The creator of the arc lamp or the light fountain in Prague's Holešovice, František Křižík, would have been very happy this year, eighty years after his death. He had personally turned it on 130 years ago. The fountain has been out of order since 2017. That is why a magnificent show called The Magic Fountain - The Dream of František Křižík is being created, which will light up the lost glory of the previously popular fountain with the help of fire and electricity.
The show has been in production for two years now. It's an original Czech open-air performance that brings a unique concept of an elemental show that combines contemporary dance, acrobatics and a new circus with fire, big flames, swirls of sparks, electric shocks and modern multimedia technology. All this in the middle of a stage surrounded by a historic light fountain.
"We would like to breathe life into the Křižík Fountain again and include it into the world-famous cultural spots again, after years of closure. We believe that even after 130 years since the first opening, the fountain still has its charm, which we want to show to everyone in the audience through our performance,”
says Marek Solnička, the author and director, who has extensive experience in creating shows for international projects. The performance is accompanied by the original music by composer Juraj Klička, played not only by live musicians, but also by strikes of electric shocks. Quite literally.
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Magická fontánaSource: archiv Pyroterra
Open in gallery (5)
Magická fontánaSource: archiv Pyroterra
Open in gallery (5)
Magická fontánaSource: archiv Pyroterra
The spectators are in for an over an hour-long experience, a journey back to the past enabled by a number of effects, including fire effects, or a video projection on a water wall. Inventions from the steam engine to the previously mentioned arc lamp, or Tesla's transformer whipping real lightning.
The incredible story inspired by the life of the Czech inventor František Křižík, influenced by the duel of the ancient element of fire and modern electricity, will take place at the Prague Exhibition Grounds already in the summer of 2021 thanks to the Pyroterra production group.
The Czech Edison
The spectacular show is inspired by the life of the Czech visionary and inventor František Křižík, whose footprints can be found in many places in our country. Křižík's light fountain was first introduced in 1891 and is still one of a kind in the world. Křižík was the son of a shoemaker and a servant. But the world knows him as a famous technician who, during his long career, improved electric trams, an even built an electric car. His arc lamps lit up Jindřichův Hradec and Písek, and, thanks to that, in Paris Křižík was called the Czech Edison.
"Křižík was and always will be a great inspiration for us. We are fascinated by his life story. We will spice it up with a fictional duel of precisely those two elements - fire and electricity, symbolizing the time of the industrial revolution,"
Solnička says.
Open in gallery (5)
Magická fontánaSource: archiv Pyroterra
Open in gallery (5)
Magická fontánaSource: archiv Pyroterra
Křižík died on January 22nd, 1941, and at the time of his death he was one of the most popular personalities of the Czech society. Hhis funeral in Slavín at Vyšehrad gave the impression of a silent manifestation against the then German occupation.
Due to this year's measures, the premiere of The Magic Fountain had to be postponed for a whole year, precisely to the date of July 8th, 2021. Tickets are already on sale in advance, including other repeat performances in the summer months.
