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Ministr Jan Lipavský udělil medaili „Za zásluhy o diplomacii“ patnácti osobnostem a dvěma institucím. Pro slavnostní akt si symbolicky vybral 17. listopad, kdy si Česko připomíná Den boje za svobodu a demokracii a Mezinárodní den studentstva.

“Today is a living holiday, the citizens of our country spontaneously commemorate it, gather on Národní třida and in the centers of cities and towns and rejoice in the freedom we won in November 1989. Today’s holiday is a real celebration of the values on which our modern statehood and our diplomacy are based,” Minister Lipavský said at the beginning.

This year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs decided to honor not only important personalities, but also two organizations, the Czech School without Borders and the Czech Republic Charity. Through their activities in the provision of health and social care and in the field of education, they help to maintain the good name of the Czech Republic abroad.

“Freedom, democracy, human rights and the security of the Czech Republic and Europe could not be defended without the enthusiasm, courage and dedication of specific people. Both those who work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and those who are engaged in the diplomacy of freedom and democracy in other professions,” added Jan Lipavský.

Among the laureates, in addition to the Czechs, there are also representatives of Germany, Spain, the United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Tunisia and Bahrain.

The Medal for Merit in Diplomacy has been awarded since 2019 as one of two departmental awards of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as an expression of gratitude to domestic and foreign personalities. Foreign ministers award it for an extraordinary contribution to Czech diplomacy, Czech foreign policy, the development of the Czech Republic’s foreign relations and the consolidation of peace in the world.

Over the past four years, 80 individuals and organizations have received this award, including, for example, Madeleine K. Albright, Lord George Robertson, Javier Solana, Martin Povejšil, Šimon Pánek or Klaus Kinkel in memoriam and a number of other Czech and foreign politicians, ministers, diplomats and organizations or institutions.

In addition to those who came to receive the award in person on November 17, 2023, the medal was also awarded in 2023 to five other individuals and one organization who received or will receive the award on another occasion.

Iva Bittová – Czech singer, violinist and actress living in the USA Iva Bittová belongs to the most prominent personalities of the Czech alternative music scene. She studied singing and playing the violin at the conservatory in Brno, and from 1978 she was a member of the String Theater, where she drew attention to herself with the role of Eržika in the play Ballad for the Bandit. She has been performing as a singer and violinist since 1984. She achieved many successes on the European progressive music scene. Her musical activities cover various genres, from folk songs to experimental jazz, rock and serious music. She has released three dozen music CDs and acted in fifteen films as an actress. She has worked closely with our embassies in the realization of musical performances, including in New York, Mexico and other countries. She has received numerous domestic and foreign awards for her musical and film achievements. He has been living in the USA since 2007.

More information and source here.

Czech Center New York had the honour to host a beautiful concert of Czech renowned singer and violin player Iva Bittová and her son, Antonin Fajt.

The New York’s audience could enjoy their music inspired by original music of Moravia and Slovakia, of L. Janáček, B. Bartók and also from other parts of the world.

Iva Bittová was awarded the Medal of Merit in Diplomacy of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavský, which she received from the Consul General of the Czech Republic in New York Arnošt Kareš.

Source: new-york.czechcentres.cz

Iva Bittová ranks among the most prominent personalities of the alternative music scene not only in the country, but also abroad. Already during her studies at the Brno Conservatory, she started working in the avant-garde Theater on a String and also got several television and film roles. But in the end, Ivy Bittová’s desire to devote herself to music prevailed.

The exhibition is taking place: 6. 3. – 30. 4. 2023, Foyer ground floor

More info: mzk.cz

New interview on the web: akcnizeny.com

Christmas carols, especially those performed by children, become bearers of positive energy every year, which gives us the opportunity to become people of goodwill throughout the following year. They are messengers of good news, an opportunity, however small, to be better and more receptive to the world around us.

The selection of carols that we offer you under the name Novaja górod is a small gift that comes from the deepest tradition of Christmas. The idea for its preparation arose during our collaboration with the violinist and singer Iva Bittová last year. Iva often cooperates with children’s choirs wherever she lives longer. In Bory na Morave, it is the ensemble Babačka, with whom she has already released the Kolednice CD. While listening to it, I realized that there is also a very good children’s folklore group Magdalénka in Modra, which has carols from the area in its repertoire, and it would be worth joining forces.
During our joint deliberations, the Russian occupiers invaded Ukraine and war refugees began to flood Europe. The city of Modra sheltered many of them. Thus, the children of Ukrainian refugees entered our plans. Iva invited them to cooperate, and thus the Paljanyca children’s choir was spontaneously formed, and the dramaturgical intention of the recording expanded from Slovak and Moravian carols to include Ruthenian ones from Ukraine.

Ladislav Snopko

Ivy Bittová’s new album – “What my father sang to me”.

In a unique combination of jazz, folk music, classical music and rock, Iva Bittová and Anıl Eraslan develop their own style in “What my father sang to me”.

The starting point is the songs that Iva Bittová learned from her father in her childhood and now sends him back as a gift. Musical influences from the folk songs of Leoš Janáček and Béla Bartók are mixed with her memories of her summers in the Slovak countryside on the border with Hungary.

MORE INFO HERE

As a special guest, Iva Bittová participated in the realization of the audiobook of the documentary novel
Tomáš Padevět Carmen – The Real Life of Hana Hegerová.

On the 1st anniversary of the chansonnier’s death, it was published by Euromedia Group on March 23, 2022.

Book to buy here.

Bang on a Can is donating 10% of all tickets purchased to the Equal Justice Initiative in support of their “commitment to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting the basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.” In addition, Bang on a Can’s Board of Directors will match the 10% donation.