"We must open our eyes! We must not remain blind!" These are the first words spoken by Paulus Speratus in the melodramatic oratorio by Sylvie Bodorová. The year was 1522, and Jihlava stood on the threshold of a major, dramatic religious transformation—a shift that had already begun to "seep in" from German-speaking lands years earlier.

The premiere of the oratorio took place on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jihlava. At the time of Speratus’s arrival in Jihlava, this was a Dominican church—belonging to an order of preachers that was strictly Catholic. Nevertheless, in the 21st century, the music and singing resonated perfectly within its walls.

Pavel Josef Kšica took on the lead role of Speratus. Actor Jan Šťastný portrayed the narrator—a proclaimer of Luther’s theses and a spokesman for the burghers of Jihlava. The role of the Dominican friar Johann Tetzel was entrusted to Zdeněk Stejskal of the Horácko Theatre in Jihlava. Jakub Škrdla, another actor from the local theatre, performed a dual role: that of a messenger for King Louis, and King Louis Jagiellon himself. The voice of conscience was portrayed by Karla Bytnarová. The audience was also captivated by the Melodie Mixed Choir of Jihlava. The Slovak Chamber Orchestra was led by conductor Marek Štilec.

The event opened with remarks from the Mayor of the statutory city, Petr Ryška, who noted on his Facebook profile: "In the 16th century, the town councillors of Jihlava stood by their preacher against the King. It is clear that, at that time, Jihlava was free and 'normal.' I believe that it remains free and 'normal' in today's world as well."

The project received financial support from the Authors' Protective Association (OSA).

Instagram @ochranny_svaz_autorsky, Facebook @osazs, X: @OSA_zs, LinkedIn: @osa-ochranny-svaz-autorsky-o-s