A benefit concert, which took place this evening on Wenceslas Square in Prague, raised tens of millions of crowns to help warring Ukraine. The organizers from Czech Television announced that during the more than three-hour concert, thanks to donor DMS, CZK 22.5 million were collected, another CZK 158 million arrived at the SOS Ukraine collection of the non-profit organization People in Need. For the amount collected, humanitarian workers will provide the most basic needs for the victims of the conflict.
The concert, which was watched by several thousand people of all generations, who filled the upper third of Wenceslas Square, ended with the Ukrainian anthem performed by the choir members of the National Theater under the direction of Jaroslav Kyzlink. Mirai, Vesna, Michal Hrůza and Kapela Hrůzy, Chinaski, Pražský výběr, I Love You Honey Bunny, Marie Rottrová, Mig 21 and the Chamber Orchestra of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra performed without a fee. Songwriters Jaroslav Hutka and Tomáš Klus performed their new songs inspired by current events in Ukraine. “Such an offer is not rejected. One has to take a side in certain matters and for us it was a completely clear decision,” Petr Janda from the Olympic group, which prepared the songs Otázky a Slzy tvy mami.
The police supervising the event closed traffic in both directions at the top of the square. Some listeners brought with them the flags of Ukraine or the European Union. They also held banners against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some inscriptions also criticized Czech President Milos Zeman, who had long supported Putin’s policies and distanced himself from it until the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
In addition to Czech Television, the charity band was broadcast by Czech Radio Radiožurnál or TV Nova and, on its Facebook platforms, by dozens of Czech public and private institutions and other media, as well as foreign branches of Czech Centers around the world.
The whole evening, which also provided an insight into the current situation in Ukraine or an insight into the life of Ukrainians in the Czech Republic, was conducted by the moderating couple Světlana Witowská and Daniel Stach. In addition to the artists on stage, they also welcomed other guests who condemned the invasion of Ukraine in their speeches. Among them were, for example, co-founder of People in Need Šimon Pánek, British musician and actor Chris Jagger, younger brother of The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, or Czech Philharmonic chief conductor Semjon Byčkov.
At the end of the concert, the Ukrainian ambassador to the Czech Republic, Yevhen Perebyjnis, also came to the stage. In his speech, he described the actions of Russian troops in his country as genocide and praised the Czech aid. “We need weapons, weapons, weapons …” he stressed.
The Czech cultural scene has also decided to define itself against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine by joining the joint call #culturaproukrajinu and organizing a benefit concert on March 3 at 6 pm in Kampa, Prague. Czech musicians and personalities of the cultural scene will perform. Various Czech cultural, academic and social institutions have expressed their support for Ukraine.
Source: CTK
