Jan Nepomuk Štěpánek
Encyclopedia
Jan Nepomuk Štěpánek was a Czech
playwright
, director, actor
and theatre manager.
to a soapmaker's family. He studied at Litomyšl
gymnasium
and then philosophy
and theology
at Charles University in Prague
. In 1800 he entered the Austrian army against Napoleon
. After graduating from a university he escaped to the theatre.
in Prague
. He started translating plays. In 1807 he became a prompter
in Malá Strana Theatre. In 1812 he started his career at Estates Theatre
. He was responsible for plays performed in Czech on Sunday afternoons by Czech amateur actors. He wrote and translated more than a hundred plays for them. He worked as a ticket agent, secretary and eventually as one of three directors of the theatre.
). Among his most successful translations were works of Wenzel Müller
or Adolf Bäuerle. He also translated Mozart
's opera Don Giovanni
and supplied the Czech opera ensemble with a lot of libretto
s.
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, director, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and theatre manager.
Early life
Jan Nepomuk Štěpánek was born in ChrudimChrudim
Chrudim is a city in eastern Bohemia, in the Pardubice region of the Czech Republic.The oldest archaeological findings which provide first signs of the settlement in this area date back to the 5th millennium BC. Various cultures succeeded one on another in the territory of today’s town of Chrudim...
to a soapmaker's family. He studied at Litomyšl
Litomyšl
Litomyšl is a town and municipality in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The chateau complex in the town centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:...
gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
and then philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
. In 1800 he entered the Austrian army against Napoleon
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
. After graduating from a university he escaped to the theatre.
Theater career
In 1803–05 he affiliated with actors of the Patriotic Theatre who played in Malá StranaMalá Strana
Malá Strana is a district of the city of Prague, Czech Republic, and one of its most historic regions.The name translated into English literally means "Little Side", though it is frequently referred to as "Lesser Town", "Lesser Quarter", or "Lesser Side"...
in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. He started translating plays. In 1807 he became a prompter
Prompter
The prompter in an opera house gives the singers the opening words of each phrase a few seconds early. Prompts are mouthed silently or hurled lyrically in a half-voice, audible only on stage...
in Malá Strana Theatre. In 1812 he started his career at Estates Theatre
Estates Theatre
The Estates Theatre or Stavovské divadlo is a historic theatre in Prague, Czech Republic. The Estates Theatre was annexed to the National Theatre in 1948 and currently draws on three artistic ensembles, opera, ballet, and drama, which perform at the Estates Theatre, the National Theatre , and the...
. He was responsible for plays performed in Czech on Sunday afternoons by Czech amateur actors. He wrote and translated more than a hundred plays for them. He worked as a ticket agent, secretary and eventually as one of three directors of the theatre.
Work
His work is not of high quality but was highly reputable at his time for patriotic merit. Among his plays are Čech a Němec (Czech and German) and Břetislav První, český Achilles (Břetislav I, Czech AchillesAchilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was a Greek hero of the Trojan War, the central character and the greatest warrior of Homer's Iliad.Plato named Achilles the handsomest of the heroes assembled against Troy....
). Among his most successful translations were works of Wenzel Müller
Wenzel Müller
Wenzel Müller was an Austrian composer and conductor.Müller was born in Turnau. He studied with Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf and performed as a theatre musician in his youth. In 1786 he became Kapellmeister at the Theater in der Leopoldstadt in Leopoldstadt, Vienna...
or Adolf Bäuerle. He also translated Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
's opera Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
and supplied the Czech opera ensemble with a lot of libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
s.