Mailbox
Today in Mailbox: Response from a listener in Argentina, how to subscribe to Radio Prague's e-mail newsletter, details about our monthly competition as well as answers to last month's question. Listeners/readers quoted: Steven Thoresdale, Jean McDonald, Valery Lugovski, Li Ming, Deblina Biswas, Paul R Peacock, Colin Law, Mary Lou Krenek, Hans Verner Lollike.
“I am a daily listener to your program both here in Buenos Aires as well as when I am in Prague. I have lived in Prague for 22 years. I would like to comment on today's program with the Iranian-born dramatist, Azadei Mohammedi. I lived three years in communist Poland from 1979–1981 and could totally relate with the sentiments. During that time and prior, I was also a frequent visitor to Czechoslovakia. However, I am also a visitor to today's Iran where I spend one month annually for the past few years, thus understanding the Iranian views also.”
Jean McDonald from Canada sent us a query:
“Do you have newsletters I can subscribe to? I have been unable to locate any link. I used to listen to Radio Prague on the CBC overnight service but it is no longer available. You have a very interesting website.”
Thank you for your interest. You can subscribe to our daily e-mail bulletins by filling out a form on our website www.radio.cz/en/subscribe.
In his response to last month’s listeners’ competition, Valery Lugovski from Belarus made this comment:
“Judging by your collection of letters, the contestants are not limited to a brief response to the riddle of the month, and are trying to find additional facts about each of the new heroes of your program and trying to find a new way of looking at the Czech Republic. It is possible that you ever tell us more about the whole geography of your listeners, the activity of participating countries, the average number of your voluntary correspondents?”
Which brings us to the mystery man from last month’s quiz question. And he’s not Ludwig van Beethoven as some of you suggested but rather the person from this following answer from Li Ming from China:
“The person you are looking for this month is Leopold Jansa, who was an excellent 19th-century composer and violin virtuoso. He was sought after as a principal, teacher and composer in Vienna and played an important role in educating the public and several generations of musicians.”
Paul R Peacock from Australia sent us this answer:
“Leopold Jansa is a violinist and composer born 1795 in Ústí and Orlicí, Bohemia. As a child he began violin lessons and when he reached his 20s he took up composition lessons eventually becoming a member of the Braunschweig Orchestra in 1823, the following year he joined the Vienna Court Orchestra. Later in life he moved to London where he became a music teacher until 1868 when he returned to Vienna and resumed his previous duties in 1871. But alas, nearly four years later he passed away on 25 January 1875 at the age of 79.”
Our regular contributor Deblina Biswas from the Indian state of West Bengal wrote to us on the anniversary of Jansa’s birthday, on March 23rd:
“His name was Leopold Jansa. He was born on this day exactly 220 years ago, i.e. on 23rd March 1795, in Wildenschwert, Austria-Hungary, which is today Ústí nad Orlicí, a textile town and seat of the Cotton Researching institute and situated within the Pardubice Region of Eastern Bohemia in the Czech Republic.”
“Leopold learnt piano, violin and organ from Jan Jahoda who was a prominent organist, choirmaster and music teacher in Ústí nad Orlicí. He graduated from high school in Brno and on his father’s advice he entered law school in Vienna in 1817, but he soon gave up his law studies and returned to music and the violin which he had played from childhood. In 1824 he became a member of the Chamber Music group at the home of the Earl of Brunswick and later joined the Imperial Court Orchestra.
“By 1834 Leopold had become conductor of music at the University of Vienna. His most famous pupil was Wilma Neruda (Lady Hallé). In 1845, her father took his young family to Vienna in order to take advantage of the cultural and educational opportunities that the capital had to offer. Leopold Jansa, who by then had a reputation as an eminent violinist, accepted the 8 year old Wilma as a pupil and she made excellent progress under his tutelage. In 1849 Leopold lost his position at the Vienna University as a result of his assisting at a concert in London for the benefit of Hungarian refugees. He stayed in London where he taught violin and piano until he was permitted to return to Vienna in 1869.
“Leopold Jansa is recognised as a prolific composer who became renowned for his technical expertise. He last appeared in Vienna in 1871 at the age of 77 and he died there on 25 January 1875.”
Mary Lou Krenek is our regular listener from Texas:
“He was a member of the Braunschweig Orchestra in 1823 and in 1824, he joined the Vienna Court Orchestra. In 1834, he became music director and professor at the University of Vienna. From 1834 to 1850, he participated in various string quartets. From 1845 to 1848, he directed quartet soirees at the hall of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde. In 1847-48, he taught violin at the Vienna Conservatory.
“He lost his position in Vienna as a result of his participation in a London concert in favor of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. He stayed in London as a music teacher until 1868 when he was amnestied and returned to Vienna. He resumed his previous duties in 1871. Among his students were Wilma Neruda and Karl Goldmark.”
The following answer came from Hans Verner Lollike from Denmark:
“He was part of the old story. His father wanted him to have a career and to study law in Vienna, but since he had had violin lessons as a child, he wanted to study music – to play and compose. That is what he did, and was in his time successful in Vienna, and in Braunschweig in Germany, where he played in an orchestra.
Valery Lugovski from Belarus writes:
“I found your hero, got acquainted with the signs of his time. I willingly and gladly listened to the sound of some of his musical compositions, such as, for example, Concertino in D Major Op. 54.
“He earned a reputation as the best Viennese violinist. In 1823 he became a musician in the chapel of the Hungarian Earl. After a year Leopold Jansa became a member of the imperial chapel at the Vienna Court Opera, and in 1834 was appointed as Director of Music and professor of violin at the Vienna university. However in 1850 he lost these posts, as during a concert tour, he performed in London for Hungarian emigrants. The next time he lived in London and devoted himself to teaching the violin and piano. Only in 1869 was he allowed to return to Vienna and was given a lifetime pension.
“As a violinist he excelled with extraordinary technical skill and soulful renditions. Leopold Jansa was also a very prolific composer.”
Thank you very much indeed for your answers and this month our prize goes to Paul R Peacock from Australia. Congratulations! Of course, our monthly quiz continues.
This time we want to know the name of the German-language author, born in 1889 in the West Bohemian town of Karlovy Vary, who was one of the important figures behind the Dada movement. He was killed, along with his wife, in a Nazi death camp in 1942.
Please send us your answers by May 13th to [email protected]. That is also the address for your questions, comments and reception reports. You are also welcome to leave your comments on our Facebook page. Until next time thanks for listening and take care.
