Culture

Prague orchestra reinvents itself and makes food deliveries to survive pandemic

Prague, May 18 (EFE / EPA) .- (Camera: Martin Divisek) The Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague — one of Czechia’s most prominent musical ensembles — has had to hone its business acumen by delving into the home delivery market to survive the pandemic, which shut concert halls’ doors and left Prague’s tourist sites deserted.Founded by director Martin Sanda in 2000, the 70-strong orchestra undertakes roughly 250 concerts a year — many abroad — and has toured with the likes of Michael Bublé, José Carreras and Deep Purple. FOOTAGE OF THE ORCHESTRA AND FOOD DELIVERY AND SOUNDBITES OF MARTIN SANDA, DIRECTOR OF THE ORCHESTRA. Translation:1.- “The covid had an absolute impact. All concerts and events were canceled. The last one was on March 19 last year in Prague. In the summer we had a couple of things when the measures were eased, but nothing since then ”.2.- “There has been a good reception. We have tried to create job opportunities for those who do not have it, especially for artists in our environment. And not only for artists, but also for related professions, such as sound technicians or illuminators ”.3.- “In the long term it will be an activity compatible with music. We want to maintain this, because we see the effect of the covid in the agencies, in the promoters, in the producers. Many of them have gone bankrupt, declared insolvency. There will not be so much work and it will be necessary to have a source of income along with artistic work ”.