It was rather a pure coincidence that I discovered the name of Janáček around the time I started to live in the town of Brno where he lived in most of his life. Since then, I have read a couple of books about him, corresponded with the translator (professor) of the books, visited his home town of Hukvaldy and the house he finally managed to bring his beloved Kamila to before he passed away, and saw his opera called Jenůfa. I feel like I know this brilliant composer, who was in love with the idea of loving and being loved by women. And...finally, I had a chance to visit the house in Brno where Janáček lived with his wife Zdenka from 1910 to 1928 until he took off to his summer house in Hukvaldy spending his last 10 days or so with his beloved Kamila Stösslová and one of her sons.
The house is located right next to a music school where he also taught. The house is small, but was equipped with then-modern facilities such as running water and electric power, and most of all it had a good size of front garden where Janáček enjoyed planting different trees and flowers. It definitely was my type of house - big garden, small house, and big windows to enjoy the view of the garden (ah!! Just remembered a song by one of the Japanese singers back in the 70's, which perfectly depicts this Janáček's house! Listen here).
The house exhibits some Janáček manuscripts, pictures, etc. The wonderful thing is that you get to look at his workplace with the actual piano he used to compose many of his successful operas.
Opening hours:
Tuesdays and Friday: 10-noon and 1-5pm
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 10-noon and 1-6pm
Saturdays: 11am to 5pm
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