COLLEGIUM MARIANUM / SUMMER FESTIVITIES OF EARLY MUSIC - Czechia

Collegium Marianum is a centre of historical performing arts based in Prague. Since its foundation in 1990, the centre has been focussing on introducing early-music heritage to the wider public and on providing education in the area of historical performance practice and art restoration.
Collegium Marianum ensemble is a Baroque orchestra led by artistic director Jana Semerádová. One of the few professional ensembles specializing in this field in the Czech Republic, Collegium Marianum not only gives musical performances, but regularly also stages scenic projects. 

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The core cultural activities of the Collegium Marianum has been the Summer Festivities of Early Music international music festival (since 2000), the concert series Baroque soirées (since 2001), international masterclasses of the French Baroque music Akademie Versailles (since 2017), as well as workshops and educational programmes for children. 

Summer Festivities of Early Music is the only festival focussing on historical performing arts organised in Prague. Since its establishment in 2000 it has become acknowledged for its carefully prepared, thematic programming and for the high level of performance guaranteed by some of the foremost specialists – instrumentalists and ensembles, vocal artists, conductors, dance and theatre companies – from various countries around the world. 
 

Many festival projects introduce historical music in modern Czech or world premieres. Owing to the presentation of interdisciplinary projects combining period music with Baroque dance and theatre the undertaking is unique among early music festivals not only in the Czech Republic, but in the whole of Central Europe. Member of the European Early Music Network (REMA), the festival is the fruit of collaboration of many years’ standing with cultural institutes and transnational foundations. Also extraordinary and unique in the Czech environment is the significant focus on early music education. As part of its additional programme, the festival regularly organises masterclasses for students and young professionals (interpretation workshops with artists performing at festival concerts; International Masterclasses of French Baroque Music "Akademie Versailles").

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The organiser, Collegium Marianum – Týn school, is an educational and cultural centre with 20 years of experience in the area of historical arts. Since 2000 the main focus of the organisation’s cultural activity has been the Summer Festivities of Early Music. The Summer Festivities of Early Music is a proud recipient of the prestigious EFFE Label 2024–2025.

The 26th edition of the Summer Festivities of Early Music international festival (2025), subtitled FAMILIA, presents the motif of the family in various contexts of European music history. The programme will explore kinship ties that have been influential and significant in the music of historical stylistic periods from the Middle Ages to the High Baroque. It will focus on the compositional legacy of selected musician families, as the love of music and knowledge of its practical use were often passed down from generation to generation.