The International Festival Janáček Brno is ranked among one of recently established cultural events which try to fulfill the empty space on the Czech festival menu. The main idea is to promote Brno, make the town a cultural centre on the festival map of Europe, similarly as it is for instance in the relationship of Mozart – Salzburg or Wagner – Bayreuth, and thus to use the potential which the Janáček brand brings to Brno. The festival is concepted as bienale since two-year period provides the organizers a sufficient preparation without taking the risk of being forgotten. The dramaturgy of the festival is based mainly on presentation of Leoš Janáček’s work with emphasis on stage pieces.
Janáček Brno festival may be perceived as a unique project which is trying to import Janáček as the world famous composer into the place where he spent the most of his life and created an essential part of his artwork. The festival also represents a way how to present Janáček proudly enough, since Brno still owes him a lot. Moreover, it is a new chance to entice people to visit the place fabled by Janáček’s genius loci, and thus to revive tourism in Brno.
The second season of Janáček Brno is held between November 17th and 28th, 2010. While the main goal of the first season for the festival was to establish its place in the Czech festival culture, the intention of the upcoming volume is to satisfy the huge interest in Leoš Janáček and to focus on import of foreign visitors, which is connected with extension of the dramaturgy including extraordinary projects. Besides the fact that the program will implicate a wide range of original matinees, the main innovation is represented by dramatic and ballet performances supplied by original student project.