Munich to Prague: street musicians, puppeteer, church concerts

Wherever we went in Europe, we found music, often performed in churches or synagogues.

In Paris, we heard a free concert by two choirs in the chapel of a small Catholic hospital. In Leipzig, we heard Wagner in a Protestant church (surprisingly soft, gentle music) and then later that night caught Mozart's Requiem in yet another church, complete with a full orchestra, five soloists and a choir. The voices and music were terrific, the house was packed and absolutely still for the full performance. Once it ended, stone silence, then a long applause.

But there was also music in the streets. In Munich, in Marienplatz while we waiting for a walking tour to assemble, we caught some classical musicians busking.



In a Munich beer hall, we caught some evening oom-pah-pah. Here, we had just had some traditional food (sausage, saurkraut and mashed potatoes) and some beers. The place was packed and musicians like these play in the evenings.



On the Charles Bridge crossing the Vltava River in Prague, we encounter this puppeteer and his accomplice.





















A little boy passing by was completely fascinated by the puppet who was about the same size as he was.



Now, here they are performing. (Apologies for the sideways classical guitar-playing puppet, I forgot I can't change the orientation of the image later when I use my digital camera to shoot video...)



Here are some jazz musicians playing on the Charles Bridge over the Vltava River.