Great figures

Franz Kafka and Prague

Today Franz Kafka has an imprint on Prague that is unparalleled. Ironically the Jewish writer wanted to get away from his birthplace of which he said: “Prague won´t let go … We would have to set fire to two places, Vyšehrad and Prague Castle, and then it might be possible for us to get away.”

Franz Kafka was born in 1883 on the outskirts of then existing Prague ghetto. After his university education at the Prague German University, Kafka worked as an insurance lawyer. His private life was strongly influenced by his father whom Kafka felt to be his superior and his own inability to decide on marriage. He broke off his engagement with Felice Bauer from Berlin twice; the relationship with a married Czech journalist Milena Jesenská was of great significance; in his last year, he had a deep relationship with Dora Diamant, a young kindergarten teacher.

Franz Kafka´s first prose volume “Meditation” was published with a small number of copies in 1912. In the following years Kafka was considered an acknowledged author in authoritative literary circles, although he did not live to experience his success as a writer of international standard. He had tuberculosis and died in a sanatorium in Kierling near Vienna in 1924. He left his writings to his friend Max Brod with orders to destroy them. Fortunately for the world, Max saved them and published the works posthumously.

The novels published especially after his demise are considered as the most outstanding creations of 20th century literature. Kafka´s works are read worldwide . His most important works are novels “The Castle” and “The Trial”, narrations “The Verdict” and “The Metamorphosis” and letters (to his sister Ottla, his fiancée Felice, his lover Milena) as well as the biographical “Letter to my Father”.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Prague

Mozart is said to have had a special relationship with the city of Prague and its people. Mozart is claimed to have said, "Meine Prager verstehen mich" ("My Praguers understand me"). The composer celebrated some of his greatest triumphs in Prague.

In January and February 1787, he introduced himself to wild acclaim by audiences of his opera The Marriage of Figaro at its Prague premiere. He also gave a concert at which the famous Symphony in D major, K.504--now called the "Prague" Symphony--was premiered. Afterward, Mozart said he "counted this day as one of the happiest of his life."

Then in Autumn 1787 he attended the world premiere of his opera Don Giovanni in the Estates Theatre. He declined an offer to stay in Prague and write an opera feeling that the opportunities were greater for him in Vienna (then considered to be the world center of music.) Finally in 1790 he accepted a commission to compose an opera (La Clemenza da Tito) on the occasion of coronation of Leopold II as King of Bohemia. Interestingly, this commission had been turned down by his nemesis Antonio Salieri.

The most popular place connected with Mozart in Prague is Villa Bertramka in Smíchov (Prague 5) It was owned by the Czech composer František Dušek and his wife, singer Josepha Dušková. Mozart was a guest here several times.