11 MAP Malinovského square 1 The world premieres of all most significant Janáček's operas took place in the Municipal Theatre where the Czech National Theatre was housed from 1919. Today's Mahen Theatre was originally a German scene built between 1882-1883 as designed by Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner Jr. and Hermann Helmer. The theatre, which later bore the names Na Hradbách and Janáček Theatre, went down in world history as the first theatre building in Europe equipped with electric lighting, and especially as the site of the world premieres of most of Janáček's operas. In 1919, the theatre was taken over by the Czech National Theatre in Brno and the first performance here was Jenufa. Katya Kabanova was premiered here in 1921 and The Cunning Little Vixen in 1924. A year later, it was followed by Janáček's first piece Šárka, The Makropulos Case in 1926 and the composer's last opera From the House of the Dead two years after his death. The premieres of Janáček's operas were conducted by the famous conductor František Neumann and mostly were directed by the young Ota Zítek. The theatre was also the venue of Janáček's orchestral compositions, e.g. the Taras Bulba rhapsody premiered here. It was also the place where Brno said good bye to its great master on 15th August 1928. Káťa Kabanová (recording of a performance on 7 February 2003, Janáček Opera ensemble, National Theatre Brno, conducted by: Jaroslav Kyzlink)