The Besední House in Brno is celebrating 150 years, the Philharmonic has prepared a festival for the anniversary

Brno - The Besední dům, which houses the Brno Philharmonic, is celebrating 150 years since its grand opening this year. In 1873, it became a cultural and social stronghold for Czech patriots in what was then predominantly a German center in Brno. The Philharmonic has prepared a festival for the anniversary, starting this evening and lasting for 14 days. There will be concerts inspired by programs from 150 years ago, as well as an exhibition, a conference, and tours of the building, said Philharmonic spokesperson Kateřina Konečná.

Today's opening celebration will be heralded at 4:30 PM with choral singing from the balcony of the Besední dům. Half an hour later, the courtyard and foyer will be filled with the choirs Beseda brněnská and Láska opravdivá. "There will be period costumes, bread with salt, and falcons, which are inseparably linked to the history of the building,” stated Philharmonic director Marie Kučerová.

The festival concerts do not replicate historical models in detail but are significantly inspired by them. Music by Bedřich Smetana and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be performed, as well as a combination of classical and folk music, which is a reference to Leoš Janáček’s attempt to bring Horňácky folklore to the stage of the Besední dům.

During the celebrations, interested visitors can view the original architectural plans by Theophilus von Hansen, according to which the Besední dům was built. The exhibition is held in the neighboring Pražák Palace of the Moravian Gallery, which was also designed by Hansen. Both buildings represent the pinnacle of his architectural work in Brno.

"They were built on the site of city walls that were demolished after the Napoleonic Wars. At the urging of Emperor Franz Joseph I, a circular boulevard with representative buildings connecting the city with its suburbs was created in Vienna instead. Brno quickly followed this example, borrowing the same urban planning principle and the same architects from Vienna," said exhibition curator Rostislav Koryčánek. The opening will take place on May 4 at 5:00 PM in the joined courtyards. A light sculpture, Point, designed by visual artist Pavel Korbička for the celebrations, will also be illuminated during the event.

"It consists of two light objects. The first is a turquoise circle embedded in the entrance gate leading from Besední Street. The shape of the circle speaks to the rich cultural history of the Besední dům. The counterpoint to the circle is a vertically bright red structure that passes through the crown of a tree in the courtyard. The line striving towards the sky aims for the future,” described Korbička. In addition to the original designs by Hansen, people can also view the original sculptures from the roof of the Besední dům, which are otherwise stored in its basement but will adorn the courtyard for a few days.