What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 29 January 2023.

Ostrčilovo náměstí was built in 1900.

Until 1947, this was Přemyslovo náměstí, after Přemysl Oráč, AKA Where It All Began (see recent posts for brief details).

From 1947 to 1952, it was Hašlerovo náměstí, after Karel Hašler (1879-1941), a songwriter and actor (and supporter of Czech fascism…), who was murdered at Mauthausen in 1941, having been arrested due to his patriotic songs.

Otakar Ostrčil was born in Smíchov in 1879. He started composing music when he was fourteen, and, from 1895, was taught piano and composition by Zdeněk Fibich (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/01/14/prague-3-day-143-fibichova/).

He became conductor of the opera at the Vinohrady Theatre (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/03/03/prague-2-day-42-namesti-miru/) in 1914, and then became head of the opera at the National Theatre in 1920, a position he held until his death.

Ostrčil composed operas, orchestral pieces, and works for chamber ensembles and choirs. His busy schedule at the theatres meant that most of his composition work got done during his annual summer holidays in Soběslav (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/03/01/prague-3-day-164-sobeslavska/).

He also taught at the Czechoslovak Business Academy (1903-19 – teaching languages, which he had studied at Charles University) and the Prague Conservatory (1926-29).

He conducted in other European cities too. Here’s a great picture of him in Bucharest in 1929 (he’s the first on the left).

Ostrčil died in 1935, and is buried in Vyšehrad.