Jára Cimrman's Proso : Prague Proms Festival

About the Event

The world premiere of the newly discovered, complete operetta 'Proso' in concert performance will be brought to you by the group of Cimrmanologists, led by Zdeněk Svěrák, a legendary Czech actor, humorist and scriptwriter. You will witness how the world renowned authors 'borrowed' from Cimrman. The details are still a secret. The concert's stage director is Jan Svěrák, an acclaimed Czech film director, and son of Zdeněk Svěrák.

On the occasion of Vienna's “Riesenrad” Opening, The Best Operetta Contest was announced. One of the greatest Czech playwrights, poets, composers, teachers, travellers, philosophers, inventors, detectives, mathematicians and sportsmen of the 19th and early 20th century of course could not have missed such an event. Jára Cimrman participated in the contest composing a huge, seven‐hour work entitled 'Proso' (The Millet). Due to his, perhaps the only negative feature — he was a scrooge — Cimrman refused to pay for sending the scores as registered mail. This enabled members of the jury — Franz Lehár, Johann Strauss, Oskar Nedbal and the others to take the whole work completely apart. The Cimrmanologists have gathered the evidence that it was Jára Cimrman who composed the world famous operetta tunes today known as 'Die Fliedermouse', 'Polish Blood', and many more operettas.

The Prague Proms is an international music festival that presents music perfectly suited to the summer months: music that refreshes you, no matter the weather. Enjoy jazz concerts, symphony programmes and intimate chamber music evenings.


Libor Pešek – conductor
Zdeněk Svěrák — director
Adriana Kohútková – soprano
Tomáš Černý – tenor
Czech National Symphony Orchestra