Jaroslav Ježek's Dark Blue World

The exhibition Jaroslav Ježek's Dark Blue World in the Historical Building of the National Museum was created on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the birth of this brilliant Czech composer. Even after more than eighty years, Jaroslav Ježek's music has not lost its energy, wit, and unmistakable rhythm. The panel exhibition will guide you through twelve thematic stops, covering his student years, the legendary era of the Osvobozené divadlo alongside Voskovec and Werich, and his life period in American exile. It will present him not only as a jazz magician but also as an extraordinary composer, pianist, and improviser.

In addition to family photographs and pictures of Ježek with friends, teachers, and personalities of the Osvobozené divadlo, scores from his student years, works for the Osvobozené divadlo, and from his American period, the biggest draw of the exhibition are authentic personal items that reveal how Ježek bravely struggled with severe visual and hearing impairments. You will see his iconic round glasses with black frames, which, however, served more to mask his poor eyesight, or a monocular telescope with which he oriented himself in space. Among the unique documents are his student ID, report cards, an assessment from Josef Suk, and fingerprints from his US visa application. The exhibition will also unveil the dramatic story of his masterwork Sonata for Piano, which mysteriously disappeared in the USA right before an international music festival.

The exhibition is also interactive and engages hearing – using QR codes, you can play a special playlist on site with Ježek's most famous compositions, such as Tři strážníci, as well as absolute rarities – for example, a preserved recording from a rehearsal with a workers' choir in New York.