Mendel Festival in Brno

Annual birthday party for the father of genetics, Gregor Mendel. Celebration that will show visitors what a treasure was hidden in the heart of Brno, series of exhibitions, concerts, science shows, Mendel’s favourite food, all in the Augustinian Abbey in Brno, with the free entrance.

‎One of the highlights of the celebrations will be a gala concert by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic Choir on Friday 22 July 2022, which will present Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass – Janáček grew up in the monastery during the time of Gregor Johann Mendel and learned music – and the world premiere of a new composition by one of the world’s most sought-after contemporary composers, Tigran Mansurian, which he will write to celebrate Mendel. Mansurian is the world’s leading Armenian composer who has been collaborating with the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra for the past few years. In 2020, the Brno Philharmonic presented to great acclaim the Czech premiere of his Requiem for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and string orchestra, which is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the genocide held in the Armenians in 1915. The new composition will have its world premiere, as will the Glagolitic Mass under the direction of Chief Conductor Dennis Russell Davies, and will represent the pinnacle of the orchestra’s collaboration with the composer. The whole concert will be broadcast live all over the world. The combination of Mendel, Janáček, Mansurian and Davies in one concert is an adequate worldwide culmination of the celebrations.‎