Leoš Janáček's male choirs
Leoš Janáček: Spondeo ac polliceor!
In 1924, the Academic Senate of Masaryk University decided to award the first ever honorary doctorate, which was awarded to Leoš Janáček. The graduation ceremony took place in the hall of the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University on January 28, 1925. It was certainly the greatest gift for the composer on his seventies, of which he was extremely proud, and until the end of his life he always signed himself as Dr.Ph. Leoš Janacek. We will commemorate this important act in the authentic environment of the hall of the Faculty of Arts, which, although it has changed somewhat since then, still carries a certain genia loci. Janáček delivered the ceremonial speech Spondeo ac polliceor when he was awarded his doctorate! On the occasion of commemorating the approaching 100th anniversary of this solemn act, Janáček's speech will be delivered by the composer Petr Kotík, who has lived in New York for many years and is an unmissable figure in the international context. Janáček's male choirs will be performed by the Choral Association of Moravian Teachers, for whom Janáček composed more than once.
Jiří Zahrádek
