Academy of Prague

The Conservatory of Prague (in Czech: Pražská konservatoř , in the past Conservatory National of Music, Dance, and Dramatic arts of Prague ) is one of the oldest academies of Europe. It was founded in 1808 and with accommodated its first pupils in 1811. In the current education system, it is about an establishment of secondary studies located in the Palais Pálffy with Malá Strana, and directed by Mgr Pavel Trojan.

History of the academy

Birth of the establishment

The establishment was officially founded in 1808, on the initiative of the aristocracy and the Bourgeoisie thinking that Prague was to obtain a Orchestre of quality.

Because of the Napoleonean Wars, the effective opening of its doors took place only the April 24th 1811, with the Monastère Saint-Gilles of Prague, under the direction of Friedrich Dionysius Weber. The teaching of the academy is free.

The visit of Hector Berlioz

In 1845 - 1846, Hector Berlioz goes to Prague at the time of its Second voyage in Germany . It dedicates to Prague the three last of the six letters addressed to Humbert Ferrand and constituting her memories of this voyage. The fifth letter is especially dedicated to the academy, directed by Kittl at that time, and which will make him say inter alia things:

There is more report/ratio with the academies: that of Prague, about which I have to speak especially here, is directed by a type-setter of talent full with love for its art, credit, burning, untiring, severe in the occasion, prodigal of praises when they are deserved… and young person. Such is Mr. Kittl. One could easily have found some heavy mediocrity devoted by the years, because there is in Bohemia like elsewhere, and to entrust the task to him to paralyze little by little the movement of the music in Prague. Not whole; one made the opposite, one took Mr. Kittl, old thirty-five years, and the music lives in Prague, and it is driven and it grows. It is necessary obviously that there was some giddiness in the spirit of the members of the committee which made a similar choice, or which this committee was made up exclusively of people of heart and esprit.

Berlioz also underlines qualities of this academy which it just places after that of Paris, among those which are known for him. He still greets this success, made more honourable by the difference in means existing between these establishments.

He will add finally, with regard to the professors of the establishment:

Among the professors who teach under the direction of Mr. Kittl, I will quote especially Misters Mildner and Gordigiani. The first, violonist skilful, who also fills, I already said it, the functions in concert-meister and of solo violin to the theater of Prague, a considerable number of good pupils produced. The second, who for a long time has the reputation of one of the best Masters of song sent to Germany by the Italy, is moreover a type-setter of merit. I know of him a Stabat with two choruses of a very-beautiful style, and an opera, Consuelo , of which he wrote the words and the music, remarkable by the naturalness of the melodies, and an elegant sobriety of orchestration, of which one finds few aujourd'hui. examples well

Transfer to Rudolfinum

In the years 1880, the academy is seen transferred to the Rudolfinum. The Violoniste Anton Benewitz takes the direction then of it.

The Dvořák period

In 1891, Antonín Dvořák takes the responsability for the Composition department, before being in its directing turn of the establishment, of 1901 and until its death in 1904. Among his students, one finds Vítězslav Novák, or Josef Suk. This last becomes teaching academy then Recteur.

Inter-war period

In 1918, the academy must leave the Rudolfinum and is transferred in a monastery Benedictine. At this point in time a section Theater and Ballet is open.

The Second world war

During the Occupation Nazi, the academy is directed by Václav Holzknecht.

After the Second world war

After the Second world war, the professors and l´étudiants d´" School magistrale" (classes higher than the academy) leave the academy to found the Czech Académie of the musical arts.

Nowadays

Nowadays, the buildings of the academy are distributed between three addresses. The building known under the name of Na Rejdišti , with Staré Město shelters the administrative office and of the classrooms. The Palate Pálffy, in Malá Strana, shelters the rich person files musical (of which manuscripts of Mozart, etc), classrooms and a splendid concert hall located in the old ballroom of the counts Pálffy. Lastly, another appendix is located in Staré Město, shelters as for it the popular courses of music.

It is directed by Mgr Pavel Trojan. The instrumental courses relate in particular to the Guitare, the Piano, the Orgue, the Chant. A popular department Musique opened its doors in 1996. Lastly, a department dedicated to the training of the future teachers was also created. All these courses last six year of studies sanctioned by an examination, and comprise a joint base of general studies and languages. The departments Direction of orchestra, composition, Dance and trade of Acteur as for separated from the academy to gather within the Czech Académie of the musical arts (AMU).

Musicians of reputation having studied or taught with the academy of Prague

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