Brno became the centre of the music world in the autumn when it hosted the 9th prestigious Janáček International Opera and Music Festival Brno from 1 to 24 November. With more than 50 productions to choose from, the festival offered an extraordinary showcase of opera and concert works over a period of 24 days focusing on the celebration of the Czech musical tradition in the Year of Czech Music through the works of Leoš Janáček and other Czech composers. The festival, which has established a distinguished international reputation, attracted widespread attention from Czech and foreign audiences, which was reflected in sold-out venues and a positive audience response. However, the festival is not quite over yet; its ’echoes’ can still be heard on 3 and 4 December with performances of The excursions of Mr. Brouček by the ensemble at the National Theatre Brno’s Janáček Opera.

The excursions of Mr. Brouček

The charlatan

’There is no doubt that Brno is a European cultural metropolis that cannot be ignored thanks to the evolution of Leoš Janáček’s legacy. (…) I am proud that our productions can hold their own effortlessly in a first-rate European context.’ – Martin Glaser, Director of National Theatre Brno.

The festival was officially opened by a new production of The excursions of Mr. Brouček by the ensemble at the Janáček Opera directed by Robert Carsen. ’The co-production with the Berlin State Opera and the Teatro Real Madrid opened up a successful path to the world for one of Janáček’s lesser-known operatic works. I consider the staging of productions by leading world artists Robert Carsen and Claus Guth to be an absolutely extraordinary event on the domestic stage, as was the guest performance by the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin in the production of The Makropulos affair. The Czech opera scene also offered a controversial staging of Janáček’s work with a new production of Jenůfa by the Moravian Theatre Olomouc.’ – Jiří Heřman, Artistic Director of the Janáček Brno Festival.

Jenůfa

The Makropulos affair

’The festival also commemorated the works of other Czech composers in the context of the celebrations of the Year of Czech Music. The opera The charlatan by Janáček’s pupil Pavel Haas returned to the Mahen Theatre after an absence of almost 90 years, and the festival programme also offered performances by the young generation of artists put together by the Brno Conservatory and a trio of world opera premieres by students at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts (JAMU). The ceremonial finale also commemorated the hundredth anniversary of Janáček’s The cunning little vixen.’ – Patricie Částková, dramaturg of the festival’s opera series.

In addition to opera performances, visitors also had the opportunity of attending a number of concerts – both orchestral and chamber recitals – held at venues all over Brno. ’The highlights of the orchestral series included a concert by the Bamberger Symphoniker and Staatskapelle Berlin with Jakub Hrůša. Among the chamber concerts, the performance by tenor Nicky Spence, pianist Lada Valešová and the Navarra String Quartet featuring song cycles by Pavel Haas received a tremendous response. The sold-out Mahen Theatre showed its appreciation for the ’Evening songs’ performed by Adam Plachetka and pianist David Švec and the violin recital by Jan Špaček accompanied by Miroslav Sekera,’ adds Jiří Zahrádka, dramaturg for the festival’s concert series. The Pavel Haas Quartet, a traditional guest at the festival, also gave unique concerts during the festival, while the National Theatre Brno’s Janáček Opera Orchestra gave a symphony concert with violinist Jan Mráček and conductor Robert Kružík.

The cunning little vixen

The festival also prepared an extensive accompanying programme, including exhibitions at theatre buildings and other venues and traditional introductions before performances and discussions after performances as well as several events for children and jazz evenings. Visitors could also take a closer look at Janáček’s life thanks to a number of special excursions and other accompanying events organised by the Brno Tourist Information Centre.

The 10th jubilee Janáček Brno Festival is to be held from 15 October to 17 November 2026. The programme for the festival is to be published in November 2025. Complete information about the festival can be found on the website www.janacek-brno.com.

photo: Marek Olbrzymek

(source: Janáček Festival, Brno)