The youngest orchestra and the most classical programme. The epilogue of the Dvořák Prague Festival will be the climax of its own celebration of the Year of Czech Music with a clear glimpse into the future. For the symbolism of eternal musical youth, the festival has chosen an ensemble that represents tomorrow’s gleaming hope for the performing arts that is being developed with great intensity not only by the activities of the festival’s presenter, i.e., the Academy of Classical Music, but also by other institutions, with the Czech Philharmonic foremost among them. The players of the Czech Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will be revealing something of music’s promising future. Although it is a student ensemble that was originally a kind of test project of the Czech Philharmonic, the orchestra has given regular subscription concerts led by such conductors as Simon Rattle, Semyon Bychkov or Jakub Hrůša. At the same time, the joy the players get from music and their willingness to engage in hard work are strong arguments to counter those who complain about the new generation’s hypersensitivity. Also on the programme is Beethoven’s enormously demanding Triple Concerto, which is sometimes avoided even by seasoned professionals. Joining with the Czech Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is a familiar face, cellist Pablo Fernandez, whose performance of the Dvořák Cello Concerto at the opening of the 2022 Dvořák Prague Festival was one of the most memorable in the festival’s history. Also appearing are Pablo’s colleagues, with whom he enjoys performing: violinist Alexandra Conunova and pianist Dmitry Shishkin. While they are all still young, they have also earned a place on the international scene. Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony will then conclude the festival with optimistic hopes for next year. During the summer, conductor Marko Ivanovič will lead the orchestra’s preparations, then during the festival and at the concert itself, the conductor will be Ingo Metzmacher. Besides conducting the Czech Philharmonic at the concert on 19 September 2024, he also is devoting his time to fostering the young talents of the Czech Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

“You can put anything in front of them and they will play it!” That is how Sir Simon Rattle characterised the Czech Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, which he conducted in June 2020. For quite some time, the orchestra has been working mainly on educational programmes, but has also made guest appearances as part of the Czech Philharmonic regular subscription series.

The orchestra gives the upcoming generation of musicians–mostly students of music schools–the opportunity to regularly rehearse and perform masterpieces from the international symphonic, concertante, and vocal-instrumental repertoire. We aim to build a permanent orchestra that fosters lasting relationships and mutual understanding among its musicians. Our aim is to assist them in refining their ensemble playing skills.

“I believe the Czech Philharmonic Youth Orchestra still has room to grow, and I will happily continue to help with that process,” adds Marko Ivanović, the chief conductor and a supporter of young musicians since 2006. That is when the student ensemble’s history began under the protective wing of the Czech Philharmonic, with Steps to the New World, a cycle of concerts with commentary for students. The musicians of the Czech Philharmonic Youth Orchestra thus act as “beacons of light” for their peers, demonstrating that young people can have a passion for classical music and ardently share it with others.

Whether as an opera conductor, orchestra leader, festival director or book author: Ingo Metzmacher is consistently committed to music, especially of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Making the new sound familiar and the familiar sound new has been his focus since the beginning of his career.

Ingo Metzmacher was General Music Director of the Hamburg State Opera from 1997 to 2005 and subsequently Chief Conductor at the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, as well as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin from 2007 to 2010. Since 2016 he has been the Artistic Director of the KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen, whose next festival edition will take place from 16 May to 2 June 2024.

Ingo Metzmacher is a frequent guest with leading orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Gewandhausorchester, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble Modern, as well as at opera houses and festivals such as the Vienna State Opera, the Opéra national de Paris, Milan's Teatro alla Scala, the Salzburg Festival and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence.

Highlights of the 2024/25 include his fifth tour with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, performances with the Gewandhausorchester, Orquesta Sinfónica de RTVE, Wiener Symphoniker, SWR Symphonieorchester, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester and the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the world premiere of Francesco Filidei’s Il nome della rosa at Teatro alla Scala. He is conducting a new production of lbéric Magnard's Guercœur at the Opéra national du Rhin, Leonard Bernstein's Mass - A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers with the NDR Radiophilharmonie and nine choirs from Hanover as part of the KunstFestSpielen Herrenhausen, as well as the closing concert of the Donaueschinger Musiktage.

Metzmacher’s wide-ranging discography includes live recordings of his legendary New Year’s Eve concerts in Hamburg from 1999 to 2004 entitled Who’s Afraid of 20th Century Music?, a complete recording of Hartmann’s symphonies with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the world premiere of Henze’s Ninth Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic and Messiaen’s Eclairs sur l'Au-delà… with the Vienna Philharmonic. Most recently, he released two recordings with Ensemble Modern: Andre’s cycle riss and Beschenkt – 40 miniatures celebrating the ensembles 40th anniversary.

He is the author of two books: Keine Angst vor neuen Tönen [Don’t Be Afraid of New Sounds] and Vorhang auf! Oper entdecken und erleben [Curtain Up! Discovering and Experiencing Opera].

source: OPUS 3 ARTIST

First Prize at the Joseph Joachim Violin Competition in Hannover, and prizewinner at the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and at the Singapore International Violin Competition, Alexandra Conunova has been hailed by her virtuosity, warm tone, impressive range of color, and flawless technique. She also received the prestigious Fellowship by the Borletti-Buittoni Trust in London.

Conunova has appeared with many of the leading international orchestras, such as the Orchestre de Paris, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Paris Chamber Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, NFOR, Orchestra Teatro Regio Torino, Barcelona Symphony, among others. She frequently performs under the batons of maestros A. Manze, L. Foster, J-P. Saraste, T. Currentzis, G. Noseda, L. Langree, A. Poga, J. Weilerstein, M. Pletnev, L. Equilbey , A. Manacorda, C. Zacharias, D. Hindoyan, J. Nott, P. Bleuse, D. Ward, O. Lyniv and J. Mallwitz.

After her successful debut in summer 2022 at the Tivoli Festival playing/conducting Vivaldi and Piazzola’s Four Seasons, Alexandra was swiftly reinvited by the Copenhagen Philharmonic in Spring 2024, performing the Arthur Lourie’s Concerto da Camera.

Other recent highlights this past season include the tour with the Insula Orchestra in Spain, the returns to the Nuremberg Symphony and Aalborg Symphony, and debuts with Oxford Philharmonic, Borusan Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic, Kristiansand Symphony, Odense Symphony, Mexico National Symphony Orchestra, and at the San Francisco Symphony Spotlight recital series.

The season 24/25 brings Conunova’s appereance at the Verbier Festival, the debuts with the Filarmonica de Bologna, Essen Philharmonic, BR Runfunkorchester, G.Enescu Philharmonic, PhilZuid, Slovak Philharmonic, Macao Symphony, Timsoara Philharmonic, Orquesta de Granada, as well as the returns to the Barcelona Symphony, Nuremberg Symphony, NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, Orquesta de les Illes Balears and Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla. Conunova will debut with the Zagreb Soloists playing/conducting a program that features works by Elgar, Mendelssohn, and Piazzola; will tour with Christian Zacharias, appearing in Paris, Prades, Bourgogne, Court, Gstaad, Bern, Sion and Padova; and will also perform Beethoven Triple Concerto with Pablo Ferrández and Dmitry Shishkin at the Dvorak Prague Festival under Ingo Meztmacher.

Alexandra’s first recording of Prokofiev Violin Sonatas with Michail Liftis, on Aparté, was received with great acclaim: “This recording reveals Conunova as a major artist – in terms of both technical assurance and interpretative daring… I can’t recommend their freshly considered, vividly recorded interpretations highly enough” (Gramophone); “…this is already a candidate for one of the best discs of the year” (The Strad).

In Fall 2020, she recorded and released Vivaldi’s Four Seasons also on Aparté, obtaining rave reviews: “her last recording as a whole is an exquisitely light and graceful reading from everyone, crowned by ravishingly sweet-toned and dancing filigree lines from Conunova herself”, “her playing is this fabulous: the warm-toned, easy fluidity of her virtuosities; her range of articulation, colour, and shading; the subtle spontaneity; the natural shaping.” (Gramophone)

In the last years Alexandra has had the pleasure of working under the guidance and mentoring of one of the world’s leading professors, Edouard Wulfson, in Geneva.

Alexandra currently plays on Giovanni Batistta Guadagnini, ca. 1785 ex “Ida Levin”, on a kind loan from a music lover.

source: CAMI Music LLC worldwide

“Pop-idol magnetism, superb technique and exhilarating musicality reveal a sure star” – LA Times

“With Pablo Ferrández, Spain offers a new cello genius” – Le Figaro

“This soloist belongs to the elite of current internaGonal cellists and seems desGned to follow in the footsteps of another illustrious Spanish cellist named Pablo, Pablo Casals.” - Resonances Lyriques

Prizewinner at the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition and SONY Classical exclusive artist, Pablo Ferrández is hailed as a “new cello genius” (Le Figaro). A captivating performer, “Ferrández has the lot: technique, mettle, spirit, authority as a soloist, expressivity and charm” (El Pais).

Introduced by the Pittsburgh Symphony as “the next Yo-Yo Ma”, Pablo Ferrández has turned into a cello phenomenon and one of the most in-demand instrumentalists of his generation.

His debut album under SONY Classical, “Reflections”, released in 2021, was highly acclaimed by the critics and praised with the Opus Klassik Award. In Fall 2022 Pablo Ferrández released his second album, which comprised the Brahms Double Concerto, performed with Anne-Sophie Mutter, the Czech Philharmonic under M. Honeck, as well as Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio, performed with Ms. Mutter and Lambert Orkis, also receiving rave reviews.

Pablo’s recent seasons have seen him appearing with the Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Tonhalle Orchestra, Bayersichen Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, HR-Sinfonieorchester, Konzerthaus Berlin Orchestra, NDR Elbphiharmonie Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Orchestra National de France, Israel Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic and Seoul Philharmonic. He has also toured with the London Philharmonic, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Antwerp Symphony and the Czech Philharmonic under S. Bychkov.

Ferrández is frequently invited to international renown festivals such as Verbier, Salzburg, Dresden, Sion, Tsinandali, Abu Dhabi and Dvorak Prague Festival, among others.

The 24/25 season brings the returns to Munich Philharmonic, Bamberg Symphony, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, London Philharmonic, Spanish National Orchestra, KBS Symphony, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, where he will play Brahms Double Concerto alongside Anne-Sofie Mutter & K. Yamada. Pablo will also debut in that season with NDR Radiophilharmonie Orchester, Belgian National Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, North Carolina Orchestra and will be Artist-in-Residence at the Tongyeong International Music Festival in S. Korea.

Additionally, Ferrández will tour with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Borusan Philharmonic, and with the WDR Sinfonieorchester under A. Orozco-Estrada in Spain.

Pablo will appear in trio alongside Anne-Sofie Mutter and Martha Argerich at Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, with Ms. Mutter and Yefim Bronfman on tour in the United States, with Janine Jansen and Denis Kozhukhin at Vienna Musikverien and Kamermuziek Festival Utrecht, and as recitalist in New York, Baltimore, Milan, Florence, Bilbao, Laufen, Munster, as well in the Aix-en-Provence, Sion, Peralada, Verbier and Abu Dhabi Festivals.

Mr. Ferrández plays the Stradivarius “Archinto” 1689, on a generous life-long loan from a member of the Stretton Society.

source: CAMI Music LLC worldwide

Silver Medal at the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition and winner of the 73rd Geneva International Music Competition, Dmitry Shishkin has been acclaimed for both his creative and individual approach to music. He has been defined by the critics as a “electrifying and flamboyant pianist, of great musical honesty and rigor.”

Dmitry Shishkin’s recent and upcoming highlights include Shostakovich Piano Concerto at Wiener Musikverein, appearances with the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande under J.Nott, Budapest Festival Orchestra under G. Takacs-Nagy, Prague Radio Symphony under P. Popelka, recital tours in S. Korea and Taiwan, as well as at the Bellini Theater in Catania, Wigmore Hall and at the Verbier Festival.

He has also appeared with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Belgium National Orchestra, Staatskapelle Weimar, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre, Svetlanov State Symphony Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra del Teatro Massimo Bellini and Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.

He is frequently invited to prestigious Festivals, such as Verbier, La Roque d’Antheron, Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Radio France Montepellier Festival, Bergen Music Festival, “Chopin and his Europe” Festival, Bergamo Brescia Music Festival, and has collaborated with such artists as Daniel Lozakovich and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.

Based currently in Switzerland, he began his piano studies at the Gnessin Moscow School of Music with Mikhail Khokhlov, continuing at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory under Eliso Virsaladze, and later in Sicily at the “Vincenzo Bellini” State Conservatory in Catania with Epifanio Comis and in Hannover at the Musikhochschule with Arie Vardi.

The Rudolfinum is one of the most important Neo-Renaissance edifices in the Czech Republic. In its conception as a multi-purpose cultural centre it was quite unique in Europe at the time of its construction. Based on a joint design by two outstanding Czech architects, Josef Zítek and Josef Schultz, a magnificent building was erected serving for concerts, as a gallery, and as a museum. The grand opening on 7 February 1885 was attended by Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria, in whose honour the structure was named. In 1896 the very first concert of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra took place in the Rudolfinum's main concert hall, under the baton of the composer Antonín Dvořák whose name was later bestowed on the hall.