Rafael Kubelík & Česká filharmonie - Opening Concert of 1990 Prague Spring Festival

I had the honour to be there present as one of oranizers. I will never forget those emotions, all of use were crying, once in a lifetime moment 🥲

One of the great musical statements of nationalism and freedom. Kubelik returns to his country, conducts a great orchestra, and we get to see it. Everything in this video is "once in a life time" and historic. Kubelik had been retired for a few years when he was invited to return to Prague for this concert at the Prague Spring Music Festival. He had left when the Russians took over the country in 1948. He was the conductor of the Chicago Symphony in 1950. He conducted around the world for many years. Arthritis in the back caused him so much pain that he retired. Here, we see a conductor, in great pain, fulfilling his destiny. Returning home, conducting his former orchestra, and performing Ma Vlast(My Homeland). It does not get better than this!

..tears in my eyes... literally..! What a beautiful moment is captured here - first Prague spring festival in freedom! After the fall of the communism in my country in 1989. With our great president Václav Havel (who was welcomed firstime by the presidential fanfare) and his wife Olga on the balcony. With national anthems of two friends nations in freedom! To hear the most beautiful melodies which glorify the beauty and history of our country. played in the magnificent Smetana concert hall of Municipal house in Prague, which is a beautiful piece of Czech secession and decorated by the best Czech artists of the time - as Aleš, Mucha, Myslbek and many more.. Played by the Czech Philharmonic with Rafael Kubelík as a Dirigent (who emigrated because of communists in 1948 and returned back to his free country after 51 years). Thank you Bedřich Smetana for the great love to our contry in your music! .. tears in my eyes... and goosebumps.. Im so glad Im find this pure gem! Thank you so much for uploading.

An historic performance from many perspectives. No wonder the prolonged standing ovation at the end, says it all.

Kubelik conducted this concert after the fall of comunism. He conducted this after more then 40 years of exile from his motherland. He conducted this on Prazske Jaro (spring festival) in which he was one of the founding members, he actually conducted at first concert on first Spring festival in 1946. And he played Vlatava by the Vlatava in his finally free motherland - Czechia. You can see his joy, his passion, even his smile while conducting it. All the puzzles are together here. I don't have words to describe it. I bought this CD when i was in Prague my first time. I can say just AMEN. Bye from Slovenia.

continued from wikipedia (abridged) In 1985, severe arthritis caused Kubelík to retire from full-time conducting. The fall of Communism in his homeland led him to again conduct the Czech Philharmonic at the festival he had founded, the Prague Spring Festival. During rehearsal he told the Czech Philharmonic, "It is my joy to hear this. I always wanted it to sound like this but never really found it with any other orchestra in the world!”

The Czech Republic : small country with a giant culture.

Tak u toho jsem brečel už tehdy, na jaře 1990. Ano, svoboda a nekonečný prostor pro naše životy. Bude mi 71 a nelituju ničeho, co jsem od té doby prožil. Kdyby to tak mohl říct každý... , přál bych si.

Kubelik forever !

You can't go far wrong with one of the best composers of all time and one of the best conductors of all time. A masterpiece! One of the best concerts of the 20th century indeed!

Milovaná vlasť, slobodné Československo. Som Slovák a plačem ako malé decko.

I have heard many Czech composers when I lived in Poland near Czech border, love the music, their orchestras and conductors. Today is an anniversary of Maestro Kubelik's passing. RIP. Wonderful concert.

A very moving sight, Kubelik finally among his own colleagues, still playing for their lives, as always. He was right; at their greatest the Cz phil sounded like no other orchestra. Their colors & rythms are unique.

I remember watching this back when it was broadcast. It was awesome. And one should never forget Mr Kubelik's unwavering principles. That he refused to perform in his homecountry as long as it was under soviet influence and that he came out of retirement when the iron curtain finally fell.

definitely the best live performance in history of music

Najlegendárnejšie zahájenie Pražského Jara !!!! Najúžasnejšia interpretácia všetkých čias !!!!

Ve chvílích jako je tato jsem hrdý,že jsem Čech! In moments like this I'm proud that I'm Czech!

I love Czech music, opera, and also the country, culture and language. The start of this video is incredibly moving. Beauty and tears.

I think the most famous concert of our history. The symbol of the end of communism – dissident Havel and emigrant Kubelík together. Wow!

A most fitting tribute to the finest Chech conductor. When I see all the flowers being put on stage and being presented to Kubelik, I think by myself there were just not enough flowers in the world to honor this man, not enough flowers for the Chechoslovaks to celebrate their just won freedom that they craved for so long !!