14 Stadion Hall

KOUNICOVA 20

A summer stadium was built on Kounicova street in 1922 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Sokol gymnastics association. One year later a pavilion was constructed nearby with a large hall which functioned as a multifunctional space principally for the Brno trade fairs, though from the start it was also used for concerts. Shortly after it was opened, Wilhelm Sauer's grand organ from 1885 was installed here, which had originally been housed in the concert hall of Prague's Rudolfinum. It was here that the premiere of Janáček's Glagolitic Mass was given on 5 December 1927. When it was decided to build the trade fair in Pisárky, the exhibition pavilion was given to the Sokol, which decided to build a new gym nearby with meeting room facilities. Therefore, soon after the premiere of the Glagolitic Mass the original hall was completely surrounded by new buildings, though at the start of the 21st century the interior of the hall had hardly changed, including the original organ.

Leoš Janáček at the Luhačovice spas, where he worked on the Glagolitic Mass (1926) © Moravian Museum

The old Slavonic mass? Well, you know what they wrote about me - the old believer. But that just angered me and I said to them, "So young man, first of all I'm not an old man and a believer - not yet, not yet. When I'm convinced. [...] Here I wanted to capture faith in the certainty of a nation, not based on religion, but on a strong morality which takes God as its witness.

From an interview with Leoš Janáček (Literární svět I, 8. 3. 1928)

The exhibition pavilion, today's Stadion Hall, view from the playfield (1927) © archive JZ

Brno Beseda and the orchestra of the National Theatre in Brno with the conductor Jaroslav Kvapil in the Stadion Hall in 1928 © Moravian Museum

Leoš Janáček in front of his house in Brno, with his dog Čipera (1926) © Moravian Museum

Janáček's manuscript for the Glagolitic Mass © Moravian Museum

Speech melody: Leoš Janáček noted on 11. 8. 1924: A group of visitors to the trade fair on Kounicova street at midday. Probably strangers to Brno. One of the lads who wasn't afraid of getting lost said, "We've got mouths, don't we?" © Moravian Museum

Speech melody: Leoš Janáček noted at the Stadion on 5. 11. 1925: A child of 5–6 arguing with this mother, "Don't sat that, Mum!" And squirmed. © Moravian Museum

Concert programme for 5. 12. 1927, which included the world premiere of the Glagolitic Mass © Moravian Museum

Postcard addressed to Ludvík Kundera, who after the premiere of the Glagolitic Mass had written a review with the statement "Janáček the old man, the strong believer". Janáček wrote back to him, "None of this old man or believer, young man! Regards, Drph Leoš Janáček, Prague 28/II 1928." © Moravian Museum