The Czech Philharmonic, a 127-year-old orchestra with a rich and illustrious history, has been nominated for the prestigious ‘Orchestra of the Year’ award by Gramophone. Founded in 1896, its first concert featured an all Dvořák programme, conducted by the composer himself. Over the years, the Orchestra has developed a special relationship with the music of Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Mahler, with Mahler conducting the world premiere of his Symphony No. 7 with the Orchestra in 1908. Concert videos from the Czech Philharmonic are now available on Symphony.live.
The Czech Philharmonic's history reflects its location at the heart of Europe and the Czech Republic’s turbulent political past, with Smetana’s Má vlast serving as a symbol of the country's struggle for independence. The Orchestra played a significant role in the Czechoslovakian revolution, with Chief Conductor Rafael Kubelík conducting a ‘concert of thanks’ featuring Má vlast in 1945 to mark the country's liberation.
The Orchestra has remained committed to its two core values of championing Czech composers and believing in music’s power to change lives. Under the leadership of Chief Conductor Václav Talich in the 1920s, the Orchestra pioneered concerts for workers, young people and voluntary organizations. This philosophy continues to this day, with the Orchestra engaging with over 400 schools and bringing all ages to the Rudolfinum to hear concerts and participate in masterclasses. The Orchestra's Youth Orchestra, Orchestral Academy, and Jiří Bělohlávek Prize for young musicians are also noteworthy initiatives. Additionally, an inspirational music and song programme led by singer Ida Kelarová for the Romany communities within the Czech Republic and Slovakia has helped many socially excluded families find their voice.
The Orchestra is dedicated to promoting the works of Czech composers, both established and new. Semyon Bychkov initiated a project at the start of his tenure that saw nine Czech composers and five international composers write works to be premiered by the Orchestra. The late Jiří Bělohlávek launched an annual young composers’ competition in 2014 to discover new talent.
In conclusion, the Czech Philharmonic is a world-renowned orchestra that has made significant contributions to music, championing Czech composers, and promoting music as a force for social change. With its recent nomination for the ‘Orchestra of the Year’ award and its upcoming Velvet Revolution concert, the Orchestra is poised to continue its legacy of excellence in the years to come. If you want to know more about the Czech Philharmonic, you can do so by visiting their website. Or follow them on Facebook en Instagram.
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Smetanas mitreißendes Ma Vlast (Mein Heimatland) leitet in dieser leidenschaftlichen Aufführung das Gedenken an die Samtene Revolution ein.
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Experimental Italian composer Luciano Berio’s rarely-heard masterwork Sinfonia for 8 Voices & Orchestra leads off the program from the Rudolfinum.
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A mighty performance of Schubert's ninth and final symphony. Featured alongside is his own arrangement of the American classical tradition.
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Janáček’s influence is strongly felt throughout this program of Czech music under the baton of Jakub Hrůša with Czech Philharmonic.
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Semyon Bychkov is joined by Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov in this double-bill of modern Russian classics.
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Maestro Jirí Belohlávek ascends to great heights at the Rudolfinum as he conducts well-known pieces in the classical music repertoire.
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Payare wird von Sopranistin Hannigan in dieses Programm begleitet, dessen Höhepunkt die Aufführung von Berlioz' Symphonie fantastique ist.
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Nathalie Stutzmann entführt Sie in ein düsteres, ahnungsvolles Reich, in dem Hoffnung und Licht in ständigem Widerstreit mit heftigen Stürmen und wogenden Schatten stehen.
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Der Geiger Leonidas Kavakos steht im Mittelpunkt des Violinkonzerts von Brahms, gefolgt von Beethovens 'Pastorale' Sinfonie unter der Leitung von Daniel Harding.
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Eine Aufführung, die von einer transformativen Energie angetrieben wird und in der wir sowohl Honeggers dritte als auch Brahms' vierte und letzte Symphonie erkunden.
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Genießen Sie das majestätische Orchester und den Dirigenten, während sie eine furchtlose Interpretation von Bruckners Symphonie Nr. 6 aufführen.
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Schuberts lyrische 'unvollendete' 8. Symphonie leitet dieses charismatische Konzert ein und schließt mit Anton Bruckners heiliger 9.