Kovařovic, Karel (1862–1920)

Czech conductor and composer. He studied clarinet and harp at the Prague Conservatory, became an orchestral harpist in 1885 and then studied composition with Fibich. He toured as accompanist with the violinist Ondřiček, worked as a conductor in Brno and Plzeń 1885–88, and in 1895 conducted at the Ethnographic Exhibition in Prague. From 1900 to 1920 he was chief conductor at the National Opera in Prague, and in 1916 conducted Janáček's Jenůfa with his own revisions.

Works Vocal operas The Peasants' Charter, At the Old Bleaching-House (1901); comic operas The Bridegrooms (1884), The Way through the Window (1886), The Night of Simon and Jude (1892); choral works; songs.

Other stage works ballets Hashish (1884) and A Tale of Luck Found; incidental music to Tyl's Wood Nymph, Čech's The Excursions of Mr Brouček and other plays.

Orchestral symphonic poem The Rape of Persephone, dramatic overture in C minor, piano concerto in F minor.

Chamber three string quartets.