Emil Frantisek Burian. who was to become the leading avant-garde director in the Czech theatre of the 1930s, was born in 1904 (d. 1959), the son of Emil Burian, a leading baritone of Prague's National Theatre Opera, and his wife Vlasta (née Hatláková), a teacher of singing. His uncle was Karel Burian, a concert tenor. The musical environment established by his family was sustained in Burian's musical education: he graduated from the Prague Conservatory and subsequently completed master's study in composition in Prague under the Czech composer J. B. Foerster. Burian eventually composed seven operas, numerous ballets and chamber works, and most of the music for his theatre productions.

If the roots of Burian's general creativity may be found in music, the roots of his philosophy may be found in Marxism: while still a student, in 1923, Burian became a member of the Czech Communist party.