Czech baritone Filip Bandžak received The Golden Europea (Golden Europea), the highest award in arts and cultural activities by the European Union of Arts during a unique Gala concert to support the treatment of children with cancer in the Dvořák Hall of Prague´s Rudolfinum.

The Gala concert came to a spectacular ceremonial end with Filip receiving the golden statuette to which the entire hall applauded with a standing ovation. This prestigious award has been presented to only 20 artists around the world for different disciplines. The only person to have received this award in the discipline of opera singing before Filip was the Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo.

The gala concert also featured National artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan, soprano Nurzhamal Usenbajeva accompanied by the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Peter Chromčák.
The festive evening featured works of G. Donizetti, R. Leoncavallo, G. Rossini, G. Verdi. The audience particularly appreciated cavatina of Figaro from the Barber of Seville by G. Rossini. “ I have a very special relationship with this cavatina. I will soon have my first appearance as Figaro on the famous Italian scene, Teatro San-Carlo in Naples. To obtain such a prestigious award means not only a big commitment and creative inspiration; responsibility towards my audience and my dear colleagues but also diligent and honest work which is all crowned with success .”

EUROPEAN UNION of ARTS | www.euu-cz.org