The person of violoncellist Hanuš Wihan, history and culture of his time

Hanuš Wihan, a concert artist, teacher, and Czech chamber music promoter, the founder of the Czech Quartett and an important representative of the Czech culture of the end of 19th and beginning of 20th centuries is considered to be one of the most outstanding personalities among the worldwide known cellists. The thesis is to remind us of his great personality and work while reflecting the contemporary cultural and historical context of those times. It presents Wihan´s life from his early childhood and years of study, his fifteen year long contract abroad, his exuberant solo and chamber concert career in Bohemia as well as abroad and his teaching practice as a professor of violoncello a and chamber play at Prague Conservatoire. The thesis focuses on Wihan´s work with the Czech Qartett and is partly also dedicated to the relationship between H. Wihan and A. Dvořák and other contemporary artists. Finally the thesis covers the period of Wihan´s stay in Brandýs nad Orlicí