Česky
"The idea to perform here in the Beroun hospital came from the very nice ladies from the secretariat of the Rehabilitation Centre, where I came to introduce myself before I started my rehabilitation stay after surgery. I know the former head doctor, Dr Horáček, and I also met Mrs Kolářová and other wonderful staff, to whom I promised that there would be a talk. And I had to keep my promise," said Vágner.
Music as a backup plan
During the relaxed afternoon, the prominent Czech artist reminisced about his time at the Semafor Theatre and sang the song "Pramínek vlasů" with the audience. He also reminisced about the beginnings of the band Greenhorns and his collaboration with other stars of the Czech music scene, such as Karel Gott, Hana Zagorová, Eva Pilarová and others.
The exclusive guest was Vágner's long-time friend from California, singer and guitarist Colin Morris, who has lived in the Czech Republic for a long time and collaborated with Vágner on several projects. The American performer performed songs such as Forever Young, Lemon Tree and the duet What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.
However,Vágner revealed that music was not his first passion in life. "It may sound strange, but for many years I was not interested in music at all. I played in the first youth football league and pole vaulted at the top. But I'm a trained toolmaker and I had a bad accident in the factory - a frame saw caught my hand and badly injured it. That was the end of top sport and my next path in life led me to the conservatory. If it hadn't been for the injury, I probably would have stayed with sports," the artist admitted.
His return to sport led him through rehabilitation care in Beroun
Although music has become his profession, sport continues to be his life support even in the tougher moments of his life. "I deal with difficult situations in my own way. When something throws me off balance, I reach for sport, especially tennis, which I love. The surgery I had here in Beroun, after which I was recovering, was done so that I could return to the courts. And I have to say that everyone here took great care of me - from Dr. Horáček and Mrs. Kolářová to a great professional, physiotherapist Lada Kvapilová, who knows how to best help a person. I made friends with all the staff and their families, it was very pleasant," added Vágner with a smile.
At the end of the programme, he spoke about his love for football and his famous football past, when he became the top scorer of the Amfora football club with an incredible 278 goals scored, and he said goodbye to the audience with a song he and lyricist Zdeněk Borovec composed in the 1990s for singer Karel Zich, I like football.
There's still a lot to do
His plans are still busy. "I own a recording studio, we made a record with the young Nedveds and I also help my sons Jakub (a famous Czech fisherman and holder of several records - editor's note) and Pepa. I am currently working with him on his project Musicales inside out, which is an amazing show with a live band that sells out sports halls. In short, I always have something to do," concluded Karel Vágner.
