Minutes of the Committee Meeting
of the Czech Handel Society, z.s. (hereinafter also referred to as the Society),
at: Janoušek Law Office, Badeniho 291/3, Prague 6
(Recorded retrospectively from an audio recording, with the assistance of ChatGPT, by Jan Kučera, 17th–22th July 2026.)
Present
Committee:
Jiří Janoušek – Chairman
Michal Typl – Secretary
Jan Kučera – Technical Director
Věra Alves – Committee Member
Apologies / Absent
Libor Hofman – Committee Member (holiday).Jana Míková – Alternate Committee Member (holiday).
No other participants joined via Zoom, which was available throughout the meeting.
The Committee was quorate.
Date of the Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will take place exactly four weeks later, on Thursday, 6
Agenda
- Review of tasks from the previous meeting
- Chairman's report on attending the inaugural meeting of the International Handel Society – Italia
- Information leaflet of the Czech Handel Society
- The Society's accounts and banking matters
- The Society's concert projects
- The Society's archive
- Promotion of the Society
- Reaching younger audiences and preparations for a possible future seminar
Supplementary Working Material
- Preliminary Survey Concerning the Topic of Handel's Influence on Contemporary Musical Genres
Review of Tasks from the Previous Meeting
The Committee noted that the tasks assigned at the previous meeting were being carried out as planned. The Chairman also drew attention to the need to complete several administrative matters, particularly in the areas of the Society's accounts and banking arrangements. The recording secretary (Jan Kučera) apologised for the fact that the minutes of the previous meeting had not yet been completed [they were subsequently published on 16th July 2026], explaining that, following his return from a business trip to Germany, he had not yet managed to make up for the resulting delay.
Chairman's Report on Attending the Inaugural Meeting of the International Handel Society – Italia
The Chairman of the Society, JUDr. Jiří Janoušek, presented a detailed report on his participation in the inaugural meeting of the newly established International Handel Society – Italia in Florence. He informed the Committee that the Czech Handel Society had expressed its interest in becoming a founding corporate member of the new society and that he himself had simultaneously accepted honorary individual membership. He noted that the establishment of the new society had been received very positively and that the Czech Handel Society had been regarded in Florence as a respected partner within the European Handel community.
The Committee was further informed about the course of the meeting, the new contacts established and the prospects for further international cooperation. The Chairman reported in particular on the development of closer relations with representatives of the new Italian society [Prof.ssa Eleanora Negri and Mrs Irene Weber Froboese, M.A.], the continuation of contacts with representatives of other European Handel societies, the intention to develop long-term cooperation, and the invitation extended to the Italian partners to attend the forthcoming concert Il Viaggio di Europa, to be organised by the Czech Handel Society on 7 September 2026 in Prague. The Committee also received information about the planned activities of the Italian society and opportunities for future cooperation in their implementation.
The Committee took note of the report and expressed its appreciation of the importance of these newly established contacts for the further development of the Czech Handel Society's international standing.
Czech Handel Society Information Leaflet
Jan Kučera presented the Committee with working proofs of the forthcoming Czech Handel Society information leaflet in Czech, English and German. The Committee welcomed the current form of the publication and agreed that one final linguistic review should be carried out before it was submitted for printing.
It was agreed that, following Libor Hofman's return, the final corrections would be completed and the leaflet sent for professional printing. The Committee also discussed the most cost-effective way of arranging the printing.
The Society's Accounts and Banking Matters
The Committee discussed the provision of accounting services for the Society. The Chairman reported on the ongoing negotiations with an external accounting firm experienced in providing services for similar non-profit organisations. He also stressed the need to file the outstanding financial statements with the Register of Associations and to complete the related administrative formalities.
In view of the Society's increasingly intensive international activities, the Committee also discussed the establishment of a euro-denominated bank account and a payment card intended for foreign business trips and the payment of membership fees to European partner organisations. The aim is to simplify euro payments, reduce exchange-rate losses and create an appropriate financial framework for the Society's expanding international cooperation. Jan Kučera was asked to obtain detailed information on the relevant conditions offered by ČSOB and, if appropriate, compare them with those of other banks.
The Society's Concert Projects
The Committee returned to the June concert tour by Vertical Voices, which had taken place as planned. As Libor Hofman, who had attended all four concerts and played a significant role in their practical co-organisation, was absent, a more detailed evaluation of the project was postponed until the next meeting.
The Committee then considered in detail the preparations for the concert Il Viaggio di Europa, which the Czech Handel Society will present in Prague on 7 September 2026. The Chairman reported on progress with preparations for the concert. The concert is intended primarily for the Society's partners, supporters and friends. The Committee also expressed its wish to make a limited number of tickets available to members of the Czech Handel Society. The principal aim of the event is to present the Society's activities, raise awareness of its work and establish closer links with potential supporters.
The Society's Archive
The Chairman informed the Committee that work had begun on re-establishing the archive of the Czech Handel Society. Michal Typl presented the Committee with a handwritten letter of condolence from Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hirschmann (President of the International George Frideric Handel Society in Halle), addressed to Zuzana Nováková, the sister of Pavel Polka. The Committee decided that the letter should become part of the newly (re)established archive and that a digital copy should also be made.
The situation concerning Pavel Polka's grave was also briefly discussed. It was noted that there had been no progress in this matter.
Promotion of the Society
The Committee discussed further opportunities to promote the Czech Handel Society, particularly through the forthcoming information leaflet, social media and representative events. In connection with the concert Il Viaggio di Europa, the possibility of presenting the Society through an information stand and other means enabling visitors to become more familiar with its activities and encouraging new memberships and support was also discussed.
Reaching Younger Audiences and Preparations for a Possible Future Seminar
The Committee devoted considerable attention to the question of how to engage younger audiences over the long term and broaden the circle of people interested in Handel's music. (The topic was opened by Věra Alves.) An extensive discussion explored ways of presenting Handel's works in a manner that would be both accessible and attractive to listeners who have grown up with contemporary musical genres.
One promising approach identified during the discussion was to highlight the genuine historical, musical and social connections between Handel's musical theatre and certain contemporary stage and popular genres, particularly the musical, pop opera and rock opera. (The topic was opened by Michal Typl.) The Committee agreed that explaining these connections could provide one way of opening up the world of Handel's music to younger audiences, while demonstrating that many of the principles they appreciate in contemporary music have their roots in the European Baroque tradition.
As a first practical step, preparations were initiated for a popularising seminar devoted to this topic. It was also noted that this should not be regarded as a one-off initiative but rather as the possible beginning of a broader thematic field to which the Czech Handel Society could devote systematic attention in the future. The principal aim remains to introduce new audiences to Handel's authentic music through genuine historical and musical connections, rather than to present modern musical genres as an end in themselves.
Supplementary Working Material
Preliminary Survey Concerning Handel's Influence on Contemporary Musical Genres
(One of the concrete outcomes already beginning to take shape is the organisation of a public outreach seminar.)
Following the Committee's discussion, an initial exploratory survey was undertaken to consider how this topic might be developed further. Its purpose was not to formulate scholarly conclusions, but to establish whether it represented a promising area for further study and possible public engagement by the Czech Handel Society.
The preliminary survey suggests in particular that:
- the relationship between Handel's music and certain contemporary musical genres is genuinely present in both scholarly literature and musical practice and merits further attention;
- alongside the musical and pop opera, rock opera and certain crossover projects appear to be especially promising areas;
- an interesting question is not only the direct use of Handel's music in contemporary culture, but above all the possible survival of certain principles of his musical theatre within the English musical tradition and their later manifestations in the modern musical, progressive rock and rock opera;
- it is reasonable to assume that there are specialists in the Czech Republic, from both academic circles and musical practice, who could contribute to a scholarly treatment of this subject;
- the principal aim of the proposed initiative naturally remains to introduce younger audiences to Handel's authentic music through genuine historical and musical connections, rather than to present modern musical genres as an end in themselves.
The preliminary discussion also suggests that this is not merely a topic for a single lecture. A broader question arises as to the extent to which certain principles of Handel's musical theatre have survived within English musical culture and whether their echoes can also be recognised in some forms of modern popular music. The answer to this question, however, belongs primarily to musicologists, music historians and sociologists of music.
Further work will therefore consist principally in identifying suitable specialists and relevant scholarly materials, including existing academic and public-facing articles and books, verifying the individual hypotheses and subsequently developing the scholarly programme of the proposed seminar. In the longer term, this line of enquiry may also be pursued within the Czech Handel Society's wider educational and public engagement activities, including reviews, articles and its presence on social media, in cooperation with the appropriate specialists.