The Czech Philharmonic was last night named Orchestra of the Year at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards in London. Nominated first by the British magazine’s editors and reviewers based on the orchestra’s recording output over the last year, the final vote was decided by the public.
“This Award is particularly meaningful to all of us not only because it recognizes the orchestra as the living and ever evolving musical organism, but also because it comes from our worldwide public, the very people we want to touch through our music making.”
— Semyon Bychkov, Chief Conductor and Music Director
To mark 2024’s Year of Czech Music and the bicentenary of Bedřich Smetana’s birth, the Czech Philharmonic released a new recording of the iconic Má vlast (or My Country) in March conducted by Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov.
This recording was followed in June by an album of Antonín Dvořák, Bohuslav Martinů and Gideon Klein songs with mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and Principal Guest Conductor Sir Simon Rattle; and in September, by Dvořák’s Symphony Nos. 7-9 and Concert Overtures with Bychkov.
The Czech Philharmonic’s final release of the year in November will be Dvořák’s Legends and Slavonic Rhapsodies with Tomáš Netopil.
All the recordings are released on PENTATONE, with whom the orchestra have had an exclusive contract since the beginning of 2022.
“We always hoped that the Year of Czech Music 2024 would be a special year for the orchestra, and touring the world with Czech music was a privilege for everyone at the Czech Philharmonic. To be named Orchestra of the Year by Gramophone magazine is the icing on the cake and on behalf of the whole orchestra I would like to thank our fantastic musicians and the wonderful team that supports them.”
— Robert Hanč, General Manager and Artistic Director
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