Jakub Hrůša (born 23 July 1981 in
Brno
Brno ( , ; german: Brünn ) is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava and Svratka rivers, Brno has about 380,000 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in the Czech Republic ...
), is a Czech conductor.
Education
Hrůša is the son of the architect
Petr Hrůša.
Hrůša studied
piano
The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...
and
trombone
The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...
, and developed an interest in conducting, during his years at
Gymnázium třída Kapitána Jaroše in Brno. Later he studied conducting at the
Academy of Performing Arts in Prague
The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague ( cs, Akademie múzických umění v Praze, AMU) is a university in the centre of Prague, Czech Republic, specialising in the study of music, dance, drama, film, television and multi-media. It is the larg ...
, where his teachers included
Jiří Bělohlávek
Jiří Bělohlávek, (; 24 February 1946 – 31 May 2017) was a Czech conductor. He was a leading interpreter of Czech classical music, and became chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 1990, a role he would serve on two occasio ...
,
Radomil Eliška
Radomil Eliška (6 April 1931, Podbořany – 1 September 2019, Prague)Leoš Svárovský
Leoš Svárovský (born 17 May 1961 in Jablonec nad Nisou, former Czechoslovakia) is a Czech flautist and conductor.
He began his musical career as a flautist after studying at the Prague Conservatory
The Prague Conservatory or Prague Cons ...
.
In 2000 he participated in the
Prague Spring International Music Festival
The Prague Spring International Music Festival ( cs, Mezinárodní hudební festival Pražské jaro, commonly cs, Pražské jaro, Prague Spring) is a classical music festival held every year in Prague, Czech Republic, with symphony orchestras an ...
conducting competition. In 2003, he was a prizewinner in the
in
Zagreb
Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slop ...
,
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
.
[ He has researched for a dissertation the work of contemporary Czech composers.
]
Career
From 2002 to 2005, Hrůša was Associate Conductor with the Czech Philharmonic. From 2005 to 2006, he was an associate conductor with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France is a French radio orchestra, affiliated with Radio France. The orchestra performs principally at the auditorium of the Maison de la Radio in Paris, along with several concerts at the Philharmonie de Pa ...
. In April 2006, he signed a six-CD recording contract with Supraphon
Supraphon Music Publishing is a Czech record label, oriented mainly towards publishing classical music and popular music, with an emphasis on Czech and Slovak composers.
History
The Supraphon name was first registered as a trademark in 1932. T ...
, where the first three CDs were with the Prague Philharmonia.
From 2005 to 2008, Hrůša was principal guest conductor of the Prague Philharmonia
The Prague Philharmonia (''Pražská komorní filharmonie'', abbreviation: PKF; literal translation, "Prague Chamber Philharmonia") is a Czech orchestra based in Prague. The orchestra gives concerts in several venues in Prague, including the Dvoř ...
. He was the orchestra's chief conductor from 2008 to 2015. From 2005 to 2006, he was the Chief Conductor of the Bohuslav Martinů
Bohuslav Jan Martinů (; December 8, 1890 – August 28, 1959) was a Czech composer of modern classical music. He wrote 6 symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. He bec ...
Philharmonic in Zlín
Zlín (in 1949–1989 Gottwaldov; ; german: Zlin) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 73,000 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Zlín Region and it lies on the Dřevnice river. It is known as an industrial centre. The development of the ...
.[ He became principal guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra as of the 2015–2016 season.
In February 2009, Hrůša was named the music director of Glyndebourne on Tour, effective January 2010. In September 2011, he was named the next music director of the Royal Danish Opera and of the Royal Danish Orchestra, effective September 2013. However, in January 2012, in the wake of the resignation of ]Keith Warner Keith Warner (born 6 December 1956) is a British opera director, designer and translator. He is noted for his flamboyant stagings of Richard Wagner's operas.
Early years
Warner was born in London and went to Woodhouse School in Finchley, North Lon ...
from the artistic directorship of the Royal Danish Opera following proposed budget cuts, Hrůša announced that he would not take the music directorship of Royal Danish Opera, in solidarity with Warner's action. In September 2015, after 5 appearances as a guest conductor, Hrůša was named the next chief conductor of the Bamberg Symphony
The Bamberg Symphony (German: Bamberger Symphoniker – Bayerische Staatsphilharmonie) is a German orchestra based in Bamberg. It is one of the most prestigious orchestras in Germany. The orchestra was formed in 1946 mainly from German musicians e ...
, effective from the 2016–2017 season, with an initial contract of 4 seasons. In March 2017, the Philharmonia Orchestra
The Philharmonia Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, a classical music record producer for EMI. Among the conductors who worked with the orchestra in its early years were Richard Strauss, W ...
announced the appointment of Hrůša as one of its two new principal guest conductors, effective with the 2017–2018 season. In June 2018, the Bamberg Symphony announced the extension of Hrůša's contract as its chief conductor through the 2025–2026 season. In July 2021, the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
The Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia) is an Italian symphony orchestra based in Rome. Resident at the Parco della Musica, the orchestra primarily performs its Rome concerts in ...
announced the appointment of Hrůša as its next principal guest conductor, effective with the 2021-2022 season, with an initial contract of 3 seasons.
Hrůša first guest-conducted at the Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal Op ...
(ROH) in February 2018, in a production of ''Carmen''. He returned to the ROH in April 2022 to conduct a production of ''Lohengrin''. In October 2022, the ROH announced the appointment of Hrůša as its next music director, effective in September 2025. He took the title of music director designate with immediate effect.
Personal life
Hrůša and his wife Klára Hrůšová have two children. The family have a residence in London.
Selected discography
* Dvořák – ''Czech Suite'', ''Valčíky'', ''Polonéza''. Prague Philharmonia. Supraphon SU 3867-2 (2006).
* Dvořák – Suite in A, op 98b; Josef Suk – Serenade for Strings, ''Fantastic Scherzo''. Prague Philharmonia. Supraphon SU 3882-2 (2006).
* Dvořák – Serenade for Strings, Serenade for Winds, ''Meditations on the St Wenceslas Chorale''. Prague Philharmonia. Supraphon SU 3932-2 (2008).
* Leoš Janáček
Leoš Janáček (, baptised Leo Eugen Janáček; 3 July 1854 – 12 August 1928) was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist, and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and other Slavic musics, including Eastern European fol ...
– ''Lachian Dances'', ''The Cunning Little Vixen'' Suite (František Jílek version), ''Taras Bulba''. Brno Philharmonic. Supraphon SU 3923-2 (2009).
* Bohuslav Martinů
Bohuslav Jan Martinů (; December 8, 1890 – August 28, 1959) was a Czech composer of modern classical music. He wrote 6 symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. He bec ...
, Josef Bohuslav Foerster
Josef Bohuslav Foerster (30 December 1859 – 29 May 1951) was a Czechs, Czech composer and musicologist. He is often referred to as J. B. Foerster, and his surname is sometimes spelled Förster.
Life
Foerster was born in Prague. His ancestors ...
, Viteszlav Novak – Cello Concertos. Jiří Bárta, Prague Philharmonia. Supraphon SU 3989-2 (2009).
* Bedřich Smetana
Bedřich Smetana ( , ; 2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884) was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style that became closely identified with his people's aspirations to a cultural and political "revival." He has been regarded i ...
– '' Ma Vlast''. Prague Philharmonia. Supraphon SU 4032-2 (2010).
* Dvořák & Lalo – Cello Concertos. Johannes Moser, Prague Philharmonia. Pentatone PTC 5186488 (2015)
* Dvořák – Slavonic Rhapsodies & Symphonic Variations. Prague Philharmonia. Pentatone PTC 5186554 (2016)
* Dvořák – Overtures. Prague Philharmonia. Pentatone PTC 5186532 (2016).
* Bartok & Kodaly – Concertos for Orchestra. Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
The Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (''Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin'') is a German symphony orchestra based in Berlin. In Berlin, the orchestra gives concerts at the Konzerthaus Berlin and at the Berliner Philharmonie. The orchestra has also ...
. Pentatone PTC 5186626 (2018).
References
External links
Bamberg Symphony English-language page on Jakub Hrůša
Supraphon Czech-language page on Jakub Hrůša
Supraphon English-language page on Jakub Hrůša
IMG Artists agency page on Jakub Hrůša
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hrusa, Jakub
1981 births
Czech conductors (music)
Male conductors (music)
Living people
Musicians from Brno
21st-century conductors (music)
21st-century Czech male musicians