Jiri Belohlavek Conductor

The renowned Czech maestro Jiří Bĕlohlávek took up the position of Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in July 2006. Founder and Music Director Laureate of the Prague Philharmonia, Maestro Bĕlohlávek studied at the Prague Conservatoire and Arts Academy. He appears regularly with major orchestras including the Leipzig Gewandhaus, Vienna Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw, Philharmonia, London Philharmonic, NHK Symphony (Tokyo) and the Orchestre de Paris. In North America, he conducts the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Washington D.C., St. Louis, Toronto, and Minnesota. In his homeland, Jiří Bĕlohlávek was appointed President of the Prague Spring Festival in 2006.

Jiří Bĕlohlávek has been Chief Conductor of the Prague Symphony (1977-89) and Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic (1990-1992), with whom he has recorded extensively for Chandos Records. He founded the Prague Philharmonia in 1994, and has recorded and toured extensively with this ensemble, including a televised appearance at the BBC Proms in July 2004. He was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in September 1995, immediately following his debut with the orchestra conducting The Epic of Gilgamesh by Martinu.

Highlights of the 2008-09 season included appearances at the Opera de Paris (The Bartered Bride), Teatro Real Madrid (Katya Kabanova), The Metropolitan Opera (Eugene Onegin and Rusalka), and a return to Glyndebourne Festival Opera for a new production of Dvorák’s Rusalka. In September 2008, he was presented with a Gramophone award in the ‘Best Opera’ category for his live recording with the BBC Symphony Orchestra of Janacek The Excursions of Mr. Broucek.

His 2009-10 season includes appearances with, amongst others, the Japan Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic and Czech Philharmonic orchestras. He will also be conducting a new production of Martinu Plays of Mary at the National Theatre in Prague.

Date Last Edited: 2nd March 2010