27.01.2000

Mila Semetá Projekt of the ZDENEK FIBICH SOCIETY – branch of the CZECH MUSIC SOCIETY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMEMORATION OF ZDENEK FIBICH IN 2000 In the year 2000, the Czech and international culture public will commemorate the double anniversary (150 years from the birth and 100 years from the death) of Zdenek Fibich, one of well known founders of Czech modern music of the nineteenth century. His significance, however, is not limited to the Czech music only, but it also means an important contribution to the world music: Zdenek Fibich is the founder of scenic melodrama – play with musical accompaniment. Unlike the mono- or duodramas of his predecessors, based on monologues, Fibich in his great trilogy Hippodamia (Courting of Pelops, The Conciliation of Tantalos, Hippodamia´s Death) uses the dramatic dialogue on the level of shakespearian dramas. As a cycle of three full evening performances it can be compared to the Wagner´s Ring of the Nibelungs. Because Zdenek Fibich composed also a number of outstanding concert melodramas, the ZDENEK FIBICH SOCIETTY will organize the I. Biennial International Contest of Concert Melodrama Interpretation in Prague in 2000, the very first in the world. At the same time, several events will take place under the auspicies of the Ministry of Culture and the Mayor of Prague: an international Conference on Fibich with the sections History and Theory of Melodrama and Music in "Art Nouiveau" (Jugendstil), a Festival of Fibich´s Music, an exhibition of Z.F. autographs, an edition of the Thematic Catalogue, a new edition of his monograph etc.. The organizers of the Zdenek Fibich Anniversary Celebrations intend to enrole the Commemoration of Zdenek Fibich among the UNESCO Jubilee 2000.