The Prague Spring Festival starts today, May 12th, with a program that moves from major orchestral performances to competitions, open-air events, and concerts by emerging artists.

The opening concert takes place on Tuesday, May 12 at Smetana Hall in Prague’s Municipal House. The Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, led by chief conductor Petr Popelka, will perform Bedřich Smetana’s My Homeland.

The performance will be broadcast live on Czech Television’s ČT art channel, its online platform, and Czech Radio Vltava. It will also be screened outdoors in Riegrovy sady and shared across digital platforms, extending access beyond the concert hall.

From mid-afternoon, Riegrovy sady hosts a free public program combining workshops, smaller performances, and interactive activities. The evening ends with a live broadcast of the opening concert, set against the city skyline. The event is organized in partnership with energy group ČEZ and is open to all visitors without charge.

Competition remains a central part of the festival’s identity. The Prague Spring International Music Competition reaches its final rounds on May 13 and 14 at the Rudolfinum. This year’s flute finalists include three French musicians, who will perform with the Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Kaspar Zehnder.

 

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The orchestral program continues later in the week with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. The ensemble presents two concerts featuring works by Haydn, Brahms, Schumann, and Stravinsky. One of the evenings also introduces a Czech premiere by composer Ondřej Adámek, performed with mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená.

Chamber music and smaller-scale performances fill the first weekend. The Smetana Trio returns to the festival after several years, while Dutch pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen perform a two-piano program at the Rudolfinum. Their concert includes works by Bach and Mozart, accompanied by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields using period instruments.

Young performers and students also appear in the program. A Sunday concert organized with the MenART Academy presents new compositions by contemporary Czech and European composers. Meanwhile, masterclasses in flute and piano begin midweek, led by experienced performers who are also members of the competition jury.

The Prague Spring Festival continues through May and into early June, bringing together established orchestras, soloists, and young musicians across venues in the city.

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