a bit about the significance of this event?
Dr. Novak: Good afternoon! It’s a pleasure to be here. This event was a lovely blend of literature and music, showcasing Czech cultural heritage in a vibrant setting like new york City. Karel Hynk Mácha is a cornerstone of Czech Romantic literature. “May” is not just a poem; it’s a reflection on love, nature, and existential thoughts that resonate deeply across cultures. Pairing it with music from a string quartet elevates the experience, making it memorable for both Czech expatriates and an international audience.
Editor: Indeed, it’s fascinating how music and literature can create such a rich atmosphere. It must have been quite special to perform in a hall with approximately a hundred people,including notable figures like Czech President Petr Pavel. How critically important do you think the presence of such dignitaries is for cultural events like this?
Dr.Novak: The presence of prominent figures like President Pavel adds a layer of importance and visibility to cultural events. It signals that the Czech government values its culture and heritage, especially abroad. Events like this foster a sense of community and pride among Czech nationals in New York, and it brings an opportunity for cultural exchange with the local population. It can spark interest in Czech culture, literature, and the arts.
Editor: I understand that Marhoul dedicated the evening to the late actor Julian Sands, who starred in his film “Painted Birds.” Can you elaborate on the significance of this dedication?
Dr. Novak: Absolutely. Julian Sands was not only a talented actor but also someone who had a genuine appreciation for the arts. dedicating the evening to him serves as a poignant reminder of the impact he had on the film industry and, especially, on Czech cinema through his collaboration with Marhoul. Such dedications also create emotional connections,allowing audiences to remember and celebrate figures who contributed meaningfully to the arts,while highlighting the fragility of life—something that resonates with Mácha’s themes of love and loss.
Editor: It sounds like the evening was both a tribute and a celebration. What do you think this means for future literary and artistic collaborations between the czech Republic and the international community?
Dr. Novak: Events like this are pivotal in building bridges between cultures. They encourage ongoing dialog, collaboration, and exchange of ideas. They also inspire future projects and partnerships, such as joint film productions, artistic installations, or literary translations. When art transcends borders, it enriches us all, opening channels for discussions that can lead to greater understanding and respect among different cultures.
Editor: Thank you,Dr. Novak! It’s been enlightening to hear your insights on this beautiful melding of literature and music, especially in such a culturally rich environment. We hope to see more of these collaborations in the future.
Dr.Novak: thank you! It was a pleasure discussing this event with you. I share the hope for continued cultural celebrations that bring people together.