Scandal in Prague

One of the world's greatest orchestras, the Czech Philharmonic, is trying to press charges against the Czech culture ministry for financial impropriety. This is juicy as hell.

RTWT here

Stunned Prague concertgoers were treated May 7 to the sound of silence after the orchestra refused to play. The ornate surroundings of the Rudolfinum's Dvořák Hall echoed to boos and heckles as well as applause from the audience rather than musical harmony.


The orchestra's boycott followed a day of upheaval that saw the orchestra lodge a criminal complaint against Culture Minister Václav Riedlbauch for suspected mismanagement, spokesman Jiří Hrabovský said May 8.

The complaint was in response to the dismissal by Riedlbauch (also the former head of the orchestra) May 7 of orchestra Director Vladimir Darjanin, as he also accused his successor of financial mismanagement.

"Until the ministry meets our demand and keeps Darjanin, the orchestra is ready to continue protesting in various forms," said Hrabovský, who emphasized he is not a spokesman for the institution but for the actual musicians.

(The Czech Philharmonic doing Dvorak with the conductor who made them what they are, Vaclav Talich.)