Zznamy z let 1958/1959 – Forbny vzpomnek – 2CD

These Czech-language recordings preserve conversations Jan Werich held in the late 1950s during talks with working people at trade-union clubs, university lecture halls and sanatoriums. The sound recordings were made by Jan Borovika, manager of the Karel Vlach Orchestra and publicity manager at ABC Theatre, and remained a family treasure in the Borovika household. Jan Werich answered questions from the audience freely and openly, without self-censorship. Because the fixed microphone was aimed at the speaker, the questions are difficult to hear. For this edition, Ji Borovika, son of the original recordings creator, interprets the questions, giving the recordings an authentic, conversational character and bringing them closer to Werichs understanding of dialogue. An accompanying text by Frantiek Cinger stresses that the wisdom and truth of the ideas expressed remain more important than the half-century that has passed since these conversations took place. The recordings offer further evidence of the genius of the creator, actor, comedian and remarkable person whose humour, insight, courage and free opinions were ahead of their time.