About
The project Smetana200 is an open concept, encompassing events of all kinds, whose aim is to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Bedřich Smetana's birth in 2024. Smetana200 initiates, coordinates, and encourages cooperation among organizers across the cultural sphere, from prestigious musical events to the support of leisure activities and educational programmes.
Smetana200 is a visible trademark through which individual events and outcomes claim allegiance to a legacy fundamental to Czech culture. We are in contact with various cultural institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad in order to ensure that performances of Smetana's works in 2024 are coordinated, and we seek for a new revision of the composer's legacy, which - in the past - was often abused for purposes completely alien to Smetana. We would also like to extend the general understanding of Bedřich Smetana's rich compositional oeuvre beyond only one or two internationally renowned works. Join us!
Mission and objective of the project
The mission of the project is to celebrate Czech culture and musicianship. We perceive this anniversary as a strong impulse to promote Czech culture and to strengthen Czech national identity, both in the Czech Republic and beyond its borders. Get inspired by the key outcomes listed below and include Bedřich Smetana in your project, too.
Our objective is to cover projects across different disciplines and organizers, from pastime activities and educational programmes to the most prestigious music events. We encourage the emergence of extraordinary events and other outcomes, taking place even before 2024. Additionally, we provide all of these activities with media coverage and facilitate their mutual connectedness.
Key outcomes
Before the schedule of 2024 events and outcomes is revealed, take a look at a number of pivotal ones that you can start looking forward to already.
Opera Europa Conference
It is clear that every Czech opera house will stage at least one opera by Smetana in 2024. However, in order to endorse staging his operas abroad, too, we have decided to invite directors of European opera houses to Prague and Litomyšl to an international conference in June 2022 and introduce them to Bedřich Smetana's legacy.
“Proč bychom se netěšili” (“Let Us Rejoice And Be Merry”)
In the spring of 2024, many choirs from all over the Czech Republic will meet in Prague to sing Smetana's best-known choruses together and to inspire each other.
“Proč bychom si netančili” (“Let Us Dance”)
Smetana was not only the founder of Czech national music, but also a renowned dancer, and many dance elements can be found in his music. “Let Us Dance” is an extraordinary national competition open to non-professional contemporary dancers who will create and stage their own choreographies to Bedřich Smetana's polkas.
Popular educational monograph
Czech writer Pavel Kosatík, an author of several monographs on prominent figures of Czech history and culture, is preparing an extensive book whose aim will be to introduce Smetana to the general reading public.
Preparation and publication of concert suites from Smetana operas
Although Smetana's operatic output is extremely rich, the orchestral concert repertoire is limited to a few works only. Following the practice common with other great opera composers, the Czech Philharmonic has therefore decided to expand the possibilities of concert performances of Smetana's works by publishing suites from his operas, surprisingly not performed until today.
Reconstruction of Smetana's birthplace
The largely neglected birthplace of Bedřich Smetana will be revived according to a modern design that respects the original layout and furnishings of the apartment. In addition, new attractive tour content will be prepared for visitors.
Get involved - Call for organizers
Smetana200 is accepting applications from organizers and initiators (from major cultural institutions through associations to individuals) of any project or event related to the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Bedřich Smetana's birth. You can sign up to the Smetana200 brand, by which you will gain media support, while you will support this project in return by employing our logo in your promotion. Sign up via the interactive form here.
Get involvedContact
Do you have any questions? Would you like to get in touch with us? You can either submit your event directly through a dedicated form, or you can contact us via:
bedrich@smetana200.com