The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (''Symfonický orchestr Českého rozhlasu'', Czech acronym SOČR, English acronym PRSO) is a Czech broadcast orchestra based in

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

, the Czech Republic. The SOČR performs concerts at the Dvořák Hall of the

Rudolfinum The Rudolfinum is a building in Prague, Czech Republic. It is designed in the neo-Renaissance style and is situated on Jan Palach Square on the bank of the river Vltava. Since its opening in 1885, it has been associated with music and art. C ...

, at the Forum Karlín and the Convent of Saint Agnes in Prague, as well as Studio 1 of Czech Radio in Prague.

History

The precursor ensemble of the SOČR was the Radiojournal Orchestra, which gave its first concert on 1 October 1926 under Jožka Charvát, the first chief conductor of the orchestra. By 1952, the popularity and size of the Radiojournal Orchestra was such that a second orchestra, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, was split off from the Radiojournal Orchestra. By 1964, two separate orchestras were affiliated with Prague Radio, the Prague Radio Orchestra and the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. These orchestras subsequently combined to form the present orchestra. Since the 2018–2019 season, Alexander Liebreich has been chief conductor and artistic director of the SOČR / PRSO. Liebreich stood down from the SOČR / PRSO at the close of the 2021—2022 season. In May 2021, the SOČR / PRSO announced the appointment of

Petr Popelka Petr Popelka (born 1986) is a Czech conductor and composer. Biography Popelka was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. he studied music and played the double bass at the Prague Conservatory. He continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik Freibu ...

as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2022—2023 season. The current principal guest conductor of the SOČR is Marek Šedivý. In May 2021, the SOČR / PRSO announced the appointment of Robert Jindra as its next principal guest conductor, effective with the 2022-2023 season. The SOČR / PRSO is a featured orchestra at such festivals as the

Prague Spring International Music Festival The Prague Spring International Music Festival (, commonly , Prague Spring) is a classical music festival held every year in Prague, Czech Republic, with symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles from around the world. The first festival ...

Dvořák Prague International Music Festival Prague Autumn International Music Festival (1991–2008) was the second largest classical music festival in Prague held annually in Prague Rudolfinum in September. It was organised under the auspices of Václav Klaus, president of the Czech Republ ...

, Smetana's

Litomyšl Litomyšl (; ) is a town in Svitavy District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 10,000 inhabitants. It is a former bishopric and Latin Catholic titular see. Litomyšl is known for the château-type castle complex of the Lit ...

, Janáček Music Festival, or

International Music Festival Český Krumlov The International Music Festival Český Krumlov is the longest-running summer music festival in the Czech Republic, having been established in 1992. Offering a wide range of musical genres performed by Czech and international artists, the Festiva ...

. The orchestra's discography includes the first set of complete recordings of Miloslav Kabeláč's eight symphonies (Supraphon, 2016).

Chief conductors

* Jožka Charvát (1927–1945) * Josef Hrnčíř (1946) *

Karel Ančerl Karel Ančerl (11 April 1908 – 3 July 1973) was a Czechoslovak conductor and composer, renowned especially for his performances of contemporary music and for his interpretations of music by Czech composers. Ančerl was born into a pros ...

(1947–1950) * Alois Klíma (1952–1971) * Jaroslav Krombholc (1975–1981) * František Vajnar (1982–1985) *

Vladimír Válek Vladimír Válek (2 September 1935 – 16 February 2025) was a Czech conductor and educator, best known for leading the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 2011. He transformed the radio orchestra with few public performances to one of ...

(1985–2011) * Ondrej Lenárd (2011–2017) * Alexander Liebreich (2018–2022) * Petr Popelka (2022–present)

References

External links

Official website of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
{{Authority control Orchestras in Prague Music in Prague Musical groups established in 1926 1952 establishments in Czechoslovakia Radio and television orchestras Radio in the Czech Republic