Václav Havel Reads Temptation – Accompanied by the Plastic People

Václav Havel wrote Temptation, a now legendary variation on the Faust myth, in 1985. Shortly afterwards he asked the rock band The Plastic People of the Universe (PPU) to compose and record music for the planned world premiere at Vienna’s Burgtheatr. They did so, though in the end director Hans Kleber decided to use just to use a number of fragments. PPU founder Mejla Hlava’s music wasn’t heard in Havel’s Temptation until 1999, under the direction of Andrej Krob at the Klicper Theatre in Hradec Králové. However, that was a different age – and different music. 

The label Guerilla Records has managed to acquire not only the original tape of PPU music but also a recording of Temptation read by Havel himself in 1985. This combination gave rise to anextraordinarily compelling “audio performance” that listeners can visit at any time of day and regardless of the season.

The evening will open with the songs of Sylvie Krobová. The audio book Václav Havel & The Plastic People of the Universe: Temptation will be ceremonially presented by Vladimír “Lábus” Drápal of Guerilla Records and Anna Freimanová of the Václav Havel Library. The actual “baptism” will be carried out by PPU bandleader Josef Janíček, who will also play a few songs acoustically, and cellist Tomáš Schilla, who took part in the Temptation recording. 

The audience can also look forward to the screening of a short video from a band rehearsal attended by Václav Havel that was shot in December 1985 by Jan Kašpar. 

Organised by the Václav Havel Library in cooperation with Guerilla Records.