Brochure 200 anniversary of the Prague Conservatore

P R A Ž S K Á
T H E
P R A G U E
D A S
P R A G E R
K O N Z E R V A T O Ř
C O N S E R V A T O I R E
K O N S E R V A T O R I U M
2 0 0 tht A N N I V E R S A R Y
2 0 0 thh A N N I V E R S A R Y
2 0 0 thh A N N I V E R S A R Y
2 0 0 th A N N I V E R S A R Y
OF
OF
OF
OF
THE
THE
THE
THE
P R AG U E
P R AG U E
P R AG U E
P R AG U E
C O N S E R V AT O R Y
C O N S E R V AT O R Y
C O N S E R V AT O R Y
C O N S E R V AT O R Y
th
200
Anniver sar y
of the Prague
Conser vator y
C O N S E R V AT O R Y
C O N S E R V AT O R Y
C O N S E R V AT O R Y
C O N S E R V AT O R Y
P R AG U E
P R AG U E
P R AG U E
P R AG U E
THE
THE
THE
THE
OF
OF
OF
OF
ANNIVERSARY
ANNIVERSARY
ANNIVERSARY
ANNIVERSARY
2 0 0 th
2 0 0 tht
2 0 0 tht
2 0 0 th
BRIEF HISTORY
O F P R AG U E C O N S E R VATO R Y
The Prague Conservatory ranks among the oldest music schools
of this type in Europe. It was founded in 1808 to provide education to orchestral musicians. A proclamation by music-loving Prague
aristocrats on the 25 th of April, 1808 was the primary stimulus for
the school’s founding and is now considered the founding charter
of the Prague Conservatory. Soon after the charter was published
the first financial contributions started gathering and the number
of supporters was growing. However, their efforts were crossed
by the Napoleonic wars. In March 1810, the aristocracy syndicate
established an organization called “Society for improving music
in the Czech lands”, which funded and managed the Conser vatory for more than 100 of the following years. The fi rst school year
began on 24 th of April 1811. The flats of the teachers ser ved as
classrooms and the syllabus used was prepared by the fi rst headmaster Bedřich Dionýs Weber. It was not until the autumn of
1811 that the school obtained a premises and settled down in the
Dominican monaster y of Saint Giles. In 1817, singing lessons
were added to orchestral instruments education. During the following period the school played a significant role in the development
of Prague musical life. Concerts of the orchestra and help of the
pupils in the professional orchestras were irreplaceable for Prague
above all. Honorable mention of the concerts came for example
from C. M. Weber, R. Wagner, H. Berlioz and F. Liszt. In 1866,
Bedřich Smetana applied for the vacancy in headmaster’s office
but the selection committee elected Josef Krejčí, the director of
the “Organ school”. When the school acquired new premises
in the building of Rudolfinum, the construction of which was just
completed, and Antonín Bennewitz, a famous violin teacher, became
the head of the school, the “golden age” of the Prague Conservatory began. After the conservatory merged with the Organ school
in 1890, other music subjects were taught: piano, organ, composition and conducting. In 1891, Antonín Dvořák started teaching
at the conservatory, first as a composition teacher and later on,
from 1901 to 1904 as the headmaster. He educated a whole
ensemble of prominent composers, including Josef Suk, Vítězslav
Novák, but also operetta composers Oskar Nedbal and Franz
Lehár. Come to that, there were a lot of famous persons educated
at the Prague Conservatory: Otakar Ševčík, Jan Kubelík, Jaroslav
Kocian, Václav Talich, Karel Ančerl, Rafael Kubelík, Bohuslav
Martinů, Alois Hába and many others. After 1918, the conservatory
was nationalized but also lost its premises in Rudolfinum. For a certain period of time the conservatory resided in a monastery, this
time a Benedictine one, later on in the former chemical institution
0
th
Anniversary of the Prague Conservatory
in Trojanova street and finally in the building Na Rejdišti in Old Town
where it has stayed until this day. In 1919, the conservatory was
expanded, this time a drama school was started. Otýlie SklenářováMalá, a legendary actress, played an important role in the foundation of the drama school. During the interwar period, the school was
managed by Josef Suk, Vítězslav Novák, J. B. Foerster, Vilém Kurz,
Jaroslav Kocian and other remarkable figures. After World War II,
a dancing department was added (became independent Dancing
Conser vator y in 1980) and the so-called “master school of the
Prague Conservatory” (follow-up course after completion of standard study) became the Academy of Music. From 1942 to 1970,
the school was led by dr. Václav Holzknecht, a lawyer, pianist and
popularizer of music, who lead the school through the difficult times
of Nazi occupation and most of the communist totalitarian period.
In 1986, the popular music department was established consisting
of two major subjects – singing and composition. After the social
situation changed in November 1989, the teachers and students
worked hard to meet the constantly increasing demands laid on the
music and theatre professionals. The major commitment of everyone here at the conservatory is to sustain the high reputation of the
school and to further expand the famous, two-century-old tradition
of the school, which during its existence educated a myriad of musicians, composers, singers, dancers and actors and played a significant role in the development of music education of the Czech nation.
THE FOUNDING CHARTER
OF THE PRAGUE CONSERVATORY
Proclamation of the “Society for the Improvement of Music
in the Czech Lands”, 25th of April, 1808.
„Considering that the art of music once flourishing in the Czech
Lands has now so much declined that even in Prague a good and
complete orchestra can be formed only with difficulty, and that
for many instruments there are not sufficient musicians, and
sometimes none at all, the signatories of this declaration have
joined together to this end, and with this purpose, that they
should ennoble and raise up the art of music in the Czech
Lands once again. In their judgment, the first and most appropriate means to this end is to fi nd and appoint, for every instrument, an excellent musician who by special contract will agree
to not only play his instrument in the orchestra for several years,
but also to teach that instrument and train several pupils
assigned to him. For those instruments for whom no outstanding
performer may be found in Prague, musicians should be invited
from abroad, and the same contract and conditions should be
negotiated with them. In order that the expenses necessary to
this end be covered, the signatories have undertaken to provide
certain annual contributions for 6 successive years, and they
appeal to all lovers and friends of the ar t of music to join
with them as founders in this proposed endeavor and, by subscribing contributions of at least 100 silver coins, to help towards
the elevation of the art of music in the Czech Lands.“
Franz Josef Count of Wrtba
Franz Count of Sternberg
Johann Count of Nostitz
Christian Count of Clam-Gallas
Friedrich Count of Nostitz
Karl Count and Lord of Firmian
Founding Charter of the Prague Conservatory from April 25, 1808
0
th
Anniversary of the Prague Conservatory
PRAGUE CONSERVATORY TODAY
The governing body of the Prague Conser vator y is the City of
Prague. The school is the largest institution for musical education
in the Czech Republic. It offers education and training to professional
music performers and stage actors. It has departments for teaching all orchestral instruments, accordion, guitar, piano and organ,
singing, composition, conducting and acting. The study in all majors
takes 6 years. There is an independent department for each major
managed by the head of department. All heads of departments are
experienced tutors and performers. The operation of the school is
managed by technical and administrative staff.
The Prague Conservatory is available to students who have completed
primary education. All applicants must undergo rigorous entrance
examinations (some consisting of a couple of rounds) in which the
applicants must show not only talent for the major they have chosen
but also general musical appreciation and physiological qualification. Apart from the major study programme and professional training subjects, the educational programme includes general education
subjects, special musical theory, foreign languages and pedagogical
subjects. During their studies the students perform at the school
concerts and theatrical performances, participate in many national
and international competitions, and gain experience through international tours of orchestras and chamber ensembles. This way they
make their first steps in their lives as performers. From time to time
the school invites prominent international teachers for internships,
master courses and seminars which bring diversity to and complement the study programmes. The study is completed with a final
examination, part of which is usually a public performance – alumni
concert, for the select ones with orchestra support. After passing
the exam, Prague Conservatory alumni will receive a diploma recognized worldwide as a certificate of completed professional artistic
education, and in accordance with the current legislation they will be
awarded a title of “certifi cated specialist” (DiS). Upon their graduation, alumni of the Prague Conservatory may begin their professional
or teaching careers or continue to study at a university in Czech
or abroad.
The number of students has been in the region of 550 for a long
time. There are about 220 teachers many of whom are brilliant
artists who in addition to their professional activities work at the
school part time. Since 1993 the Prague Conservatory also offers
paid courses in each field of study (particularly for international
students) and preparation courses for entrance examinations.
The Prague Conser vator y has its own symphony orchestra and
string orchestra and also a number of chamber ensembles of various
structures. The school also has a student theatre – DIK. About 200
public concerts (chamber, alumni and orchestral) and 40 theatrical performances (drama, musical and opera) are held every year.
The school residing in three buildings in the Prague centre offers
an exquisite creative atmosphere which is amplified by energetic
cultural life of the Czech capital. Prague is the residential city for
many international music and theatre festivals. The conservatory is
next door to the Neo-renaissance building of Rudolfinum – the seat
of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. The historical building of the
National Theatre is also not far from the school. The conservatory
students live for six years in an inspiring cultural centre and have
myriad opportunities to become familiar with the art of the top Czech
and international artists and artistic ensembles.
The period between 2008 and 2011 in which the school is celebrating the 200 th anniversary of its founding and opening, will be full of
outstanding concerts and performances. A bulletin on the past and
present of the Prague Conservatory will be published. A television
film about the school is being shot. A touring exhibition about the
two-century history of the school will be in circulation throughout the
country and Europe. In 2011 the Prague Conservatory will experience the opening of the new concert hall and its own theatre stage.
On the occasion of the anniversary the school will be cooperating
more intensively with important cultural institutions, such as the
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra (FOK),
National Theatre, and in the media sphere with Czech T V, Czech
Radio, and magazines Hudební rozhledy and Harmonie.
The Main Conservatory
Building on Na Rejdišti
0
th
Anniversary of the Prague Conservatory
PRAGUE CONSERVATORY DEPARTMENTS
COMPOSITION
Department Head Mgr. Otomar Kvěch
CONDUCTING
Department Head Mgr. Miriam Němcová
PIANO
Department Head MgA. Milan Langer
INSTRUMENTAL COACHING
Section Head Miroslava Trnková
MUSICAL THEORY
Section Head MgA. Petr Čech
EDUCATION THEORY AND PRACTICE
Section Head PhDr. Jarmila Kotůlková
HUMANITIES
Section Head PhDr. Ivo Bartoš
ORGAN
Department Head Prof. Jan Hora
PRAGUE CONSERVATORY SCHOOL BOARD
SINGING
Department Head Jitka Soběhartová
STRINGS
Department Head MgA. Karel Doležal
WOODWINDS
Department Head Mgr. Miroslav Lopuchovský
BRASSES
Department Head Mgr. Bedřich Tylšar
The school board of the Prague Conservatory is an important body
through which the students, their parents, teachers, and representatives can have their share in administration of the school. The school
board was established by the resolution of the Prague City Council
in the spring of 2005. It has six members: two city representatives, two students and two teachers. It expresses its opinion of the
conceptual intentions of the school development, approves annual
statements, makes proposals and observations to school operation
and facilitates its development. The head of the school board is Pavel
Bém, the Mayor of the City of Prague.
PERCUSSIONS
Department Head Pavel Razím
GUITAR
Department Head Mgr. Václav Kučera
ACCORDION
Department Head Mgr. Ladislav Horák
MUSICAL THEATRE
Department Head Eva Vaňková-Vosková
POPULAR MUSIC
Department Head Lída Nopová
OBLIGATORY PIANO
Section Head Karel Prokop
The Chamber Concert Hall in the Pálffy Palace
0
th
Anniversary of the Prague Conservatory
THE PÁLFFY PALACE
PRAGUE CONSERVATORY ORCHESTRAS
The Pálffy Palace was acquired by the Prague Conservatory in 1992
as a substitute for Rudolfi num. The building built at the turn of the
17th and 18th centuries is situated in the historic atmosphere of Lesser
Town. Apart from the archive and library there are classrooms for
percussions, accordion, guitar, obligatory piano and other departments of the school. A part of the building is a chamber concert
hall seating 100 and is used for chamber and alumni concerts.
On the second floor next to the hall there is a public restaurant
and in the mezzanine there is a bistro for teachers and students.
In the summer months, the terrace offers a fine setting with the vista
of Lesser Town palaces and Prague Castle gardens.
The symphony orchestra of the Prague Conservatory was established shortly after the foundation of the school. Incidentally, in April
1808 the proclamation of the school foundation emphasized education of orchestra players as the primary objective of the newly
founded institution. The orchestra was first introduced to the public
at three concerts held in the spring of 1815. For several following decades the orchestra played a significant role in Prague’s
concer t life. In March 1827, for the first time in Bohemia, the
orchestra performed Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven.
The orchestra accompanied several famous concert artists (Franz
Liszt, Ferdinand Laub, Ole Bull, Clara Schumann, Hans von Bülow,
etc.). In the second half of the 19 th centur y, the orchestra presented pieces of new musical movements by F. Liszt, H. Berlioz,
R. Wagner, G. Mayerber and others. In the spring of 1896, the
orchestra presented the premiere of three of A. Dvořák’s symphonic
poems: The Water Goblin, The Noon Witch, and the Golden
Spinning Wheel. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the orchestra worked under the headmasters, and later on the orchestra was
led by a number of respected composers and conductors. Today,
it is formed by students of the 4 th, 5 th and 6 th year of study. Since
1994, the orchestra has been led by Miriam Němcová. The orchestra rehearses and performs regularly. In Prague it has generally
3 to 4 public concerts per year. In addition to that, the orchestra
made several international tours during the last decade. It performed
for example in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and England.
In May 2007 the orchestra collaborated with a world-famous French
conductor Serge Baudo. One of the appreciated accomplishments
for the orchestra and its conductor was winning for three times
in the Concerto Bohemia contest organized by Czech Radio.
The Pálffy Palace
PRAGUE CONSERVATORY ARCHIVE AND LIBRARY
The Prague Conservatory archive is one of the most abundant of its
kind in Central Europe. It contains materials from the 19 th century
but also unique documents originating from earlier periods, such
as hymnals from the turn of the 16 th and 17 th centuries and scores
from the 18 th century. The archive is available to and used by both
national and foreign researchers. The archive also contains a precious collection of letters of mostly well-known persons (Dvořák,
Janáček, Kubelík, Wagner, Liszt, Spohr and others). The library
serves the school as an important source of music materials, audio
recordings and historical and biographical publications. In 2006,
the library acquired a status of the public library and was offi cially
named the Prague Conservatory Library – specialized library. Within
the school the library operates as an independent organizational unit.
Prague Conservatory Symphony Orchestra
Conductor – Miriam Němcová
0
th
Anniversary of the Prague Conservatory
The string orchestra, currently led by Tomáš Koutník, is made up
from students of the 3 rd and 4 th year of study. Apart from regular
concerts held in Prague, the orchestra represented the conservatory in the past years at several concerts and festivals abroad, e. g.
in Tours and Marseille (France), Troy (Turkey), Lyon, Lübeck, and
in 2005 at the Czech music festival in Cholet (France). The most
remarkable success of the orchestra is without a question the title
“Absolute winner” which it was awarded five times in the competition “Concerto Bohemia” organized by Czech Radio in 1995, 1996,
1998, 2003 and 2005.
PRAGUE CONSERVATORY THEATRE (DIK)
The theatre studio is intended for students of the 5 th and 6 th year
of study of the music-drama field as a part of stage practice. The
students rehearse and perform their annual and alumni productions and use everything that they have learned during the course
of their studies. All theatrical productions are formed by students
in cooperation with the professional stage team comprised of
director, designer, choreographer, music composer and teacher
of onstage speech and singing. DIK introduces its performances
on Mondays at the stage of Žižkov Theatre. Generally 4 premieres
are introduced every year. DIK plays every year around 30 performances in Prague and other performances are played at various festivals and out-of-Prague scenes.
String orchestra
The school also has a brass ensemble led by Mr. Bedřich Tylšar.
The brass ensemble represented the conservatory and Czech music
culture in general at the World’s Fair EXPO 2006 in Aichi, Japan.
Sarah Kane – 4.48 Psychosis, DIK performance
In addition to the music-drama department, both the singing and
popular singing departments produce stage performances every year.
Brass Ensemble
L. Janacek – The Cunning Little Vixen, Opera Performance
0
th
Anniversary of the Prague Conservatory
PRAGUE CONSERVATORY ADDRESS BOOK
www.prgcons.cz
MAIN BUILDING
Na Rejdišti 1, 110 00 Prague 1
e-mail: [email protected]
phone: (+420) 222 327 206
fax: (+420) 222 326 406
Director
MgA. Pavel Trojan
phone: (+420) 222 319 102
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – The Little Prince, the Musical
Chamber music is compulsory for all 4 th, 5 th and 6 th year students
of instrumental subjects. Alongside major subjects and orchestral
music it is a key study discipline. Since each ensemble is formed
by students of various departments, it is organized as an interdisciplinary study. Both annual exams and public performances are
planned together. Teaching of style interpretation of baroque music
and music of the second half of the 20th century is a part of chamber
music education.
Doc. Mgr. Eduard Douša, Ph. D.
studies co-ordination
phone: (+420) 222 326 406
e-mail: [email protected]
Mgr. Ladislav Horák
personnel, public relations, fundraising
phone: (+420) 222 325 795
e-mail: [email protected]
THE PÁLFFY PALACE
Valdštejnská 14, 110 00 Prague 1
phone: (+420) 257 535 199
PRAGUE CONSERVATORY ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY
Michaela Hejlová (Head librarian)
phone: (+420) 257 535 432
e-mail: [email protected]
A Concert in the Suk Hall of Rudolfinum
MUSICAL THEATRE /POPULAR MUSIC BUILDING
Křižovnická 7, 110 00 Prague 1
phone: (+420) 222 320 987, 222 320 530
Copyright © Pražská konzervatoř 2010, Graphics, DTP: VIG Design s. r. o
CHAMBER MUSIC
Deputy Directors
MgA. Aleš Kaňka
Performing activities, international relations, foreign students
phone: (+420) 222 325 395
e-mail: [email protected]