Written by: Klára Smolová
Photo: Aleš Vlachovský (1-6, 11-13), Věroslav Sixt (7-10),

A festive encore – 31.01.2003
The Argentinian tenor and conductor Jose Cura perfomed for the first time ever in the Czech Republic, and his debut became a real cultural event. Obecní dům was full of VIPs in both politics and business.

Prime minister Vladimír Špidla (left) with his wife and Václav Klaus

Jose Cura with Terrence Valeski, general director of Eurotel

Bessel Kok (right), COO of Český Telecom, with his wife and Terrence Valeski

Ibis Karlín above water – 13.02.2003
Life slowly returns to Karlín, as was evident at the gala reopening of hotel Ibis Praha Karlín. The hotel, which intends to attract international business clientele to this once-devastated quarter, took advantage of the summer floods to modernize the entire premises.

Michael Verhof, director of regional operations, Accor Ho^tellerie Deutschland; Rami Ibrahim, general director, Ibis Praha Karlín; and Robert Woltering, general director of hotel Mercure Praha

Marta van Leeuwenová, director, MMC, and Luis Felipe Torres Lobato, economic affairs, Mexican Embassy

Cihelna finally opened – 07.02.2003
The opening of entertainment center-cum-restaurant Hergetova Cihelna was postponed due to the floods. Its long-awaited operation, along with that of reconstructed Kampa Park, was celebrated in high style – live music, DJ Big J and fireworks.

María Silfverschiöld (left); sister of the venue’s owner Nils Jebens, Siri Lugner-Jebens (middle); and Bianca Bezdek, attorney, Linklaters

Actress Zlata Adamovská with Petr Vyroubal, attorney, Vyroubal Krjhanzl Školout a spol.

James Woolf, chairman of Flow East, with his wife Karolina