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7th Czech song festival "Krajanské zpěvánky," Rijeka 2008
The 7th festival of Croatian Czech singing groups and choirs "Krajanské zpěvánky" took place on October 4 in the new Czech Home in Rijeka. It was sponsored by the City of Rijeka, Primorsko-goranska County and the Croatian government Council for national minorities. Eight Czech singing groups and choirs participated in this evening, which was only the first part of this festival. The second part of this year's festival, featuring another eleven groups, will take place on October 11 in Prekopakra.
Groups and choirs from Veliki and Mali Zdenci, Jazvenik, Daruvarski Brestov, Treglava, Sisak, Bjelovar, Zagreb and Rijeka sang 27 beautiful songs this year in Rijeka. The most impressive was the final act when all 180 participants sang together the "anthem" of Czech people in Croatia, Hašler's "Little Czech Song," conducted by Vesna Šoš from Bjelovar and accompanied by Jaroslav Klubičko from Daruvar.
Unlike last year when 20 choirs with over 450 singers sang in Rijeka, this year the hosts could pay much more attention to each of about 200 guests. This way everyone had a more pleasant evening in Rijeka.
The program was moderated by already well-known couple – the editor of Radio Daruvar Czech program Lenka Lalić and the editor of the City of Rijeka web portal Ivica Nikolac.
Before the program started, president of Czech Beseda Rijeka F. Husak and vice president of the Czech Union in Croatia J. Vojta welcomed all guests and participants. Vladimir Koupal, county head from the Czech town Římov greeted everyone on behalf of all Římov citizens. Mr. Koupal came to Croatia accompanied by his wife and three other county councilmen. President of Czech Union culture council J. Klubičko was also present, as was the mayor of Grubišno Polje Z. Mađeruh with his wife, friends from the Slovak society of Rijeka and other dear guests.
On behalf of the National minorities council, the representative of Czech and Slovak minorities in Croatian Parliament Mrs. Zdenka Čuhnil official opened this year's festival. Among other things, she spoke about this year's Prague Festival of Czech people living abroad where Czech Beseda Rijeka won the first prize.
The president of Czech Union's Culture council and musical expert J. Klubičko said this year's festival was very successful in both organization and the quality of performances. Mr. Klubičko, as well as members of Czech Beseda Rijeka, is convinced that the decision to have the festival in two cities this year turned out to be a good one. He also promised singing group Nostalgia from Rijeka his professional help in the future.
