UNVEILING OF PLAQUE AND EXHIBITION OPENING COMMEMORATING VÁCLAV TALICH

Designer: Robert Žvokelj

Sculptor: Metod Frlic

Welcome Speech: Jernej Weiss

THE CONDUCTOR VÁCLAV TALICH, BEROUN AND THE BOHEMIAN KARST

The exhibition reveals some hitherto more or less hidden connections between the Czech lands and Slovenia. It presents the conductor Václav Talich (1883–1961), the beauties of the Bohemian Karst (Český kras) and its centre, the medieval town of Beroun near Prague, where Talich lived the last years of his life with his wife Vida Prelesnik (1886–1976), a pianist from Ljubljana; both are also buried in Beroun. Václav Talich was one of the greatest Czech conductors of the twentieth century and had close connections with the principal musical institutions in Slovenia. At the invitation of the Glasbena matica music society he worked in Ljubljana from 1908 to 1912 and left important traces in the musical life of the country, particularly in institutions such as the Provincial Theatre (today’s Opera) and the Slovenian Philharmonic. It was under Talich’s direction that the latter performed for the first time under its new name of Slovenska filharmonija, although only for four years.

Beroun celebrated the 750th anniversary of its founding in 2015. It was granted town privileges and the title of royal town by Emperor Charles IV (1316–1378). Despite the town’s turbulent history and numerous military sieges, its centre has maintained much of its historical appearance, with medieval walls and two Gothic towers that served as part of its defences. The Bohemian Karst or Český kras (128 km2) is part of a protected landscape area that bears the same name and is famous for its rich geological sites and fossils. Beautiful countryside, good infrastructure, several well-preserved castles in the area and the fact that Prague is only 30 kilometres away make Beroun and its surroundings an attractive destination. Talich’s Beroun, an international festival of classical music dedicated to the memory of the great conductor, has been held here since 1982.

The exhibition, which includes panels with pictorial material and texts in Slovene, is a joint project by the Municipality of Beroun, the Museum of the Bohemian Karst and the Beroun-based literary organisation Stranou (“Aside”).

Peter Kuhar, co-author of the exhibition