19. 10. 2020
JANÁČEK BRNO 2020 FESTIVAL SUCCEEDED IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
“Great, greetings from New York.” “The recital was beautiful. It gave me a lot of strength for the upcoming days. Thank you for a beautiful experience.” From reactions of the audience of the Jan Bartoš Recital live stream.
This year of the prestigious opera and music festival Janáček Brno had to adjust to the current complicated situation related to the spread of COVID-19. Still the festival took place from 28 September to 16 October in Brno and was a great success since we managed to do everything in our power to maintain the programme focused on the artistic turmoil at the turn of the 19th and 20th century and the search for new ways of musical expression in opera and instrumental works.
“Thank you very much for your flexibility and the offer of a “substitute” performance that will be a completely equal experience concerning the repertoire and performers! Best of luck and once again thank you to NdB for how amazingly they are coping with the current harakiri.” From reactions of the festival audience.
The first festival week (28 September – 4 October) passed with only minor changes of the programme; the Janáček Brno festival was very successfully opened with the opera Destiny directed by the world-renowned Robert Carsen. The exceptional premiere was visited by many Czech and foreign guests and journalists.
“In any case, the premiere of “Destiny” had an almost fateful effect. At his debut in the Czech Republic, director Robert Carsen created an emotionally exciting experience by skilful direction.” MDR Kultur – das Radio / LFH Dresden, Michael Ernst.
Moreover, the festival offered a number of exceptional concert productions, be it the concert of the Zemlinsky Quartet, Arnold Schoenberg Chor and other top performers.
“The Zemlinsky Quartet concert was great, the Löw-Beer Villa is impressive.” Online Merker, Robert Quitta.
“Arnold Schoenberg Chor has performed a great and professional vocal concert by one of the most internationally acclaimed choral ensembles of today with a very well elaborated dramaturgy programme.” Mundoclasico.com, Robert Ferrer.
The end of the week was dominated by Jenůfa of the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno with an exceptional guest, the world-famous soprano Karita Mattila.
“Mattila does not play a role, she dwells in it. Her agony was tangible and her desperation was like a flame that kept growing until it brought her to the unthinkable.” Bachtrack, Frank Kuznik
In the week starting on 5 October, due to further measures to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the festival continued with some changes to the programme. The majority of festival events were maintained, either by programme modification or by new concert dates. It is obvious that the overall situation related to the measures concerning the spread of COVID-19 had a great impact on the Janáček Brno festival, including the concert series since several programmes were built on the vocal element. Yet the dramaturgy was adjusted to remain attractive and interesting and within the context of the original festival programme concept.
“Since spring, I have admired your strong will and the ability to adjust to any – even impossible – conditions. And today I also must immediately congratulate you to the beautiful programme of the substitute (sic!) evening at the Janáček Theatre.” Ludmila Němcová, Director of the Leoš Janáček Foundation.
The production of the opera Salome, which could not be performed as a result of the government measures, was substituted with a great audience success by an exceptional concert of the Orchestra of the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno on 10 October 2020 at the Janáček Theatre.
“The result was half chilly, half elevating.” Klasika plus, Jindřiška Bártová.
In the week from 12 October, based on the currently announced government measures, the festival had to restrict all events for audience in concert halls; however, the programme was substituted with live streams of the concerts scheduled for this year’s festival and recordings of significant events of the previous festivals so that every festival day offered an attractive production. Thus the festival accommodated audience not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad. The final concert of the Bamberg Symphony on 16 October also took place in the form of a live stream from the concert hall in Bamberg to the website of the Janáček Brno festival.
“I am happy that in spite of the adverse circumstances, we have managed to organize a virtual live stream of the concert, unchanged.” Jakub Hrůša, conductor.
Thus the festival website turned into a very strong platform. There were more than 100,000 visitors to the festival website www.janacek-brno.cz from more than a hundred different countries. The festival live streams were watched by people in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Hungary, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Great Britain, USA, Poland and other countries.
Some of the performances of the Janáček Brno 2020 festival were rescheduled to November and December of this year; one of the performances will be shown as a live stream.
List of rescheduled performances of the Janáček Brno 2020 festival:
17 November 2020 – Brno Children Choir, Reduta Theatre
18 November 2020 – Church Songs from Znorovy – folklore concert, Red Church
25 November 2020 – Tomáš Král and Matan Porat Recital (to be shown as a live stream)
28 and 29 November – Destiny, Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno, Janáček Theatre
19 December 2020 – Concert of the Prague Philharmonic Choir, Besední dům
The Greek Passion, Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno – we are currently looking for a date of performance at the Janáček Theatre
Pavol Breslik and Róbert Pechanec Recital – we are currently looking for a date of performance at the Reduta Theatre
The main festival organizer is the National Theatre Brno.
The festival has been organized with the financial support of the Statutory City of Brno, the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Leoš Janáček Foundation and the Region of South Moravia. Bohemian Heritage Fund is a general partner of the festival. The main festival partner is VARS BRNO a.s. The main media partner of the festival is the Czech Television. Partners of the festival are the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno, Masaryk University, Moravian Museum, Brno Tourist Information Centre, Tourist Authority of South Moravia, Brno City Museum and AZ SERVIS, a.s.
The festival was held under the patronage of:
Lubomír Zaorálek, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic
Bohumil Šimek, Governor of the South Moravia Region
Markéta Vaňková, Mayor of the Statutory City of Brno
Nick Archer, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Czech Republic
Miklós Boros, Ambassador of Hungary to the Czech Republic
Christoph Israng, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Czech Republic
Selected festival photographs to download: https://www.flickr.com/photos/190258289@N08/albums/with/72157715965316268
2. 10. 2020
DESPITE THE MEASURES, THE JANÁČEK BRNO FESTIVAL CONTINUES!
After the successful opening of the festival, we are awaiting the next programme highlight – Jenůfa with the phenomenal soprano Karita Mattila in the role of Kostelnička. The first performance will take place on 3 October as planned. The second performance, threatened by the new measures, has been rescheduled to Sunday, 4 October at 7 p.m. at the Janáček Theatre. The audience thus has the opportunity to see the last festival opera performance with excellent cast.
In the week starting on 5 October, due to further measures to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the festival will continue with some changes to the programme. The remaining opera performances – the premiere of the The Greek Passion and the guest performance of the Hungarian State Opera with the production of Salome – are cancelled.
Most of the concerts will take place, with some changes to the programme concerning vocal works. The final concert of the Bamberg Symphony on 16 October will take place in the form of a live stream from the concert hall in Bamberg to the auditorium of the Janáček Theatre and on the Bamberg Symphony website.
Jakub Hrůša, the Principal Conductor, says: “The participation at the Janáček Brno festival with the Bamberg Symphony in my hometown was the key project of the season for me and my orchestra, in which we invested a lot of effort and emotion during the programme creation and preparation. Unfortunately, the health situation in the Czech Republic has made it impossible to physically get to Brno with the whole orchestra. Yet, of our own initiative and with great understanding of the festival management, we will play for our audience. I am happy that in spite of the adverse circumstances, we have managed to organize a virtual live stream of the concert, unchanged. During our performance in Bamberg, we will give it everything and in our minds we will be with you in the Czech Republic. The timeless music of Leoš Janáček and Richard Strauss will help us bridge the distance.”
Some of the vocal concerts, The Greek Passion premiere and the premiere of S.A.M.P.O. by JAMU students will be rescheduled and the new dates will be announced before the end of the festival. The performance of Salome on 10 October will be replaced by an extraordinary concert of the Orchestra of the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno under the baton of the conductor Robert Kružík with a programme consisting of the works of Leoš Janáček and Richard Strauss, with a special guest, the exceptional violinist Josef Špaček. Those who are not able to visit this year’s festival can look forward to the live stream of the concert of the leading Czech ensemble – the Pavel Haas Quartet on 11 October at 11 a.m.
“I wish music keeps on guiding us through these hard times. Stay with us!”
Jiří Heřman, Artistic Director of the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno
List of programme changes:
2 October 2020 – The Cunning Little Vixen, F. X. Šalda Theatre Liberec – cancelled without substitution
4 October 2020 – Concert of the Prague Philharmonic Choir – substitute date is being discussed
5 October 2020 – Jenůfa – rescheduled to 4 October, 7 p.m.
6 October 2020 – Pavol Breslik Recital – substitute date is being discussed
7 October 2020 – The Greek Passion – rescheduled to 20 October 2020.
7 October 2020 – Church Songs from Znorovy – substitute date is being discussed
8 October 2020 – Brno Contemporary Orchestra – concert will be performed as scheduled with some alterations
9 October 2020 – PhilHarmonia Octet Prague – concert will be performed as scheduled with some alterations
10 October 2020 – Composed programme of students of the Faculty of Music, Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno – concert will be performed as scheduled with some alterations in the Mozart Hall of the Reduta Theatre
10 October 2020 – Brno Children´s Choir – substitute date is being discussed
10 October 2020 – Salome (Hungarian State Opera) – replaced by an extraordinary concert
of the Orchestra of the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno
11 October 2020 – Pavel Haas Quartet – concert will be performed as scheduled with some alterations
11 October 2020 – Tomáš Král and Matan Porat’s Recital – substitute date is being discussed
11 October 2020 – Glagolitic Mass / The Eternal Gospel – concert will be performed as scheduled with some alterations
12 October 2020 – A step behind the curtain to the opera Destiny – cancelled without substitution
14 October 2020 – Destiny, Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno – rescheduled to 28 and 29 November 2020.
15 and 16 October 2020 – S.A.M.P.O., Chamber Opera of the Faculty of Music of JAMU – substitute date is being discussed
16 October 2020 – Ceremonial closing of the festival: Concert of the Bamberg Symphony – live stream at the Janáček Theatre and on the website of the Bamberg Symphony and the Janáček Brno 2020 festival
ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMME
11 October 2020 MEMORIAL CEREMONY AT THE GRAVE OF LEOŠ JANÁČEK – will take place without participation of the Czech Academic Choir
12 October 2020 Open House with Janáček – cancelled without substitution
Information about the Janáček Brno festival ticket return and exchange:
Performance cancelled without substitution:
Tickets purchased on-line – money will be automatically refunded to the bank account from which the tickets were purchased.
Tickets purchased at the National Theatre Brno Customer Centre – tickets may be returned at the CC or by e-mail at storno@ndbrno.cz. Please send a ticket scan or ticket number and your bank account number for the ticket price refund.
Rescheduled and altered performances:
If the new date and programme is convenient for you, the original ticket automatically remains valid for the rescheduled or altered performance. There is no need to get a new ticket.
If you wish to return your ticket, you can do so by 30 October at the Customer Centre or cancel it by e-mail at: storno@ndbrno.cz and ask for a refund.
Festival tickets may be returned by 30 October 2020.
1. 10. 2020
Dear audience,
This afternoon, we will issue a press release concerning the current government regulation including all the information about programme changes. However, for now we can inform you we have managed to reschedule Jenůfa with star cast from 5th October to 4th October. Don’t miss the performance with Karita Mattila in the role of Kostelnička! For more information, follow our website www.janacek-brno.cz a the Janáček Brno Facebook page.
Thank you for your understanding and support!
30. 9. 2020
2 October 2020 F. X. Šalda Theatre Liberec – The Cunning Little Vixen, 7 p.m., Mahen Theatre
Due to the quarantine of some members of the opera ensemble of the F. X. Šalda Theatre Liberec, this festival performance is cancelled without substitute. Tickets may be returned by 31 October 2020 at the National Theatre Brno Customer Centre, Dvořákova 11.
4 October 2020 Prague Philharmonic Choir, 7 p.m., Besední dům
Due to a temporary indisposition of members of the Prague Philharmonic Choir, this festival concert will be postponed to another date, which has not yet been decided. The new concert date will be published at www.janacek-brno.cz. All information about festival programme changes is available at www.janacek-brno.cz, on the Janáček Brno Facebook page, or you can get information by phone.
21. 9. 2020
The Janáček Brno 2020 international festival is also open to foreign spectators.
On Thursday evening, October 1, a live stream from the premiere performance of The Diary of One Who Disappeared based on Leoš Janáček´s stage directions will be available on the festival website. The main performer will be Pavol Brešlík, one of Slovakia’s leading tenors.
On Sunday morning, October 11, the festival website will offer a live stream of a concert by a world-famous ensemble: the Pavel Haas Quartet.
We hope and believe that we will meet again at the festival in 2022.
19. 9. 2020
Dear spectators,
In order to allow safer movement around the National Theatre Brno buildings during performances, we have decided to divide the Mahen Theatre and Janáček Theatre into two sectors. When you come to watch a performance, please follow the instructions below. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact the auditorium staff.
.
Mahen Theatre
Sector A
– Seats purchased on the ground floor, and 1st rank seating.
– Spectators in sector A will use the door from the side facing the street named Za divadlem as well as the main entrance under the balcony from Malinovský Square. Inside the theatre, visitors can reach their seats via the main three-flight stairway or the side stairway on the right.
– Spectators can use the right side of the cloakroom marked with the letters D, E, F.
– Before the performance and during the break, spectators from Sector A can use the buffet which is on the left (when looking towards Malinovský Square).
Sector B
– Seats purchased in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ranks.
– Spectators in Sector B will use the entrances in the left corner of the building and the doors from Rooseveltova Street.
– Visitors can reach seating ranks located higher up via all side staircases on the left side of the building.
– They can use the cloakrooms on the left marked with the letters A, B, C.
– Before the performance and during the break, spectators from Sector B can use the buffet which is situated on the right (when looking towards Malinovský Square).
.
Janáček Theatre
Sector A
– Seats purchased on the ground floor and in the 1st rank.
– Spectators can reach Sector A either from the underground parking lot via the side staircase or through the 1st or 2nd door of the main entrance (they will be marked).
– Spectators in Sector A can use the cloakrooms marked with letters A – G.
– Before the performance and during the break they can use the buffets in the 1st rank of seating.
Sector B
– Seats purchased on the balcony.
– Sector B can be entered via the main entrance, through the 3rd door of the main entrance.
– Spectators in Sector B can use the cloakrooms marked with the letters H and I on the left of the entrance.
– Before the performance and during the break, visitors can use the buffet on the ground floor on the left.
– On the way to the balcony, spectators in Sector B can use the left side staircase on the left.
Update 28. 5. 2020
THE JANÁČEK BRNO FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE!
The 6th year of the festival presented Janáček´s stage works in their entirety, while this year´s Janáček Brno will focus on the rapid development in music and art in general that was seen at the beginning of the 20th century, at a time which brought a whirlwind of ideas and new, yet unexplored possibilities. Over the course of almost three weeks, the festival will offer excellent opera productions, a series of concerts and, above all, exceptional artists such as Robert Carsen, Jakub Hrůša, Karita Mattila, Pavol Breslik, the Pavel Haas Quartet, the Bamberger Symphoniker, Jan Bartoš, and others.
The 7th edition of the festival, Janáček Brno 2020 (28th September to 16th October), will undoubtedly build on the extraordinary successes of the previous years of this prestigious biennial. Janáček Brno 2018 was the first festival in the Czech Republic to receive recognition from the highly regarded International Opera Awards – the Best Festival of the Year award.
Despite the difficult situation, the programme announced in December last year has been preserved with only a minimum of changes. “Due to the current restrictions in the world in connection with the COVID-19 virus, the premieres of two productions which were supposed to be presented at the festival in the autumn have not taken place. These are Theatre Bremen’s Jenůfa, directed by Armin Petras, and the production of Jenůfa directed by Claus Guth that was being prepared by London’s Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. We have managed to obtain good replacements for both productions and have even expanded the festival programme to include another premiere by National Theatre Brno’s Janáček Opera ensemble.” (Jiří Heřman, Artistic Director of the Janáček Opera, National Theatre Brno)
Bremen’s Jenůfa will be replaced in the programme by a production of The Cunning Little Vixen from the ensemble of the F. X. Šalda Theatre from Liberec, directed by Linda Keprtová and music director Martin Doubravský. The London production will be replaced by a successful production of Jenůfa directed by Martin Glaser and performed under the baton of National Theatre Brno’s chief conductor Marko Ivanović. “We are extremely delighted that we have managed to attract world-class opera star Karita Mattila, who was originally supposed to perform in the London production, to play the role of Kostelnička in these two special festival productions.” (Martin Glaser, Director of National Theatre Brno)
The premiere of the opera The Greek Passion by Bohuslav Martinů has now been added to the festival programme, staged by National Theatre Brno’s Janáček Opera ensemble. It is directed by Jiří Heřman and music director Robert Kružík, and will be performed on 7th October at the Janáček Theatre. The last change in the programme concerns the concert at the basilica in Old Brno, where Janáček´s Glagolitic Mass and The Eternal Gospel will be performed by Brno Philharmonic with its chief conductor Dennis Russell Davies, instead of by National Theatre Brno’s Janáček Opera orchestra. The concert will feature the Janáček Opera choir from National Theatre Brno.
All the other parts of the festival programme remain as originally announced. The celebratory opening of the festival will thus be devoted to Janáček´s opera Destiny. It is less frequently performed than many of his other works, but was a significant step in the composer´s journey to seek out a new approach to modern opera. The production will be created specially for the festival by the internationally renowned director Robert Carsen in cooperation with the ensemble of the Janáček Opera at National Theatre Brno, and with music direction by chief conductor Marko Ivanović.
The end of the festival will feature an excellent orchestra, the Bamberger Symphoniker, conducted by Jakub Hrůša. Visitors can look forward to song recitals by Tomáš Král and Pavol Breslik, a piano recital by Jan Bartoš and Jan Jiraský, and also choral works delivered by leading Austrian ensemble the Arnold Schoenberg Chor and the Prague Philharmonic Choir. As far as chamber ensembles are concerned, participants will include the Zemlinsky Quartet, PhilHarmonia Octet Prague, Brno Contemporary Orchestra and the Pavel Haas Quartet.