David Mareček, Chief Executive of the Czech Philharmonic, has just announced that the renowned Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša will assume the role of Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic beginning with the 2028/29 season. At 43, Hrůša’s appointment marks a significant moment not only for the Czech musical landscape but also for the international classical music scene.
Hrůša will continue to serve as Chief Conductor of the Bamberg Symphony until the start of his tenure in Prague. He currently resides in London, where he took up the post of Music Director of the Royal Opera House this season – a position he is expected to hold for the next 22 years, according to preliminary reports. He also maintains a strong presence in Italy, where he serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome.
Hrůša’s relationship with the Czech Philharmonic is a longstanding one: he has been a regular guest conductor since 2015 and was appointed Principal Guest Conductor in 2018.
Although the Brno-born conductor is today regarded as one of the most sought-after maestros on the global stage, Jakub Hrůša could not refuse the invitation to become the artistic leader of the Czech Republic’s foremost orchestra. This appointment is more than a prestigious professional milestone – it is a deeply personal return to his roots. His initial term as Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic will span five years.
The position will be financially supported by Renáta Kellnerová, head of the PPF investment group. “Jakub Hrůša is one of the most outstanding conductors of his generation, as evidenced by his collaborations with many of the world’s leading orchestras. I am therefore very pleased to support his appointment with the Czech Philharmonic, which represents the Czech Republic so brilliantly abroad,” said Kellnerová.
“The Czech Philharmonic is one of the world’s foremost orchestras today,” Hrůša remarked. It combines a unique tradition with extraordinary potential for artistic growth. Our country’s leading orchestra not only sets the tone of musical life in the Czech Republic in a special way, but also performs with breathtaking success on the world’s most prestigious stages. I am overjoyed and deeply honoured that the Czech Philharmonic has chosen to align its path with mine from 2028.”
“Becoming Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic has been one of my greatest professional dreams, and I couldn’t be more delighted that this dream will now come true. I believe it has happened thanks to the rare and profound artistic and personal understanding with the orchestra’s musicians and management, and my heartfelt connection with the cherished Czech Philharmonic audience. This mutual understanding is deeply moving to me. It’s precisely this connection that has made our work together so joyful over many years. It is a great honour to lead the Czech Philharmonic at a time when it is ready to take the next inspiring steps forward — both in terms of artistic excellence and in deepening the shared experiences that can, for our listeners at home and abroad as well as us the musicians, truly be life-changing. The Czech Philharmonic, including all the amazing people who work in and for it with such devotion, is a place of the highest ambition and profound joy, where the power and beauty of music is experienced together,” said the future Chief Conductor.
A graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and a protégé of the Jiří Bělohlávek, Jakub Hrůša has been deeply rooted in the Czech musical tradition since his earliest years. In recent times, his career has risen with remarkable momentum, placing him among the very few Czech conductors who have established a lasting presence on the world’s leading stages – from Berlin and Boston to Tokyo.
Hrůša has earned his international acclaim not through flamboyance, but through an unwavering reverence for music, a quiet yet compelling authority, and a rigorously thoughtful approach to interpretation. His artistry is marked by integrity, insight, and an unshakable musical intellect.
With his appointment as Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic, a symbolic circle closes. Following in the footsteps of Jiří Bělohlávek and Semyon Bychkov, the baton now passes to a conductor who knows this orchestra intimately – who understands its sonic identity from within, while bringing with him a wealth of experience from the highest echelons of the international music world.
Throughout his career, Hrůša has emerged as a cultural ambassador for a nation whose musical heritage runs deep but has often been underrepresented abroad. Under his baton, landmark works by Czech composers such as Bohuslav Martinů, Leoš Janáček, and Josef Suk have found new audiences, frequently in national premieres. Just last year, he led the first-ever performance of Suk’s monumental Asrael Symphony at the BBC Proms – an event widely noted by critics and audiences alike.
Hrůša began his professional journey as Chief Conductor of the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic in Zlín (2005–2008), before taking the helm of the Prague Philharmonia in the following season, a post he held until 2015. Since 2016, he has served as Chief Conductor of the Bamberg Symphony, now in his second term. His leadership there has been hailed as a golden era for the orchestra.
Jakub Hrůša’s international career began in earnest in 2005, when he was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. From there, his ascent was swift. He soon appeared with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, the Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many others.
He made his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 2018, followed a year later by a high-profile appearance with the Vienna Philharmonic, stepping in at short notice for the late Mariss Jansons.
As an opera conductor, Hrůša has led acclaimed productions at many of the world’s leading houses. His operatic credits include Jenůfa at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Káťa Kabanová with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival, The Makropulos Affair at the Vienna State Opera and Zurich Opera, Rusalka at Opéra national de Paris, and Carmen and Lohengrin at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
He has also been a frequent guest at the Glyndebourne Festival, where he has conducted The Cunning Little Vixen, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Vanessa, Carmen, Lohengrin, Don Giovanni, and La Bohème. From 2010 to 2013, he served as Music Director of Glyndebourne on Tour, where he further honed his operatic sensibilities and deepened his artistic vision.
In 2023, Jakub Hrůša was awarded the Opus Klassik in the “Conductor of the Year” category for his recording of Hans Rott’s Symphony No. 1 with the Bamberg Symphony – a long-neglected masterpiece brought vividly to life. That same year, he received the International Classical Music Award (ICMA), the Bavarian Culture Prize, and the 2024 Gramophone Opera Award for his recording of Janáček’s Káťa Kabanová with the Vienna Philharmonic. He is also a recipient of the Sir Charles Mackerras Prize, awarded for outstanding promotion of Czech music abroad. In 2023, he was named an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Hrůša’s discography comprises more than forty albums, released by such prestigious labels as Supraphon, Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, Pentatone, and others, reflecting both the breadth and depth of his artistic pursuits.
He first conducted the Czech Philharmonic in 2004. As he now steps into the role of Music Director, he does so with an internationally established reputation – yet at an age that still promises many years of artistic leadership ahead. The youngest ever to lead the orchestra was Rafael Kubelík, who took up the position at just 28 in 1942. Hrůša, at the time of his appointment, will be the same age as Václav Neumann when he assumed the role at 48.
Hrůša’s stature is further reflected in his long-standing representation by IMG Artists, one of the world’s most influential classical music agencies, currently owned by Russian-American entrepreneur Alexander Shustorovich.
“My main goal,” said Jakub Hrůša, “will be to continually elevate the artistic quality and deepen the social value of this institution. We will always honour the invaluable legacy of our Czech musical roots, which have shaped us in the past and continue to do so. At the same time, our ambition is to ensure that the work of the Czech Philharmonic remains fully relevant to the present. We want to bring music to all generations and all communities without exception. We aspire to share our passion for the arts with society as a whole—and especially with the youngest. I am more and more convinced that it will be the power of live music—experienced in its full technical excellence and emotional depth, in direct physical and spiritual contact with others—that will become ever rarer and more desired in our changing world. Our concerts are unique opportunities to share sparkling ideas and the deepest emotions. The Czech Philharmonic’s programmes must always be unforgettable events that leave an incomparable mark in the hearts of our listeners. In this love of music, we are united — from my esteemed colleague, Principal Guest Conductor Sir Simon Rattle, to every outstanding member of the orchestra and the Prague Philharmonic Choir led by Lukáš Vasilek, to CEO David Mareček and his team, who achieve small and great miracles every day. I am deeply grateful to Semyon Bychkov for having consistently developed and sustained the musical quality over the years. I also want to express my profound appreciation for the support the Czech Philharmonic receives from its founder, the Ministry of Culture, and the many generous patrons it has gained at home and abroad. Finally, I would like to thank Renáta Kellnerová for her determination to support our shared vision so generously.”
“I am proud to pass this great orchestra, loved and admired throughout the world, back to its Czech roots,“ said Semyon Bychkov, outgoing Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic. “I wish Jakub Hrůša well in realizing his own vision for its future and many happy years of artistic collaboration,”
David Mareček, Chief Executive of the Czech Philharmonic, added: “With Jakub Hrůša, the Czech Philharmonic gains a world-class Chief Conductor whose artistic achievements continue to grow from strength to strength. Yet this new relationship is of course a natural continuation of an already long and successful partnership. On behalf of the Czech Philharmonic team, I can confidently say that Jakub Hrůša is the best possible choice to continue the exceptional work of our current Chief Conductor, Semyon Bychkov. I thank the members of the orchestra’s Artistic Council and the orchestral group leaders for their unanimous support, as well as our founder, the Ministry of Culture, and our patrons and sponsors, without whom we could not realize our artistic plans.”
“In recent years, Jakub Hrůša has become one of the most sought-after conductors on the international scene, just as the Czech Philharmonic has re-established itself as a global orchestral force — beginning with Jiří Bělohlávek’s era and continuing under Semyon Bychkov’s leadership,” said Jan Mráček, Concertmaster, leader of the first violins, and Chairman of the Artistic Council of the Czech Philharmonic. Jakub Hrůša will not only carry this upward momentum forward with confidence, but as a unique musician and friend with whom we have already experienced many artistic triumphs — and with whom we are sure to experience many more.”
“Jakub is a wonderful conductor and an extraordinarily kind and generous person,” said Sir Simon Rattle, Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. “Paired with this unique orchestra, it’s amazing news—I’m thrilled for everyone!”
“Under the leadership of David Mareček, the Czech Philharmonic has, in recent years, written a story of unprecedented success—performing in Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall, and other legendary venues, collaborating with the world’s leading soloists and conductors, and becoming a true symbol of Czech culture on the international stage. I would like to express my deep appreciation for the work of Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov, whose artistic leadership and global stature have significantly strengthened the orchestra’s position in the world. Now, this extraordinary chapter will be followed by Jakub Hrůša—a conductor whose personality embodies the highest professionalism, artistic vision, and deep roots in Czech musical tradition. His appointment is both a natural and exceptional step. I firmly believe that joining the finest Czech orchestra with the finest Czech conductor will help ensure that Czech music continues to resonate strongly at home and abroad,” said Martin Baxa, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic.
