Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
In 2006, the Czech Philharmonic celebrated its 110th anniversary, carrying forward a tradition of artistic excellence and distinctive sound, both of which have characterised the orchestra since its very beginnings. The Czech Philharmonic's initial concert took place on 4 January 1896 at the Rudolfinum, conducted by no less than Antonín Dvořák.
In 1919 Václav Talich, the first internationally known Czech conductor, became Chief Conductor, a post that he held until 1941. Amongst his successors were outstanding conductors including Rafael Kubelík (1942-1948) and Karel Ančerl (1950-1968). Under Ančerl's leadership, the orchestra gained a reputation abroad as a first-class ensemble. In his programmatic focus on Czech music - both classical and especially contemporary - Ančerl continued in the tradition of his predecessors, but he also enriched the repertoire to include works by foreign composers such as Stravinsky, Strauss, Bartók, Shostakovich, and Prokofiev. After Ančerl's emigration, Václav Neumann (1968-1990), Jiří Bělohlávek, Gerd Albrecht, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Zdeněk Mácal held the positions of Chief Conductor, which Eliahu Inbal will take on from the 2009/10 concert season.
Since the CPO's foundation, its reputation has been fostered by internationally distinguished guest conductors including Edvard Grieg, Eugene Ysaye, Sergey Rachmaninoff, Artur Nikisch, and Gustav Mahler - the last of whom led the world premiere of his Seventh Symphony with the Philharmonic in Prague in 1908. Other excellent conductors who regularly worked with the orchestra include Erich Kleiber, Bruno Walter, Alexander Zemlinsky, Georg Széll, Charles Munch, Yevgeny Mravinsky, Leonard Bernstein, Leopold Stokowsky, Sergiu Celibidache, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Bernard Haitink, Claudio Abbado, and Riccardo Muti.
The Czech Philharmonic started touring as early as 1902 when it made a significant name for itself performing at BBC Proms and the Edinburgh Festival. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra has continued in its successful touring activities ever since, performing throughout Europe as well as in Japan, China, Taiwan, the USA and Canada.
The beginnings of the recording activities of the Czech Philharmonic go back to 1929 when the orchestra under the direction of Václav Talich recorded Smetana's Má vlast. The orchestra's recordings appeared on labels including Supraphone, Chandos and Octavia Records with releases of the complete symphonies of Dvořák, Mahler, Tchaikovsky and Brahms. The complete cycle of Bruckner Symphonies under the direction of Manfred Honeck is being recorded for Octavia Records. In the 2007/2008 season, the symphonies of Robert Schumann were recorded with Lawrence Foster. Bělohlávek's previous recording of Martinů's Symphonies No. 3 and No. 4was nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award in 2004. Most of the orchestra's recordings are made in the acoustically perfect Dvořák Hall at the Rudolfinum.
In 1919 Václav Talich, the first internationally known Czech conductor, became Chief Conductor, a post that he held until 1941. Amongst his successors were outstanding conductors including Rafael Kubelík (1942-1948) and Karel Ančerl (1950-1968). Under Ančerl's leadership, the orchestra gained a reputation abroad as a first-class ensemble. In his programmatic focus on Czech music - both classical and especially contemporary - Ančerl continued in the tradition of his predecessors, but he also enriched the repertoire to include works by foreign composers such as Stravinsky, Strauss, Bartók, Shostakovich, and Prokofiev. After Ančerl's emigration, Václav Neumann (1968-1990), Jiří Bělohlávek, Gerd Albrecht, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Zdeněk Mácal held the positions of Chief Conductor, which Eliahu Inbal will take on from the 2009/10 concert season.
Since the CPO's foundation, its reputation has been fostered by internationally distinguished guest conductors including Edvard Grieg, Eugene Ysaye, Sergey Rachmaninoff, Artur Nikisch, and Gustav Mahler - the last of whom led the world premiere of his Seventh Symphony with the Philharmonic in Prague in 1908. Other excellent conductors who regularly worked with the orchestra include Erich Kleiber, Bruno Walter, Alexander Zemlinsky, Georg Széll, Charles Munch, Yevgeny Mravinsky, Leonard Bernstein, Leopold Stokowsky, Sergiu Celibidache, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Bernard Haitink, Claudio Abbado, and Riccardo Muti.
The Czech Philharmonic started touring as early as 1902 when it made a significant name for itself performing at BBC Proms and the Edinburgh Festival. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra has continued in its successful touring activities ever since, performing throughout Europe as well as in Japan, China, Taiwan, the USA and Canada.
The beginnings of the recording activities of the Czech Philharmonic go back to 1929 when the orchestra under the direction of Václav Talich recorded Smetana's Má vlast. The orchestra's recordings appeared on labels including Supraphone, Chandos and Octavia Records with releases of the complete symphonies of Dvořák, Mahler, Tchaikovsky and Brahms. The complete cycle of Bruckner Symphonies under the direction of Manfred Honeck is being recorded for Octavia Records. In the 2007/2008 season, the symphonies of Robert Schumann were recorded with Lawrence Foster. Bělohlávek's previous recording of Martinů's Symphonies No. 3 and No. 4was nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award in 2004. Most of the orchestra's recordings are made in the acoustically perfect Dvořák Hall at the Rudolfinum.
Touring
Photo: C. Hornik
Eliahu Inbal