Curriculum Vitae

23. 9. 1907 Born in the Vinohrady district of Prague into a tailor´s family

1923 Studies opera singing under Emmy Destinn

1925 Debut  at the National Theatre as Mařenka in The Bartered Bride; introduced to President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk; offered her first film role; studied voice in Milan

1928  Her first triumph abroad as Gilda in Rigoletto at the Arena in Verona

1929 Joins the Kroll Opera in Berlin at request of conductor, Otto Klemperer

1931 Poses for Max Švabinský for a portrait on the Czech one hundred crown note; marries Jiří Daubek, son of the Liteň aristocrat and entrepreneur; sings in the ensemble of the State Opera in Berlin

1933 Collaborates with the Vienna State Opera and is appointed Kammersangerin

1937 Meets Toscanini and sings Pamina from The Magic Flute at The Salzburg Festival

1938 Visits the USA and encouraged by Toscanini, signs a contract with the Metropolitan Opera

1939 Arrives in the USA with her family on the day that Hitler occupies Czechoslovakia

1939–1945 Engages in activities in support of the Czechoslovak nation; records Songs of Lidice with Jan Masaryk, which becomes a symbol of resistance back home; gives concerts all over USA and completes a tour of South America

1947 Returns to Czechoslovakia to a nationalized property destroyed by the Soviet Army; although returned to the family it was re-nationalized in 1948.

1948–1956 Continues her career at the Metropolitan Opera and sings at charitable functions; she stars in Hollywood films (The Search, The Great Caruso); a celebrity known throughout the world in political and cultural circles

1956 She says farewell to her American public and settles in Vienna with her husband where she lectures on singing until 1981

1972 Returns to her homeland for the first time since 1949

1981 Following her husband´s death, she re-settles in the USA where she lives amongst her friends and family

1991 Receives the State Honor of the Order of T.G.Masaryk from Václav Havel; becomes an Honored Citizen of Prague and an Honorable Member of the State Opera; establishes the Jarmila Novotná Prize

9. 2. 1994 At the age of 86 dies in New York; an urn with her ashes is deposited in the Daubek mausoleum in Liteň