Helping with the Czech Philharmonic IV • Simon Rattle, Magdalena Kožená

"Last season my long-time colleague and friend, Simon Rattle, conducted the Czech Philharmonic for the first time. He clearly loved the Orchestra AND we have managed to persuade him to join Magdalena Kozena and conduct this year's  Helping with the Czech Philharmonic IV. Given by an orchestra made up almost equally of Czech Philharmonic musicians and members of the Czech Student Philharmonic, the concert is in aid of the Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund which aims to raise awareness of and support for the education provided by Czech arts schools," said Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov. "Welcome back, Simon and Magdalena!"

"Of course it is always a huge pleasure to work with the Czech Philharmonic, one of the world’s truly great orchestras but after the last months of silence, the possibility to actually make music in a room together will be particularly emotional, a feast after a famine. I felt that a program in this time needs an element of joy, and that the Dvorak dances with their melancholy joy, or maybe joyful melancholy, were the ideal pieces.They also make a frame around two great song cycles for Magdalena, including one of the most communicative and appealing versions of folk songs from over the world. Hopefully this will feel like a real celebration of the chance to open up our musical life once more," Sir Simon Rattle explained.

Final concert from the series Helping with the Czech Philharmonic wants to emphasize the importance of regular blood donation. It will also support Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund and music schools in the Czech Republic. Watch live on ČT art or on Facebook of the Czech Philharmonic.