Břetislav Bakala
Břetislav Bakala (born February 12, 1897 in Freistadt ; † April 1, 1958 in Brno ) was a Czech conductor , choirmaster and composer .
Life
Bakala, the son of a teacher couple, acquired his basic musical knowledge from the organ player Josef Doležal. He attended grammar school in Kremsier and was taught by Leoš Janáček at the Brno Organ School from 1912 to 1915 . After the First World War he began his studies at the State Conservatory in Brno. He passed the successful exams again with Janáček. From 1920 to 1925 he worked as a répétiteur and later as conductor of the opera of the National Theater in Brno. From his teacher and sponsor František Neumann he was staged by Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák's operas and ballets by Bohuslav Martinů and Leoš Janáček.
From 1925 to 1926 he was an organist in the Philadelphia Cathedral . On his return he performed as a conductor and pianist of the Czechoslovak Radio Orchestra in Brno. In 1936 he took the position of choirmaster of the Vachs Choir , which he held for 22 years. In 1937 he was appointed head of the radio station's music department. On January 1, 1956, Bakala was appointed director and chief conductor of the radio orchestra.
Works
Bakala guaranteed a high artistic level. During his teaching activities at the Janáček Academy, he devoted himself to the musical arts, where he trained numerous conductors. As a pianist he accompanied his wife Marie Bakalová , an excellent concert and opera singer. As an admirer of Leoš Janáček, he was the first to perform some of his works (1921 Diary of a Missing Person , 1930 Opera From a House of the Dead ). He published numerous arrangements of Moravian songs and choirs.
Honors
Břetislav Bakala was awarded the title of Honored Artist in 1954.
Pupil of Břetislav Bakala
- Jaroslav Opěla , Czech conductor
Web links
- Literature and other media by and about Břetislav Bakala in the catalog of the National Library of the Czech Republic
- Works by and about Břetislav Bakala in the catalog of the German National Library
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Bakala, Břetislav |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Czech conductor, choir director and composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 12, 1897 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Free City |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 1, 1958 |
| Place of death | Brno |