Jiří Pauer drew attention to his penchant in composing for wind instruments while still a student at the Academy of Music and Drama in Prague. His graduation work, Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, became his first piece to be performed by the Czech Philharmonic in 1952. He then completed a one-act opera The Prattling Snail, a colourful and poetic fairy-tale which soon became very successful on the stage of the National Theatre in Prague.
Pauer was not only a remarkable composer, but a gifted teacher, conductor and an effective advocate for the performing arts as well. He taught at the new Prague City School of Music, was music director for Czechoslovak Radio, and served twice as chief of the National Theatre Opera (1951-56 and 1965-67). Pauer was also artistic director of the Czech Philharmonic (1958 - 1980) and held the post of Professor of Composition at the Academy of Performing Arts and Music in Prague (1967 - 1990). He also served as President of the Czechoslovakian Council of Music.
After the Velvet Revolution (in the 1990's) he lived in seclusion while writing his memoirs, which were published in 2000. Jiří Pauer died on 28 December 2007 in Prague, Czech Republic.
Pauer was not only a remarkable composer, but a gifted teacher, conductor and an effective advocate for the performing arts as well. He taught at the new Prague City School of Music, was music director for Czechoslovak Radio, and served twice as chief of the National Theatre Opera (1951-56 and 1965-67). Pauer was also artistic director of the Czech Philharmonic (1958 - 1980) and held the post of Professor of Composition at the Academy of Performing Arts and Music in Prague (1967 - 1990). He also served as President of the Czechoslovakian Council of Music.
After the Velvet Revolution (in the 1990's) he lived in seclusion while writing his memoirs, which were published in 2000. Jiří Pauer died on 28 December 2007 in Prague, Czech Republic.