Did the opera diva Ema Destinnová really live with a skeleton? Here at the Ema Destinnová Bust in Prague, we can contemplate her fascinating life. This bust marks her residence at the Kaiserštejnský Palace from 1908 to 1914. While her powerful soprano voice captivated audiences worldwide, her private life held a touch of the macabre. Ema Destinnová, born Emilie Kittlová, embraced the occult. She reportedly had a skeleton named Ivánek in her chateau in Stráž nad Nežárkou. Some accounts even claim she took Ivánek on tour with her. This chateau, filled with occult books, became her refuge after her passport was revoked in 1916 due to her patriotism and resistance against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. While she resumed singing after the war, she never regained her former level of success. She spent her later years at Stráž, consulting the spirit world, decorating her rooms in black, and even writing a novel, “In the Shadow of the Blue Rose.” The Ema Destinnová Bust in Prague serves as a reminder of this complex and intriguing woman. She was a world-renowned opera singer and a lover of the occult, a patriot and a recluse. She left an indelible mark on both the world of opera and the history of Czechoslovakia.
Lochkovský potok
Listen closely. Have you ever felt the hush of a hidden stream a secret whispered among the trees? That’s the