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| Czech Philharmonic Choir | |
|---|---|
| Name | Czech Philharmonic Choir |
| Origin | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Founding | 19th century |
| Genre | Classical music, Choral music |
| Associated acts | Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic |
Czech Philharmonic Choir is a distinguished Prague-based choral ensemble closely associated with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, performing major choral-orchestral works across Central Europe and internationally. The choir has participated in premieres and standard repertory alike, collaborating with conductors and soloists from institutions such as the Vienna Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, and festivals like the Salzburg Festival and Edinburgh Festival. Its activities have linked Prague with cities including Vienna, Berlin, London, New York City, and Tokyo.
Founded in the late 19th century amid the cultural ferment of Prague and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the ensemble emerged during the same period that produced institutions like the National Theatre (Prague) and figures such as Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana. Throughout the interwar era the choir engaged with ensembles including the Brno Philharmonic and participated in premieres at venues like the Rudolfinum and the Municipal House (Prague), while interacting with composers such as Leoš Janáček and Vítězslav Novák. During World War II and the Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938), the choir navigated the cultural policies affecting groups like the Prague Conservatory and later adapted to postwar conditions under the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic alongside institutions such as the Prague Spring International Music Festival. In the late 20th century it recorded canonical works and toured with ensembles including the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre de Paris.
The choir operates within a framework comparable to ensembles like the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Choir and cooperates administratively with organizations such as the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra administration, the Prague Conservatory, and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Artistic leadership has included conductors and directors who also served at institutions like the National Theatre (Prague), the Smetana Theatre, and the Brno Conservatory, and who collaborated with maestros from the Royal Opera House, the La Scala, and the Bolshoi Theatre. Management liaises with cultural ministries akin to the Ministry of Culture (Czech Republic) and programming committees modeled on those of the Salzburg Festival and the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
The choir's repertory spans works from Baroque music staples by Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel to Romantic masterpieces by Gustav Mahler, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Antonín Dvořák, as well as 20th-century works by Igor Stravinsky, Bohuslav Martinů, and Olivier Messiaen. Recorded projects include symphonic-choral cycles with orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for labels comparable to Deutsche Grammophon, Supraphon, and Philips Records. The choir has taken part in studio sessions of oratorios like Bach's Mass in B minor, requiems such as Mozart's Requiem and Verdi's Requiem, and large-scale works like Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Mahler's Symphony No. 2.
The ensemble has collaborated with leading conductors and institutions including the Herbert von Karajan circle, the Sir Simon Rattle projects, engagements with the Daniel Barenboim-led ensembles, and partnerships with opera houses such as the Prague National Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera, and Teatro alla Scala. Tours have taken the choir to festivals and halls including the Salzburg Festival, the Lucerne Festival, the Carnegie Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, and have included joint concerts with orchestras like the London Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The choir's recordings and performances have been recognized by awards and honors associated with bodies like the Gramophone Awards, the International Classical Music Awards, and national decorations similar to the Czech Medal of Merit and cultural prizes administered by the Ministry of Culture (Czech Republic). Critical acclaim has come in reviews in publications comparable to The New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, Die Zeit, and specialized journals such as Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine.
Soloists and conductors associated with the choir have included figures linked to the Prague Conservatory, the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, and international institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, the Juilliard School, and the Curtis Institute of Music. Collaborating conductors have included artists of the standing of Rafael Kubelík, Karel Ančerl, Václav Neumann, Jiří Bělohlávek, and guest maestros like Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, and Gustavo Dudamel. Prominent soloists who appeared with the choir have ties to houses such as the La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Royal Opera House.
Category:Czech choirs Category:Musical groups established in the 19th century Category:Classical music in the Czech Republic