Leoš Janáček was born on July 1854 in a small village in Moravia in Czech republic. He was eleven when he was sent by his father to a monastery in Brno, and it was in this town that he first learned music. Noticed for his aptitude, he went on to study the organ in Prague, then finally composition in Leipzig. It was 1874 that he met the composer Dvorak. This composer had a lasting influence on him due to his manner of composing by adopting the intonations of spoken language. In 1916, the first performance of a reworking of his opera Jenufa finally opened the doors of the capital to him, where he gained a certain amount of recognition. Janáček died in 1928, leaving us an oeuvre of great richness as well a great diversity, including nine operas, religious and symphonic pieces and many pieces of chamber music.

Leoš Janáček naquit le 3 juillet 1854 dans un petit village de Moravie en République Tchèque. Il fut, à l'âge de onze ans, envoyé par son père dans un monastère Brno où il apprit la musique. Il alla ensuite étudier l'orgue à Prague, puis la composition à Leipzig. En 1874, il fit la connaissance du compositeur Antonin Dvorak. Celui-ci influença durablement Janáček par sa manière de composer en épousant les intonations de la langue parlée. En 1916, la création d'une version remaniée de son opéra Jenufa lui ouvrit les portes de la capitale par laquelle il connut une certaine reconnaissance. Janáček mourut en 1928, nous laissant une oeuvre aussi riche que variée: neuf opéras, des pièces religieuses et symphoniques ainsi que de nombreuses oeuvres de musique de chambre.