The ?eská filharmonie (Czech Philharmonic) is a symphony orchestra based in Prague and is the most well known and respected orchestra in the Czech Republic.^[1] It was voted 9th place of the top 10 best orchestras in Europe in a 2006 survey organized by the French magazine Le Monde de la Musique.^[2]

History

The name "Czech Philharmonic Orchestra" appeared for the first time in 1894, as the title of the orchestra of the Prague National Theatre.^[1] It played its first concert under its current name on January 4, 1896 when Antonín Dvo?ák conducted his own compositions, but it did not become fully independent from the opera until 1901. The first representative concert took place on October 15, 1901 conducted by Ludvík ?elanský, the first artistic director of the orchestra.^[1] In 1908, Gustav Mahler led the orchestra in the world premiere of his Symphony No. 7. The orchestra first became internationally known under the baton of Václav Talich, who was principal conductor from 1919 to 1931, and again from 1933 to 1941. In 1941 Talich together with Czech Philharmonic made a controversial journey to Germany, where they performed the cycle of symphonic poems My Country by Bed?ich Smetana. The concert was enforced by the German offices.^[1]

Subsequent chief conductors included Rafael Kubelík (1942-1948), Karel An?erl (1950-1968), Václav Neumann (1968-1989) and Vladimir Ashkenazy (1996-2003). Zden?k Mácal has been the chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic since September 1, 2003. In September 2007, Mácal announced his sudden resignation from the chief conductor post, although he is scheduled to fulfill his remaining conducting engagements with the orchestra, without administrative responsibilities.^[3] In February 2008, the orchestra announced the appointment of Eliahu Inbal as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2009-2010 season.^[4]

Principal guest conductors of the orchestra have included Sir Charles Mackerras, a noted Czech music specialist, and currently Manfred Honeck.

The Czech Philharmonic's first phonograph recording dates from 1929, when Václav Talich recorded the Smetana´s My Country for His Master's Voice.

Honours and awards

Premiere of Antonín Dvo?ák's Piano Concerto in G minor op.33, Czech Philharmonic conducted by Václav Talich

Chief Conductors

Notes

References

External links

• ?eská filharmonie official site
• Film of Czech Philharmonic in rehearsal
• Franti?ek Sláma Archive

cs:?eská filharmonie de:Tschechische Philharmonie es:Orquesta Filarmónica Checa eo:?e?a filharmonio fr:Orchestre philharmonique tchčque ko:?? ???? ????? he:??????? ??????????? ??'??? nl:Tsjechisch Filharmonisch Orkest ja:???????????????? pt:Orquestra Filarmónica Nacional Checa fi:T?ekin filharmoninen orkesteri zh:??????

---

Source: Wikipedia | The above article is available under the GNU FDL. | Edit this article