Foerster, Josef Bohuslav. (1859-1951). Portrait Photograph Inscribed "in memory of the opening night of Eva". Postcard portrait photograph of the Czech composer, by Šechtl & Voseček in Tábor, Bohemia, mounted on brown paper and inscribed to foot of mount in Czech: "Před[...] milostivě paní Anně a paně inspektoru Karlu / Vorálkovým v upominku na premiéru 'Evy' / v Mor[avské] Ostravě srdečne a v oddaném přátelství 9/X/25" (To the gracious Mrs. Anna Vorálková and Mr. Inspector Karel Vorálek in memory of the opening night of Eva in Moravská Ostrava cordially and in sincere friendship October 9, 1925). Size of photograph 5.75 x 3.5 inches (13.5 x 9 cm); size of mount 11.755 x 8.5 inches (29.5 x 22 cm). Mount brittle' frayed to edges, with slight loss to right foot; small stain to mount to right of photograph, else fine.
Josef Bohuslav Foerster was a respected Czech composer and critic throughout his long life, even though he never achieved the fame of a Dvořák, Janáček, or even Josef Suk. In the 1880s he was a friend of Tchaikovsky, fostering the Russian-Czech cultural exchange. From 1893 to 1903 he lived in Hamburg and worked as a music and art critic; he was on friendly terms with Gustav Mahler and married a singer from the opera there. Later he lived in Vienna before returning to his native country after it had gained independence in 1918. He wrote six operas, five symphonies and other orchestral music, oratorios, sacred music and chamber music. Eva was the second of his operas and, by general consent, his best; it was the only one to be produced outside the Czech lands. Foerster was also a gifted painter and left a posthumously published autobiography, The Pilgrim. There is no further information on Mr. and Mrs. Vorálek/Vorálková.
Foerster, Josef Bohuslav. (1859-1951). Portrait Photograph Inscribed "in memory of the opening night of Eva". Postcard portrait photograph of the Czech composer, by Šechtl & Voseček in Tábor, Bohemia, mounted on brown paper and inscribed to foot of mount in Czech: "Před[...] milostivě paní Anně a paně inspektoru Karlu / Vorálkovým v upominku na premiéru 'Evy' / v Mor[avské] Ostravě srdečne a v oddaném přátelství 9/X/25" (To the gracious Mrs. Anna Vorálková and Mr. Inspector Karel Vorálek in memory of the opening night of Eva in Moravská Ostrava cordially and in sincere friendship October 9, 1925). Size of photograph 5.75 x 3.5 inches (13.5 x 9 cm); size of mount 11.755 x 8.5 inches (29.5 x 22 cm). Mount brittle' frayed to edges, with slight loss to right foot; small stain to mount to right of photograph, else fine.
Josef Bohuslav Foerster was a respected Czech composer and critic throughout his long life, even though he never achieved the fame of a Dvořák, Janáček, or even Josef Suk. In the 1880s he was a friend of Tchaikovsky, fostering the Russian-Czech cultural exchange. From 1893 to 1903 he lived in Hamburg and worked as a music and art critic; he was on friendly terms with Gustav Mahler and married a singer from the opera there. Later he lived in Vienna before returning to his native country after it had gained independence in 1918. He wrote six operas, five symphonies and other orchestral music, oratorios, sacred music and chamber music. Eva was the second of his operas and, by general consent, his best; it was the only one to be produced outside the Czech lands. Foerster was also a gifted painter and left a posthumously published autobiography, The Pilgrim. There is no further information on Mr. and Mrs. Vorálek/Vorálková.