Jarmila Novotná: Opera Diva
The Touring Exhibition about the Life of Jarmila Novotná

Only a few weeks after the most famous opera costumes of Jarmila Novotná left the exhibition area of Municipal House in Prague; a new exhibition project focused on this remarkable woman was established. This time, we present The Touring Exhibition about the Life of Jarmila Novotná titled Jarmila Novotná: Opera Diva.

The Exhibition about the Life of Jarmila Novotná is currently for the first time presented in various galleries and exhibition spaces in the Czech Republic. It consists of large pictures documenting the life of this world-known diva. Some of them depict the most famous opera costumes she once wore on world opera stages – costumes that accompanied her to the peak of her career, other original portraits provide a testimony of how irresistibly she looked when she sang her roles in them.

The items from the museum collection of the Association of Chateau Liteň and the diva´s property together with the information about the career of Jarmila Novotná are also part of this exhibition. They are complemented by biographical dates and data about the places of her performances presented – together with the historical context of her life – on an easily readable timeline.

This project is a continuation and a modified version of the unique exhibition of Jarmila Novotná´s original opera costumes rented by the archive of Metropolitan Opera in New York that drew the attention of 13,000 visitors of Municipal House in Prague in fall 2015.

Commented guided tours and discussions about Jarmila Novotná´s life and career provided by interested guests are also part of this exhibition.

The first stop took place at the Museum of Czech Karst in Beroun. The exhibition was open from January 27 until April 30, 2016 (Due to great interest the exhibiton was extended from original deadline April 30, 2016). This town in Central Bohemia was not selected by a chance – it is located only a few kilometers from the beloved home of Jarmila Novotná – the village Liteň. The exposition was also enriched by some of the items from the Museum´s collection and also by artefacts that were rented by the depository of the Chateau Hořovice.

The Association of Chateau Liteň is the organizer of this touring exhibition, and the Museum of Czech Karst was the co-organizer of the first stop. It is the first activity of the 5th year of the Jarmila Novotná Festival.

On February 9, 2016, we organized a lecture about the life and career of Jarmila Novotná. One part of it was devoted to the topic Jarmila Novotná in a Movie (led by the director of the Association of Chateau Liteň, Ivana Leidlová and the film historian, Markéta Nedvědová). 

Many people – Mr. Ivan Kůs, the Deputy Major of Beroun and Zdeněk Štefek, Central Bohemian Regional Council Member for Culture and Heritage Preservation among them – did not miss the opening of the exhibition. The latter one launched the exhibition together with Ivana Leidlová, the director of the Association of Chateau Liteň. The event was enlivened by a singer Eliška Zajícová, the student of Jan Deyl Conservatory.

Photo gallery from the opening, January 27

The second station of the exhibition at this year’s festival took place between July 6 and August 31  in the village of Kaliště near Humpolec, house number 9, the birthplace of world-famous composer and conductor Gustav Mahler (1860-1911).
Large-format photographs and information panels telling about the life and career of Jarmila Novotná were presented in a concert room and foyer. The opening, which invited for visit on Wednesday, July 6 at 14:30 pm, were followed by planting roses by important personalities in a rose garden and a chamber orchestra concert.
The exhibition was organized by the Association of Chateau Liteň in cooperation with the Mahler-Jihlava Festival “Music of Thousands”.

Photo gallery from the opening, July 6

The third stop of the exhibition was in spring 2017 the Senate of the Czech Republic.

The exhibition was opened from March 30 to May 28, 2017, in a marvelous space of Mythological Corridor of Wallenstein Palace.

Collection item and information reminding us about the life of Jarmila Novotná delighted the senses of government officials and journalists, but also broad public had a chance to see it during weekends. In just two months it was seen by almost 21,000 visitors!

The exhibition was held under the auspices of Senator Jiří Oberfalzer.

Photogallery from the opening, March 30.

Within the 7th annual of the Jarmila Novotná Festival 2018, the project of the touring exhibition was presented in another, already the fourth place. The large-scale pictures of original costumes and portraits of the diva were – together with biographical data presenting the life and career of this legendary singer – present on April 3–30, 2018 at Bookstore and Antique Shop Fryč in Liberec. For the exhibition, we also prepare a supporting program.