The composition Zrození (Birth) by Jan Kučera, the anthem of the Czech Republic and the anthem of the European Union were only some of the pieces performed during the official opening concert of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, which took place on Wednesday 21 September 2022 at the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels.

"The opening concert of the Czech Presidency symbolised the unification of Europe. This is something we are all even more aware of in today’s tense times, and I must say that I am proud of how the European states have managed to unite in recent months. This should serve as great motivation for us going forward. What is happening now is clear evidence for us Europeans that we are and will be much stronger together,” said Minister for European Affairs Mikuláš Bek.

The audience also heard a unique original composition by Tomáš Kačo entitled Stronger than Yesterday, created especially for the Czech Presidency. “Music has the power to unite nations, but also to heal, to remind people that they have hearts, and this allows them to forget their daily routines so they can open up for a moment, take a breath and feel with their hearts,” Kačo said.

The exclusive concert programme for the historic second Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union was conceived to reflect Czech identity, display its musical tradition in a modern interpretation, and present contemporary Czech works that express national and European self-confidence. The dramaturgy of the gala evening brought tradition and the present day together, and connected classical music with other genres: pop, jazz and Czech folklore.

This was the second opening concert for the Czech Presidency. A similar event took place at the Rudolfinum in Prague on 8 July 2022 in the presence of the highest constitutional officials of the Czech Republic.