The Brno National Theatre will open its new season with its customary open-air concert on the piazzetta in front of the Janáček Theatre this afternoon.
In conjunction with the start of the academic year, there will be several educational activities for the whole family from 3pm to 5:30pm, including Choir School, Conducting School, Ballet School, and Drama School.
The performances begin in earnest at 6pm.
Admission is free.
The event serves as a preview for the upcoming opera, ballet, and dramatic performances that are on tap for the next 10 months.
It will include the choir, the orchestra, and several soloists from the Janáček NdB Opera under the baton of chief conductor Robert Kružík, with his colleagues Ondrej Olos, Jakub Klecker, and Dominik Pernica.
The evening program will include famous music from W. A. Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, Bedřich Smetana, Giacomo Puccini, and Brno’s own Leoš Janáček.
The dancers of the NdB and NdB2 ballet will provide a sneak-peak at their coming attractions. Actors from NdB Drama, Pavel Čeněk Vaculík and Anna Gläsnerová, will serve as presenters.
The afternoon events will include stands with a range of school-themed activities:
Choir School — Learn about all things related to a choir, like how difficult it is to learn your part, what a choirmaster actually does, and which voice group you belong to. Lucie Hlaváčková of the Brno Children’s Choir will have presentations at 3pm, 3:30pm, 4pm, 4:30pm, and 5pm.
Conducting School — Experience what it’s like to be a conductor. What is a score? How is the orchestra conducted? And when does the conductor rest during the opera? Learn from the conductors of Janáček NdB Opera.
Ballet School — In anticipation of the forthcoming new ballet created by NdB artistic director Mário Radačovský, you can experience dance and choreography in a new way: through a mask. You will use gesture and pantomime to tell a story without words. Start times for the experience are 3:15pm, 3:45pm, 4:15pm, and 4:45pm. The Mask, a full-length ballet, will premiere on 25 September.
Drama School — Dramaturg Vít Kořínek will introduce his work and present the titles of the upcoming season. Tomáš David will share his experience working on the iconic role of Hamlet. And Zuzka Černá will discuss the challenges of playing the role of the fateful Maryša. Plus, children can dress up in insect costumes and fly around the park, make their own flat puppet, and create costumes for the inhabitants of the insect kingdom in the art workshop.
Refreshments will be provided by Basta catering.
Mint Market will offer new fashion, designer jewelry, and delicacies from local creators from 11am to 8pm.
The Brno National Theatre presents opera, ballet, and theatrical performances. Click here for the schedule and more information.
