Jiří Bělohlávek

Jiří Bělohlávek

A collection of performances featuring the late great Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek, former chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic.

Start watching now

About Jiří Bělohlávek

Despite getting his start as a cello student, Jiří Bělohlávek (1946 – 2017) became arguably the greatest conductor of the Czech canon following Václav Talich and Václav Neumann before him. Seven years after passing, he is remembered for his unmatched Janáček and Martinů interpretations - which The Guardian called, for good reason, ‘luminous’.

The son of a barrister and judge, Jiří was born in Prague, the then-capital of Czechoslovakia. Growing up amidst post-war and post-liberation turmoil, young Jiří took to studying the cello under the guidance of Miloš Sádlo. Later, he graduated from the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts and went on to study conducting for two years with Sergiu Celibidache.

In 1970, Bělohlávek won the coveted Czech Young Conductors' Competition, going on to serve as an assistant conductor at the Czech Philharmonic. Following his tenure there, he went on to lead ‘Janáček's’ Brno Philharmonic (the orchestra hailing from the composer’s beloved native Moravia) and later the Prague Symphony Orchestra. In the early years of his career, the Communist authorities prohibited Bělohlávek touring Berlin and Israel, but 1989’s Velvet Revolution allowed his star to rise overseas.

Although he was appointed chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic in 1990, his first role with the orchestra was short-lived, as a dramatic reorganization led him to resign in 1992 to found the Prague Philharmonia. Internationally, he went from principal guest conductor to chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and, in 2007, he became the first non-native English speaker to conduct and make the traditional speech at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Czech conductor kept doing so until the very end of his life. Even while battling cancer, Bělohlávek still led the Czech Philharmonic and made a return to the Proms - all in the name of Janáček, the composer with whom he has since become nearly synonymous. His final concert, held less than a month before his passing and featuring a performance of Martinů with the Prague Philharmonia, stands as a testament to Bělohlávek’s lifelong mission to tirelessly present the beauty of Czech music to the world.

Discover the performances of Jiří Bělohlávek

Discover the Symphony Family of Orchestras

Choose your subscription plan

Frequently Asked
Questions

What is Symphony.live?

Symphony.live is a video streaming platform committed to uniting the world’s orchestras. We believe in demystifying the wonderful world of classical music, striving to make it more approachable for diverse audiences through innovative viewing experiences. Our growing family of orchestras and their stories are at the forefront of everything we do. We curate a diverse array of concerts, playlists, in-depth explorations, and more. Our family of orchestras includes The Cleveland Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and others. This is your chance to get closer than ever to the music you love!

How does the free trial work?

For a 7-day free trial, curious users can try Symphony.live for free. During these 7 days, you can enjoy all of our content in full - and with no strings attached. During the trial period, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to join us or not, so feel free to cancel at any time. There are two types of subscriptions we offer: monthly ($6,99/month) and annual ($49,99/year). 

Note: prices may vary per country.

How/where can I watch Symphony.live?

With Symphony.live, you can watch anywhere, anytime. As well as accessing online through Symphony.live, you can take your favorite concert experiences with you wherever you go, thanks to our mobile apps for iOS and Android.

You can also watch directly on your television via Roku, Android TV,  Google TV, Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, and on recent Samsung and LG TV sets.

Currently, we are available in the following locations:

(Europe:) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom;

(Americas:) Brazil, Canada, Mexico, United States of America;

(Asia-Pacific:) Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea;

Note: more platforms and regions will be added soon.

What content does Symphony.live offer?

We would like to think there is something for everyone at Symphony.live. Whether you're a history buff looking to explore some of history's greatest musical minds, a connoisseur of the concert hall looking for your favorite performance, or simply looking to throw some relaxing classical music on in the background while you work, we’ve got you covered. From exclusive concert performances to deep-dive documentaries and our very own Close Up series, we ensure the classical music fan never runs out of content to watch. Plus, our hard-working team of experts regularly curates hand-picked playlists for every mood you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re in the mood for Vivaldi or Zimmer, you will never get bored; we are constantly revamping our collection with new music!

What quality does Symphony.live offer?

We understand the importance of experiencing classical music in mint condition. To help with your immersive experience, we always strive to provide you with the highest quality possible. We also have a selection of 5.1 digital surround sound available. Moreover, through our Wolfgang collaboration, select concert videos come with captions, enriching your viewing experience by providing a deeper understanding of the beautiful music on your screen.

How many devices can stream simultaneously?

You can stream Symphony.live on two devices simultaneously.

How can I cancel?

You can cancel at any time, directly from your profile page on the Symphony.live website.

How can I contact Symphony.live if I need account support and/or troubleshooting?

If you need support about your account, billing details, or encounter problems, please go to our help & support section or send a mail to support@symphony.live