Prague (30 June 2025) – Internationally acclaimed Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša will become the Czech Philharmonic’s Chief Conductor and Music Director from September 2028. His initial contract is for five years, with both parties seeing the appointment as the beginning of a long-term relationship and expecting that they will wish to continue the collaboration further into the future. He will succeed the current Chief Conductor and Music Director, Semyon Bychkov, who announced last spring that he would step down after completing his tenth season with the orchestra. In a new step for the Czech Philharmonic, Jakub Hrůša’s artistic vision as Chief Conductor and Music Director will be supported by a generous gift from Renáta Kellnerová.
Speaking about the appointment, Jakub Hrůša, who has been Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic since 2018, said: “The Czech Philharmonic is one of the world’s foremost orchestras today. It combines a unique tradition with extraordinary potential for artistic growth. Our country’s leading orchestra not only sets the tone of musical life in the Czech Republic in a special way, but also performs with breathtaking success on the world’s most prestigious stages. I am overjoyed and deeply honoured that the Czech Philharmonic has chosen to align its path with mine from 2028.”
Jakub Hrůša currently serves as Chief Conductor of the Bamberg Symphony, continuing in this position until 2029; and from September of this year he becomes Music Director of the Royal Opera at Covent Garden in London. He has previously served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He was Opus Klassik’s Conductor of the Year in 2023, a double winner at the Gramophone Awards in 2024, and is the recipient of several important prizes and honorary awards in Germany, the UK and the Czech Republic.
He is also a much-loved guest conductor with the world’s leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Staatskapelle Dresden and Staatskapelle Berlin, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe – and in the US with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra.
Hrůša is highly regarded internationally not only for his interpretations of repertoire from the 18th to the 20th centuries, but also for his exceptional performances of Czech music from Smetana to the present day.
“Becoming Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic has been one of my greatest professional dreams, and I couldn’t be more delighted that this dream will now come true. I believe it has happened thanks to the rare and profound artistic and personal understanding with the orchestra’s musicians and management, and my heartfelt connection with the cherished Czech Philharmonic audience. This mutual understanding is deeply moving to me. It’s precisely this connection that has made our work together so joyful over many years. It is a great honour to lead the Czech Philharmonic at a time when it is ready to take the next inspiring steps forward — both in terms of artistic excellence and in deepening the shared experiences that can, for our listeners at home and abroad as well as us the musicians, truly be life-changing. The Czech Philharmonic, including all the amazing people who work in and for it with such devotion, is a place of the highest ambition and profound joy, where the power and beauty of music is experienced together,” said the future Chief Conductor.
Jakub Hrůša made his debut with the Czech Philharmonic in December 2004. In total, he has conducted the orchestra more than 90 times in Prague, including the gala opening of the 2017/2018 season, and in over 30 performances internationally. Highlights have included a 2012 tour of Australia, a 2020 tour of Germany and, most recently, a tour in 2024 of prestigious summer festivals including concerts in Hamburg, at the Lucerne Festival and in London at the BBC Proms. In recent seasons, Hrůša and the Czech Philharmonic have presented several artistically important projects, including concert performances of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen and Smetana’s Libuše at the Prague Spring and Smetana Litomyšl Festivals as part of the Year of Czech Music 2024, as well as performances of Josef Suk’s Epilogue and Vladimír Sommer’s Vocal Symphony in 2025.
Concluding his remarks, Hrůša said: “My main goal will be to continually elevate the artistic quality and deepen the social value of this institution. We will always honour the invaluable legacy of our Czech musical roots, which have shaped us in the past and continue to do so. At the same time, our ambition is to ensure that the work of the Czech Philharmonic remains fully relevant to the present. We want to bring music to all generations and all communities without exception. We aspire to share our passion for the arts with society as a whole—and especially with the youngest. I am more and more convinced that it will be the power of live music—experienced in its full technical excellence and emotional depth, in direct physical and spiritual contact with others—that will become ever rarer and more desired in our changing world. Our concerts are unique opportunities to share sparkling ideas and the deepest emotions. The Czech Philharmonic’s programmes must always be unforgettable events that leave an incomparable mark in the hearts of our listeners. In this love of music, we are united — from my esteemed colleague, Principal Guest Conductor Sir Simon Rattle, to every outstanding member of the orchestra and the Prague Philharmonic Choir led by Lukáš Vasilek, to CEO David Mareček and his team, who achieve small and great miracles every day. I am deeply grateful to Semyon Bychkov for having consistently developed and sustained the musical quality over the years. I also want to express my profound appreciation for the support the Czech Philharmonic receives from its founder, the Ministry of Culture, and the many generous patrons it has gained at home and abroad. Finally, I would like to thank Renáta Kellnerová for her determination to support our shared vision so generously.”
“I am proud to pass this great orchestra, loved and admired throughout the world, back to its Czech roots. I wish Jakub Hrůša well in realizing his own vision for its future and many happy years of artistic collaboration,” said current Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov.
“With Jakub Hrůša, the Czech Philharmonic gains a world-class Chief Conductor whose artistic achievements continue to grow from strength to strength. Yet this new relationship is of course a natural continuation of an already long and successful partnership. On behalf of the Czech Philharmonic team, I can confidently say that Jakub Hrůša is the best possible choice to continue the exceptional work of our current Chief Conductor, Semyon Bychkov. I thank the members of the orchestra’s Artistic Council and the orchestral group leaders for their unanimous support, as well as our founder, the Ministry of Culture, and our patrons and sponsors, without whom we could not realize our artistic plans,” said David Mareček, CEO of the Czech Philharmonic.
“In recent years, Jakub Hrůša has become one of the most sought-after conductors on the international scene, just as the Czech Philharmonic has re-established itself as a global orchestral force — beginning with Jiří Bělohlávek’s era and continuing under Semyon Bychkov’s leadership. Jakub Hrůša will not only carry this upward momentum forward with confidence, but as a unique musician and friend with whom we have already experienced many artistic triumphs — and with whom we are sure to experience many more,” added Jan Mráček, Concertmaster, First Violin Section Leader, and Chair of the Artistic Council of the Czech Philharmonic.
“Jakub is a wonderful conductor and an extraordinarily kind and generous person. Paired with this unique orchestra, it’s amazing news—I’m thrilled for everyone!” said Sir Simon Rattle, who has served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic – Rafael Kubelík Chair since the 2023/2024 season.
“Under the leadership of David Mareček, the Czech Philharmonic has, in recent years, written a story of unprecedented success—performing in Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall, and other legendary venues, collaborating with the world’s leading soloists and conductors, and becoming a true symbol of Czech culture on the international stage. I would like to express my deep appreciation for the work of Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov, whose artistic leadership and global stature have significantly strengthened the orchestra’s position in the world. Now, this extraordinary chapter will be followed by Jakub Hrůša—a conductor whose personality embodies the highest professionalism, artistic vision, and deep roots in Czech musical tradition. His appointment is both a natural and exceptional step. I firmly believe that joining the finest Czech orchestra with the finest Czech conductor will help ensure that Czech music continues to resonate strongly at home and abroad,” said Martin Baxa, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic.
“Jakub Hrůša is one of the most outstanding conductors of his generation, as evidenced by his collaborations with many of the world’s leading orchestras. I am therefore very pleased to support his appointment with the Czech Philharmonic, which represents the Czech Republic so brilliantly abroad,” said Renáta Kellnerová.
In the upcoming season, Jakub Hrůša will appear in a number of concerts in the Czech Republic. In early February 2026, he will conduct the Czech Philharmonic in Josef Suk’s Triptych and symphonic poem Praga, Four Sea Interludes by Benjamin Britten, and the Czech premiere of St. Carolyn by the Sea by American composer Bryce Dessner. A week later, he will lead performances of Suk’s A Winter’s Tale and Fairy Tale in a programme with Jean Sibelius’ The Oceanides and Violin Concerto with soloist Augustin Hadelich. Under Hrůša’s direction, the Czech Philharmonic is also recording a cycle of Josef Suk’s orchestral works for Pentatone for future release. In 2020, his recording of Dvořák’ Requiem and Te Deum was released by Decca, concluding Jiří Bělohlávek’s unfinished Dvořák recording project.
In his first season as Music Director of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, Hrůša will conduct Puccini’s Tosca, Janáček’s The Makropulos Case, and Britten’s Peter Grimes. He will also perform Dvořák’s cantata The Spectre’s Bride in London and at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House.
With the Bamberg Symphony in the coming season, he will give concerts in Bamberg and on tour across Europe, including in Vienna, Munich, Hamburg and Madrid. He will also perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 with the Philharmonia Orchestra and return for re-invitations to the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, the Orchestra dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia, the Chicago Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, and NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo.
For further information:
Jakub Hrůša
Kateřina Motlová, tel.: +420 725 712 443, e-mail: katerina@motlova.cz
Czech Philharmonic
Luděk Březina, tel.: +420 736 605 620, e-mail: ludek.brezina@ceskafilharmonie.cz
Tereza Šindlerová, tel.: +420 720 546 402, e-mail: tereza.sindlerova@ceskafilharmonie.cz
Photo: Petra Hajská
