Where did Zelenka spend his early years (before 1710)?
A. After his early music education (presumably from his father in Lounovice), Zelenka probably matured as a musician in Prague. We know that he had strong associations with the Jesuits in Prague, but whether he studied at the Klementinum or some other Jesuit institution is not known with any certainty. He composed 3 Sepulchrum oratorios for this institution (ZWV 58 – ZWV 60) and one Latin melodrama (ZWV 175). His first known work (now lost apart from the libretto) was music for a Latin school drama (“Via Lauratea”; ZWV 245). This was performed in 1704 at the Jesuit College of St. Mikulas, with which he must also have had some association.
