The Brno Philharmonic (Czech: ''Filharmonie Brno'') is a Czech orchestra based in Brno, the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

. Its principal concert venue in Brno is the ''Besední dům''. The orchestra also performs regularly in the Janáček Opera House in Brno. The orchestra receives state support from the city of Brno, the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and the South Moravian Region (''Jihomoravský kraj''). The orchestra's current ''Intendantin'' is Marie Kučerová. The precursor ensemble to the orchestra, the Czech Symphony Orchestra, began its existence in the 1870s and was resident at the ''Besední dům''. The orchestra had to vacate the ''Besední dům'' during the time of 1953-1957. During this period, the current Brno Philharmonic was formed in 1956 with the merger of the Radio Orchestra and the Brno Region Symphony Orchestra.

Břetislav Bakala Břetislav Bakala (February 12, 1897 in Fryšták – April 1, 1958 in Brno) was a Czech conductor, pianist, and composer. His career was centred on Brno and he was particularly associated with the music of Leoš Janáček. Life and career ...

served as the newly formed orchestra's first principal conductor orchestra, from 1956 to 1958. The orchestra again vacated the ''Besední dům'' in 1989, but returned permanently in 1995. The orchestra's most recent principal conductor was

Aleksandar Marković Aleksandar Marković may refer to: * Aleksandar Marković (conductor) * Aleksandar Marković (politician) {{hndis, Markovic, Aleksandar ...

, from 2009 to 2015. In May 2017,

Dennis Russell Davies Dennis Russell Davies (born April 16, 1944 in Toledo, Ohio) is an American conductor and pianist, He is currently the music director and chief conductor of the Brno Philharmonic. Biography Davies studied piano and conducting at the Juilliard Sch ...

first guest-conducted with the orchestra. Based on this appearance, in September 2017, the orchestra announced the appointment of Davies as its next principal conductor, effective with the 2018-2019 season, with an initial contract of 4 seasons.

Principal conductors

(1956–1958) *

Jaroslav Vogel Jaroslav Vogel (11 January 1894 – 2 February 1970) was a Czech conductor, composer and writer. He was principal conductor of the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra from 1959 to 1962. He was a conductor in his native Plzeň from 1914 to 1915 and in Ost ...

(1959–1962) * Jiří Waldhans (1962–1978) * František Jílek (1978–1983) * Petr Vronský (1983–1991) *

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 ...

(1991–1995) *

Otakar Trhlík Otakar is a masculine Czech given name of Germanic origin (cf. Audovacar). Notable people with the name include: *Otakar Batlička (1895–1942), Czech adventurer, journalist, ham radio operator, member of Czech Nazi resistance group in World War ...

(1995–1997) * Aldo Ceccato (1997–2000) *

Petr Altrichter Petr Altrichter (born May 24, 1951 in Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech people, Czech conducting, conductor. He studied French horn and conducting at the Conservatory of Music in Ostrava. He also studied at the Janáček Acad ...

(2002–2009) *

Aleksandar Marković Aleksandar Marković may refer to: * Aleksandar Marković (conductor) * Aleksandar Marković (politician) {{hndis, Markovic, Aleksandar ...

(2009–2015) *

(2018–)

Conductors laureate

* Caspar Richter (2002–present) *

Sir Charles Mackerras Mackerras in 2005 Sir Alan Charles MacLaurin Mackerras (; 1925 2010) was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. He was long associated with the Engli ...

(2007–2010)

References

External links

Brno Philharmonic, official websiteCzech Music Information Centre article on the orchestra, @ 2001Recording with the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra
Czech orchestras Musical groups established in 1956 1956 establishments in Czechoslovakia {{orchestra-stub