Editorial.

Dear Readers,

The theme of this issue is opera in the Czech Republic. An article by leading opera critic and journalist Helena Havlikova provides a detailed account of the Czech opera scene today and may perhaps inspire you to go to a performance when you visit the Czech Republic. It is with this possibility in mind that we have added an overview of all our opera companies including their current repertoire, and we shall certainly be returning to opera in future issues of Czech Music. In this issue, don't miss M. Stedron's article on Janacek's operas!

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

You will also find one more interview than is usual. Apart from the title interview with Antonin Matzner and the regular interview in which we present the best musicians of the coming generation (in this case the bassoonist Vaclav Vonasek), we have also included a conversation with Professor Graham Melville-Mason, president of Britaines Dvorak Society for Czech and Slovak Music on the occasion of his acceptance of a prize for lifelong promotion of Czech music. This is our way of offering Professor Mason congratulations and expressing our admiration and gratitude. Next year Czech Music will be coming out in a new graphic design, but what is most important is that not just the "envelope" will be improved but the "contents" will be enriched. Starting with the first issue of 2007 we shall be adding a free CD of music by contemporary Czech composers to the magazine, once or twice a year. Although this is a gift for our readers, the saying that "things that are free are not usually worth much" certainly doesn't apply here. What you will be getting is a full-value CD with the best in contemporary Czech music, without any cuts and usually previously unreleased. You have something to look forward to, and it's our pleasure, for not even the very best music magazine can be anything without the music itself.

On behalf of Czech music I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

PETR BAKLA

EDITOR