Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra • Tokyo

“It is the fulfilment of a dream we shared with Jiří Bělohlávek: after two years of preparations, we are ushering in concerts of the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. This name does not stand for one particular ensemble; instead it represents a project in which the orchestra members will be performing in various chamber groups,” said David Mareček, Chief Executive Officer of the Czech Philharmonic, in the spring of 2018. Jiří Bělohlávek was convinced that it was healthy for the Czech Philharmonic to play in a smaller ensemble with a repertoire spanning the Baroque to the present, where the musicians can hone their intonation, phrasing, and collaboration as individuals within a whole group. The Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, consisting exclusively of the members of the Czech Philharmonic assembled for a specific occasion, was officially established in the Czech Philharmonic’s 123rd season. Since then, the ensemble has already prepared fifteen projects presented both during the orchestra’s regular season at the Rudolfinum and at festival appearances.

Jan Fišer is one of the most impressive young Czech violinists. He has been notably successful at international competitions and has collaborated with a number of leading orchestras and chamber music performers at home and abroad. Since 2004 he has been the concertmaster of the Prague Philharmonia, and since 2020 he has held the same position with the Czech Philharmonic. With the pianist Ivo Kahánek and the cellist Tomáš Jamník he belongs to the Dvořák Trio, which enjoys success on concert stages both in the Czech Republic and abroad. Jan Fišer also teaches—he is one of the mentors of the MenART Scholarship Academy, and he gives instruction regularly at music courses including the Ševčík Academy in Horažďovice and at the Music Academy in Telč. He is a graduate of the Prague Conservatoire, where he studied violin under Jaroslav Foltýn, and in 2003 he completed his studies at Carnegie Mellon University under Andrés J. Cárdenes. Thereafter he took part in masterclasses with Stephen B. Shipps, Pinchas Zukerman, Gil Shaham, and Joseph Silverstein. He plays a French violin from the early 19th century attributed to Francois-Louis Pique, which has been lent to him through the generosity of the Fidula Foundation.