Janacek Philharmonic Ostrava

The JPO’s symphonic concert season opens on the exact day of Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday with his deeply moving setting of the Stabat Mater, followed by Dmitri Shostakovich’s dramatic Symphony No. 6. In November, acclaimed pianist Claire Huangci returns to Ostrava to perform Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2 “The Age of Anxiety”. In February, audiences can look forward to Bruch’s beloved Violin Concerto No. 1, performed by British virtuoso Jennifer Pike, alongside Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10. The cycle concludes with Aaron Copland’s energetic Clarinet Concerto, played by Spanish clarinetist Pablo Barragán, who returns to Ostrava after nine years.

The second symphonic cycle of the JPO will present the noble music of Antonín Dvořák alongside the intense expressiveness of Witold Lutosławski, the dazzling lyricism of Chausson’s Poème de l’amour et de la mer, and the monumental drama of Franck’s Symphony in D minor. The program also features masterful piano virtuosity in Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto and the captivating melodies of Brahms’s First Symphony. This colorful survey of symphonic music will fill the Kino Vesmír concert hall, brought to life by outstanding soloists such as the JPO’s artist-in-residence, cellist Johannes Moser, and pianist Lukáš Vondráček, under the batons of renowned conductors including Ingo Metzmacher, Lawrence Foster, Daniel Raiskin, and others.

Cycle C is designed as an informal musical gathering where listeners meet the symphony orchestra face-to-face. Whether you are an experienced concertgoer, someone just beginning to explore the world of classical music, or perhaps one of our young listeners who have grown up with the family concerts of Cycle D, you are welcome here. You will hear favorite musical pieces and surprising combinations chosen to fit the theme of each evening. Some pairings may seem unexpected at first glance, but that is part of the fun. The guides for these encounters are now Ostrava-based actor Vojtěch Johaník and conductor Chuhei Iwasaki. Their friendly conversations, full of humor and light-heartedness, will lead you through each evening. The goal is not to teach or lecture but to share a wonderful evening together, filled with fantastic music and excellent musicians. The connection between the audience and the performers is truly special here, as if you are among old friends. And what will this year's concerts offer? Exactly what everyone loves best. Recommended for children from the 2nd grade of elementary school.

This concert series is created especially for our youngest listeners, from the age of three, and their families. It is a musical adventure where children meet real musical instruments — and even better, they meet the real musicians of the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava. Each concert focuses on one group of instruments from the symphony orchestra. We start with the string instruments at the front, then the wind instruments in the middle, move to the drums and other instruments you can hit or shake at the back, and finally, we discover the choir, which usually sings behind or above all the musicians. These musical meetings are full of playing on instruments, playing with instruments, singing, dancing, and lots of laughter. The concerts are guided by Lenka Jaborská together with the musicians themselves.

Cycle D is all about family Sundays filled with music, stories, laughter, and a little bit of thinking too. These concerts are created so that everyone can enjoy them — children from the age of five, their parents, and even grandparents. Our favorite guide, actor Michal Sedláček, will once again play Vláďa, who this season has many worries on his mind. He is hoping that the conductor, the orchestra, and all the children in the audience will help him solve them. It will not always be easy, because Vláďa is very caring and takes everything close to heart. But do not worry — music is the best helper when it comes to chasing worries away. There is more good news as well. His favorite cousin Karla is coming, and she can fix even the biggest troubles in no time at all. As always, our dear audience will not just be watching, but also taking part in the action on stage. Get ready for concerts full of music, gentle humor, and a warm family atmosphere where everyone is welcome. Recommended for children from 1st grade of elementary school.

In its Cycle E, the JPO once again offers the stage to talented young performers, for many of whom this will be their first time appearing with a major symphony orchestra. The soloists are artists who have successfully passed a young performers’ competition, which this year focused on string instruments under the artistic guidance of Jiří Vodička. The concerts will also feature young conductors from the Zurich University of the Arts. Audiences can look forward to works by Mendelssohn, Dvořák, Sibelius, and Ravel, as well as a brand-new commissioned piece by composer Darja Kukal Moiseeva. Matteo Hager will appear in a special role as both composer and performer, presenting his own Violin Concerto. All concerts will be hosted by presenter Anna Bangoura, who will guide the audience through the evening.

The crossover concerts in the Gong Hall, enhanced by the unique atmosphere of the industrial Dolní Vítkovice area, are among the most popular and sought-after events in our program. Opening the 72nd season alongside the JPO will be one of the most distinctive Czech artists of today, singer Vojtěch Dyk. Later in the season, the Gong will resonate with the songs of singer, guitarist, and lyricist David Stypka, performed by his close friends and colleagues — the band Bandjeez, Mirai Navrátil, and singers Ewa Farna and Kateřina Marie Tichá. The cycle will close with an evening dedicated to John Williams, one of the greatest film music composers of all time.

In this new concert cycle, audiences will hear shortened versions of programs we are preparing for international tours. Because these concerts feature well-known works, they offer an excellent gateway into the world of classical music. British violinist Jennifer Pike will fill Kino Vesmír with the sounds of Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, while phenomenal pianist Lukáš Vondráček, a returning favorite in Ostrava, will perform Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto.

The JPO’s artist-in-residence, cellist Johannes Moser, will join forces with Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman and Russian pianist Andrei Korobeinikov. In the chamber project Makedonissimo, we will journey with pianist Simon Trpčeski into the rich folk music traditions of his native Macedonia. The song recital of mezzo-soprano Bella Adamova and pianist Michael Gees will explore the search for, and discovery of, the meaning of home in its many forms. Finally, the young Czech wind ensemble Alinde Quintet will offer a colorful program featuring works by Czech and Nordic composers.

Three shorter works by Maurice Ravel will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth. As a small Christmas gift to the audience, the Czech premiere of his recently rediscovered Chanson galante will be presented, a piece first performed in France only last year. The traditional Czech Christmas Mass (“Rybovka”) will not be missing either. We will welcome the New Year with music from the most famous classical ballet of all time — Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake — along with Gershwin’s beloved Rhapsody in Blue. The trio of special concerts will conclude with Dvořák’s radiant Symphony No. 8, one of the most beautiful masterpieces of his orchestral career.

In its 72nd concert season, the JPO will once again bring exceptional music and masterful performances to the Church of St. Wenceslas in Opava. Among the highlights of the program are the monumental Fifth Symphony by Jean Sibelius, performed by the JPO under the baton of Eugene Tzigane, and Haydn’s First Cello Concerto, presented by the orchestra’s artist-in-residence Johannes Moser. Opava native and internationally acclaimed pianist Lukáš Vondráček will appear with Brahms’s Second Piano Concerto, performed alongside the JPO under the direction of Christoph Mathias Mueller.

The best of the symphonic concerts from Cycles A and B, combined into four Friday evenings with the JPO. Symphonic Fridays will offer the deeply spiritual Stabat Mater by Arvo Pärt, followed by Dmitri Shostakovich’s dramatic Sixth Symphony. JPO’s artist-in-residence Johannes Moser will perform the Cello Concerto by Polish composer Witold Lutosławski. Listeners will also enjoy the lively Clarinet Concerto by Aaron Copland, performed by Spanish clarinetist Pablo Barragán. The cycle will conclude with Mieczysław Weinberg’s Violin Concerto, performed by Benjamin Schmid, and Brahms’s First Symphony.

The piano recital cycle will once again offer four exceptional evenings, each bringing a different musical world and a unique interpretive style. The young Russian pianist Alexandra Stychkina will perform key works of the 20th century alongside virtuoso compositions by Schumann and Liszt. Czech pianist Miroslav Sekera will present a program close to his heart, featuring German romanticism and 20th-century Czech music. The recital of leading Spanish pianist Javier Perianes will combine the piano music of Fryderyk Chopin with works by Spanish composers from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Lucas Debargue will bring a program of French piano music as well as his own Suite in D minor, inspired by the Baroque tradition.

The Janáček May Festival, the St. Wenceslas Music Festival... these are just two prestigious Czech festivals where music-loving audiences can enjoy the performances of the JPO. The pleasant atmosphere of these festivals is enhanced by the charm of a classical music concert. The also orchestra regularly plays in other cities of the region – most often in Orlová and Nový Jičín, but also in Karviná, Havířov, Frýdek-Místek and Opava.

Every year we perform concert series in Europe, Asia and North America for a number of promoters. The orchestra is especially superb in the world-famous Czech symphonic repertoire such as Dvořák`s symphonies or Smetana`s and Janáček`s opera overtures, and also in opera gala programs. Recent destinations include New York, Seoul, Paris, Beijing, Wien, Hamburg or Munich .