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Lužánky Park


LIDICKÁ 50


Lužánky Park was opened at the end of the 18th century and is one of the oldest public parks in Central Europe. In 1855 the  architect Ludwig Förster designed a Neo-Renaissance restaurant in the centre of the park known as the Casino. Many different social events were held here including lectures, exhibitions, concerts and balls. As a child, Janáček performed in public concerts here from 1866 to 1869. At the age of sixty-five, when he moved to the house in the garden of the Organ School on Smetanova street, the composer would go to the park for a walk nearly every day and noted many speech melodies, particularly birdsong. In 1908 there was a plan to build the Czech National Theatre on the corner of Lužánky Park.

The pavilion in Lužánky Park in the 19th century. Today a Centre of leisure time Lužánky © Brno City Archive
The pavilion in Lužánky Park in the 19th century. Today a Centre of leisure time Lužánky © Brno City Archive

I remember a ridiculous scene with the Maestro when we were walking in Lužánky Park one day after a midday rehearsal, discussing The Cunning Little Vixen. A small problem had arisen during the rehearsal - how to present the scene when the vixen drives the badger out of his den so that she can live there herself. Janáček accompanied the words "here's a gift from a lady" with a gesture revealing to all the noonday passers-by how he envisaged the scene. For this scene the vixen changed into a dog-fox so that it might be more graphic.

Memoirs of the director Ota Zítek


Leoš Janáček walking in Lužánky Park (1928) © Moravian Museum
Leoš Janáček walking in Lužánky Park (1928) © Moravian Museum
Leoš Janáček in Lužánky Park with his pupils Břetislav Bakala, František Rybka and Mirko Hanák (1925) © Moravian Museum
Leoš Janáček in Lužánky Park with his pupils Břetislav Bakala, František Rybka and Mirko Hanák (1925) © Moravian Museum
Emil Králík's design for a theatre building at the corner of Lužánky  © Brno City Archive
Emil Králík's design for a theatre building at the corner of Lužánky © Brno City Archive
A caricature of Leoš Janáček by Ondřej Sekora published in Lidové noviny © Moravian Museum
A caricature of Leoš Janáček by Ondřej Sekora published in Lidové noviny © Moravian Museum
Poster for a concert by the Organ School at the Lužánky pavilion (1912) © Moravian Museum
Poster for a concert by the Organ School at the Lužánky pavilion (1912) © Moravian Museum
Poster for a concert by the Organ School at the Lužánky pavilion (1912) © Moravian Museum
Poster for a concert by the Organ School at the Lužánky pavilion (1912) © Moravian Museum
Birdsong melody: Leoš Janáček noted on 9. 5. 1921: From the birdsong in Lužánky Park. The beautiful flute voice of a bird could be heard.  © Moravian Museum
Birdsong melody: Leoš Janáček noted on 9. 5. 1921: From the birdsong in Lužánky Park. The beautiful flute voice of a bird could be heard. © Moravian Museum
Speech melody: Leoš Janáček 119 noted on 9. 6. 1924: At Lužánky Park a soldier asks "What's the time?" He adds "Has anyone got watch?" (in a dialect) When none of the passers-by answer him I say to him, "Well, I can tell you if you want." The soldier smiled at me. © Moravian Museum
Speech melody: Leoš Janáček 119 noted on 9. 6. 1924: At Lužánky Park a soldier asks "What's the time?" He adds "Has anyone got watch?" (in a dialect) When none of the passers-by answer him I say to him, "Well, I can tell you if you want." The soldier smiled at me. © Moravian Museum