On the occasion of the Commencement of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Greece organised an Opening Concert by the New Hellenic Quartet, on Tuesday 13 January 2009, at 20:00 hours, at the Benaki Museum, Building at 138 Pireos Street.

The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Greece, Mrs. Hana Mottlová, welcomed guests with a short speech. The distinguished guests included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.Yannis Valinakis, who also addressed the audience on behalf of the Greek government.

The concert, artistically capturing the motto of the Czech presidency “Europe without barriers”, was by the excellent New Hellenic Quartet, performing three beautiful works of  Czech and Greek chamber music – works by Bohuslav Martinů (Quartet No. 2, 1925), Nikos Skalkottas (Ten Sketches for String Quartet, 1940) and Bedřich Smetana (Quartet No. 2 in d minor, 1882-83).     

The wonderful performance was enhanced by the atmosphere provided by the audience of over 300 people, including 45 Ambassadors to Greece, the former President of the Greek Parliament Mrs. Anna Psarouda-Benaki, and the Secretary General of the Office of the Greek President Amb. Constantinos Georgiou, high officials of the Greek Foreign Ministry as well as representatives of Greek and Czech companies, media and institutions in Greece.

The concert was organized in co-operation with the Benaki Museum and with the kind sponsorship of VIAMAR, S.A.

PHOTO 1:   Ambasador of the Czech Republic to Greece Hana Mottlová

PHOTO 2:   From the Concert

PHOTO 3:   New Hellenic Quartet

PHOTO 4:   New Hellenic Quartet