Pachtuv Palace | Pachtuv Palace history

Mozart in Pachtuv Palace Hotel Prague

“Prague is where my orchestra is.” W.A. Mozart
Mozart, Prague and Pachtuv Palace Hotel

Of the countless musical talents to have gone before, only a few attain such acclaim as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (b. 27 January 1756, d. 5 December 1791) who, during his short life, penned no less than 626 compositions of exceptional and heart-wrenching beauty. His contributions to the advancement of classical music are without measure; his genius lauded as a vital precursor to the modern score and a cornerstone of cultural tradition today.

Much is known of Mozart’s political, personal and financial connections within Vienna, the then epicentre of European culture and music. Through necessity, composers in the 18th Century were forced to seek patronage from wealthy individuals to manage their expenses and maintain the sometimes lavish lifestyle to which they aspired.

But what of the rest of his life? What passion and intrigue coursed headlong through his veins, shaping, forming and forging the masterpieces we now know and love? Behind every great achievement lies a great mind; and behind every great mind lies a story, as yet, untold...
Mozart’s Prague Chapters.

A little less-known chapter in the life and times of Mozart, however, is the composer’s love affair with Prague, the “Golden City”; a love affair, born of a single shared spirit, which yielded many of the happiest moments of the composer’s illustrious life.
The maestro held great affinity with the Czech populace who, he believed, understood him and his music more completely than any other audience. His celebrated operas The Marriage of Figaro (La Nozze di Figaro) and Don Giovanni, immensely complex and trying on both listeners and performers, never received as ecstatic an ovation as they did in Prague. Indeed, a reviewer for the Prague-based newspaper Oberpostamtzeitung wrote:
"No piece (so everyone here asserts) has ever caused such a sensation as the Italian opera Die Hochzeit des Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), which has already been given several times here with unlimited applause."

At the culmination of one such performance, Mozart himself is reported as saying:
“(I) count this day as one of the happiest of my life.”

Mozart made three trips to Prague between the years 1787 and 1791, and made many friendships amongst the Czech aristocracy and members of artistic circles. Having learnt of Mozart's death on 5th December 1791, the members of the Prague theatre orchestra organized a solemn ceremony in the Church of St. Nicolas at the Little Quarter. More than four thousand Prague citizens, a number exceeding those in Vienna, Paris or London, came to honour his memory and pay solemn testament to the man and his immortal music.



Mozart at Pachtuv Palace
Amongst the noblemen of Prague who offered special patronage to Mozart during his first visit to the city was Count Joseph Pachta, then master and owner of Pachtuv Palace.
For a long time, the music-loving Count had been begging Mozart to write him some dances, though the composer had studiously avoided doing so. Eventually, on the day of a ball he was holding, the Count managed to trick Mozart into composing the dances by means of a clever ruse.

Count Pachta invited Mozart to dinner, but intimated that they would be dining an hour earlier than usual. When Mozart appeared at the allotted time, he discovered, instead of a crowded table, some ink, a pen and some manuscript paper. Locked in a room (which you can still visit in Pachtuv Palace), he was forced to make the best of a bad job. As a result, the country dances were composed within an hour!
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History of Pachtuv Palace Hotel (Mozart paragraphs marked in bold)

One of the most beautiful views one can have on Prague Castle is from the Old Town Riverside near the museum of  Bedrich Smetana. Karolina Svetla described that place in her book. She was born on February 24, 1830 – her real name was Johanka Rottová – in Postouska Street (not far from the riverside) in a house called ´At the white pretzel´ ,number 284-1.

In 1841, when little Johanka  was eleven years old, Count Karel Chotek started regulating  the right riverbank. A monument of the emperor Frantisek I was to be built there. It was built between 1844 and 1846 by Josef Max and Josef Kamil Böhm and their design resembled a 1390 monument in Nuremberg. In 1918 the monument was moved to Vystaviste.

In 1978  it was decided to have a statue of Smetana, a design of Josef Malejovský, placed on the so called Novotného Lávka at the river. It was unveiled in 1984.
The most beautiful part of Smetana´s riverside is made from granite quadrants by Bernard Grueber.(1841 – 45).

Pachta´s Palace is located where an old house used to be. It belonged to Adam Pacelius from Adlerheim. Around 1700 the house became property of the Pachta Family from Rájov. Josef Pachta was born in an aristocratic family and worked as a University Professor.

Pachta´s son, Krystov born in 1690, was a Primate. When in 1742 the French intruders left Prague they took him as a hostage. He died in solitude in Switzerland.

The old Pachtas loved their house, but one of the nephews, Hubert Karel Pachta had the old house knocked down and a new one built by Jan Josef Ulrich in 1770. It had an entry from Anenske Namesti, where you can see the symbols of Pachta and Bereny families.

When the palace became a home of Jan Josef (Hubert´s son) music was heard there very often. He had his own ‘band’, was a good composer and he was a friend of Josef Myslivecek, the man who kept Mozart there as a prisoner for a while.

In  1832 Jan Pachta welcomed Richard Wagner to his house.

When people learned that Mozart was planning to go back to Vienna, they were very disapointed. Count Jan Pachta was extremely unhappy because Mozart had promised him to compose a few dances for Pachta´s ´band´. Since he had not received anything yet, he decided to take some action. Pachta invited Mozart and  wife for lunch and requested them to arrive at 10:30 so they would have time enough to be shown the Pachta Gallery. When they arrived at the house, Mrs Pachta took Konstanze with her to her room, while her husband brought Mozart to the Gallery. They slowly reached Pachtaś music salon. When Mozart saw  the piano he was lost. He asked Pachta, why there were empty sheets of papers lying there and Pachta reminded Mozart of his promise.
Mozart seemed to be annoyed and said: It means I´m your prisoner. For how long will that be? Pachta replied: It depends on you. The sooner you finish the work, the sooner you are going to be free.

Then he left rather unhappy Mozart looking out of the window on the river. At noon he was finishing composing, when Pachta entered the room. Mozart reported: ”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this time a prisoner of Count Jan Pachta, wants to inform you that  he has finished six dances for His Majesty´s  Jan Pachta´s band, at present standing opposite of me ….”
Jan Pachta interrupted him: “Maestro, you are free to leave, although  I would like to keep you in my prison forever.”

The same evening a big ball was held in the Pachta house and everyone could listen to Mozart´s new dances. The atmosphere was wonderful and Mozart but especially his wife were overjoyed. She enjoyed  being in the center of everybodyś attention. Later, when they were on their way home (to Thun´s  Palace) Dusek, who joined them on the ride, put his hand on Mozart´s knee and asked him softly:”Amadeus, will you stay with us?”

How Mozart found his Orchestra in Prague but also the Prisoner of Count Jan Pachta

This is what happened in 1787 – the year when everyone was crazy about Mozart. Wherever Mozart went he met people who loved him, sang his music, wanted to touch him …
One night after the performance of Figaro, Strobach the bandmaster was standing behind the curtain listening to the audience calling: ”Vivat Mozart!” when Mozart came to him, Strobach asked him with excitement in his voice: “Maestro, are you satisfied?” Mozart – in flush of enthusiasm – gave him a big hug and called: ”Listen my music is still vibrating here on the scene, it filled the people´s heads. Can you hear how they act? And you are still asking me if I am satisfied? I´ll tell you simply – my orchestra is here in Prague!” The words “My orchestra is here in Prague” were in everybody´s mouth, people kept repeating it and the musicians were very proud of it.

Mozart loved Praque´s musicians, they did not need to be educated anymore. They understood his music and felt the same way. They were able to play his music as if they had known it for a long time already, although it  was their first time playing it. Mozart expressed his love for the musicians when he said: ”I am yours and you are mine.”

That evening there was a very cheerful atmosphere in the wine bar in Templová Street. Mozart was hungry like “a wolf” and ordered “Wiener Schnitzel at  least half a meter long”as it was the house´s speciality. After a while Copánek (a beggar?) came with his harp : Mozart greeted him like an old friend and ordered a big Schnitzel for him, too.

The next day Strobach got a letter from Mozart. He thanked the Opera Orchestra and especially Strobach for the perfect performance of Figaro. Strobach showed this letter to the Theatre´s Director, Mr.Bondini. Every member of the Orchestra wanted to touch the letter and read Mozart´s words. He had become their and Prague´s God.
Mozart´s favourite friend in Prague probably was Frantisek Dusek, a famous pianist. Dusek grew  up in a poor country house. He always stayed modest and honest. That was the reason, why everybody liked him. He was the best pianist in Prague. It was very fashionable to have piano lessons from him.

Pachta´s Palace and House

The palace and house of Earl Hubert Karel Pachta from Rajov number 208 in Old Prague Town belongs to a group of cultural and architectural monuments. It was built in the place where four medieval houses used to stand. The complicated shape of the building borders on Anenske Namesti, Stribrna Naprstkova, Karoliny Svetle and Na zabradli. It was designed by the architect Jan Josef Wirch (1782 – 1787). Earl Hubert Karel Pachta from Rajov started to build the house with his wife Barbora (Berenyjova). There are three coats of arms above the main door of the palace.

The old house later Pachta´s house had belonged to many owners, among which Jan Zaruba from Hustiran, who sold everything and left the country in 1638. Then the house was taken by emperor Ferdinand II and given to Adam Percelin from Adlerheim. At about 1700 it became property of the Pachta family from Rajov. This Family got its coat of arms and the title ”Earl” from Ferdinand II in 1628.

One member of the Pachta family is mentioned in 1580: Josef Pachta, a professor from Kolin. Another known member was Krystof, a primate who died in 1690. Then there were Jan Jachym Pachta with his brothers and uncles. In 1742 when French soldiers were leaving Prague Jan Jachym was taken hostage by them. He died in solitude in Switzerland.

Pachta´s family was famous for its building activities. They owned four palaces in Prague and they also had property in the countryside. Two palaces were in Celetna and the most exclusive one, built by Frantisek Josef Pachta which was built after 1770 in Krizovnicka Street. In 1868 The Prague Council had it torn down. In the period from 1901 to 1911 there was a Knights Monastery build by Josef Sakar, Frantisek Pekarek and Celda Kloucek.

Frantisek Josef Pachta considered to be an important person. His house was famous for its musical tradition. Jan Josef Pachta (1756-1834) had his own orchestra. Josef Myslivecek, a great Czech composer visited the house very often. Myslivecek´s parents owned house number 201, now the Museum of Czech Music at Novotnoho Lavka.

In Pachta´s Palace were also rooms of the Slavic Café, which was found by Jiri Blahut. This was the place where famous and important people, mainly politicians were meeting. An excellent Czech Surgeon, Arnold Jirasek, dwelled here with his wife, Amalie Jiraskova, an eye specialist. He died in 1960.

In 1906 the architect Josef sakar was ordered by the town council to prepare a plan to destroy the palace and build something new. Unfortunately, it had not been done. Now the palace has undergone a big reconstruction and it is ready to serve new generations of owners.

In the back part of the house lived Emanuel Arnold. He was a member of the secret association “Repeal”. In Na Porici he had a salt and dried fruit business. He also published “Obcanske Noviny” (the first number was printed in 1848).
Later, he was sentenced to twenty years for subversive activities and sent to Lublan. He returned in 1857 but was sent to Villach the next year, because he still seemed to have a lot of influence on revolutionary groups. When he came back to Prague he was an old and sick man. His funeral was a big demonstration against the Austian regime.

While living in Pachta´s Palace Arnold was frequently visited by his brother Jan. He was very active in politics and a member of the “ Mestanska Beseda” an association which goal it was to wake up” the Czechs.

In the 1920´s another Arnold appears in Pachta Palace: Professor Arnold Jirasek became a frequent visitor of the Pachta´s Palace. He spent a lot of time there studying, reading and palying. His wife, a doctor Amalie Jiraskova (born Kreilova) wrote a book about him. She died in 1960. A visitor who came a few years ago still remembered Professor Jirasek and how  he loved to talk about the house and Prague.