When Reality Exceeds Expectations
When, in the spring of 2026, the internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso Professor Štěpán Rak expresseda wish to perform on his birthday, 8 August,at the very place where he had been born 81 years earlier, the decision was made.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross at the U Apolináře Maternity Hospitals a place of profound personal and spiritual significance to him.
The management of the General University Hospital in Prague and the Department of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology granted his wish, and on Saturday evening it became clear what a wonderful idea it had been. Despite the summer heat and the holiday season being in full swing, the chapel was filled to capacity. Those who came experienced much more than a concert by one of our most distinguished guitarists.
Within moments, Štěpán Rak demonstrated why he is such an extraordinary personality. Virtuosity, absolute concentration, humour and perspective were interwoven with stories from his own life between the musical pieces. Music flowed naturally into storytelling, creating an unforgettable evening.
The evening was also accompanied with charm, elegance and grace by Elen Černá, who herself has a deeply personal connection to U Apolináře. On two occasions, she experienced not only the historic maternity hospital itself, but above all the skill and care of the people who work there.
The presence of Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch and his wife, together with Jan Korseska, Mayor of Prague 2, the district in which the maternity hospital has stood for more than 150 years, and other guests helped create the atmosphere such a special evening deserved.
Over more than a century and a half, more than 600,000 children have been born within the walls of the maternity hospital. On Saturday, one of them returned – after 81 years.
Štěpán Rak returned to the place where he was born. With his guitar in his hands. And for that evening, the Chapel of the Holy Cross belonged to him.
