17th Dvořák Prague Festival Kicks Off in Prague on Friday

The 17th annual Dvořák Prague International Music Festival will kick off on Friday, September 6, with a captivating performance of Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor and the renowned New World Symphony.

The opening concert will feature soloist Julian Steckel and the Bamberger Symphoniker, under the baton of conductor Jakub Hrůša.

This year’s Artist in Residence, Julian Steckel, will perform four times throughout the festival, including an open-air concert titled “Connected by Mahler” at the Prague Exhibition Centre on September 11, as announced today by the festival director, Jan Simon.

In celebration of the “Year of Czech Music,” the festival will honor not only Dvořák but also Bedřich Smetana and other prominent Czech composers.

Every year ending in four is designated the Year of Czech Music, celebrating the anniversaries of famous Czech composers such as Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904), Leoš Janáček (1854-1928), Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959), and Josef Suk (1874-1935).

The central theme this year is the 200th anniversary of Bedřich Smetana’s birth.

On September 7, the Czech Philharmonic will perform under principal guest conductor Jakub Hrůša, including Leoš Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass, which recently received acclaim at the BBC Proms. The festival will also see the world premiere of Peter Wajsar’s Violoncelloops on September 19.

On September 8, St. Agnes Monastery will host Family Day, an event aimed at younger music enthusiasts. An afternoon concert titled “Dvořák the Teacher,” performed by the Pilsen Philharmonic at Bethlehem Chapel, is specially designed for children and their families.

The 58th Dvořák International Radio Competition for Young Musicians, known as Concertino Praga, will reach its finale on September 14 at the Dvořák Hall.

Ticket prices have seen a slight increase, with the most expensive tickets being for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, ranging from CZK 2,490 to CZK 4,190.

Last year’s festival attracted nearly 17,000 attendees, an increase of 2,000 from the previous year.

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