"New, truly realist operas" Activities of the opera team of the Brno branch of the Union of Czechoslovak Composers 1949 - 1954
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | On the basis of a change in organizational rules, the opera team of the Brno branch of the Union of Czechoslovak Composers commenced its activities on 1st January 1952 under the leadership of Josef Burjanek and the organizational secretary Ctirad Kohoutek. The opera team was a special constituent part of the composer's section which had been established by the decision of the branch committee at a meeting that had been held on 5th November 1951 but the first meeting took place as late as in January 1952. A proven composer was at the head of the creative team and one young composer always cooperated with him as a secretary. The mission of the team was to help those engaged in creative activities with the revision of operas or the creation of new works. "These creative teams, consisting of a composer, conductor, singers, musicians, etc. are fundamentally better at ensuring the creative efforts of a composer, which often require a period of several months or even years, are successful." From 1949, we can observe statements in the period press and in internal and public discussions regarding the necessity of the creation of a new, contemporary opera, an opera which would, in the spirit of Smetana´s legacy, stand in the front lines as a depiction of the happy building of socialism. However, only a few "white plaster statues" were created; the efforts to build an opera “memorial” to monstrosity weren't successful. |
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