The Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava is one of the leading symphony orchestras in the Czech Republic. Its distinctive sound and rich, forward-thinking repertoire are grounded in a long-standing tradition and are highly praised by both domestic and international audiences and critics. The orchestra’s exceptional quality lies in its ability to deliver outstanding interpretations not only of Janáček’s music but also of a wide-ranging repertoire that spans from late Romanticism to contemporary works, including compositions by Suk, Mahler, Bartók, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich. The orchestra’s chief conductor and designated artistic director (effective from the 2026/27 season) is Daniel Raiskin.

In recent years, the orchestra has performed with prominent soloists such as cellists Gautier Capuçon and Steven Isserlis, violinists Lisa Batiashvili and Vadim Gluzman, vocalists Elīna Garanča and Jonas Kaufmann, and pianists Sergey Babayan, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Boris Giltburg, Simon Trpčeski, among many others. Renowned conductors such as Andrey Boreyko, Lawrence Foster, and Domingo Hindoyan are regular guests in Ostrava. Recent guest conductors have also included Cristian Măcelaru, Petr Popelka, Jakub Hrůša, and former music director Vassily Sinaisky.

The orchestra has recorded music for several films and collaborates with popular Czech musicians such as Tomáš Klus and Vojtěch Dyk. It also devotes significant attention to educational programs for younger audiences and seniors, as well as to nurturing gifted soloists and conductors, who are given opportunities to perform with the orchestra—including in a dedicated concert series. Since 2020, the JPO has contributed to alternative education and professional development for young talented musicians from around the world through its International Orchestral Academy.

The orchestra’s musical tradition dates back to the first half of the 20th century, when its predecessor ensemble performed with artists such as Paul Hindemith, Sergei Prokofiev, and Igor Stravinsky. The Ostrava Symphony Orchestra was officially founded in 1954 and soon became one of the fastest-growing Czech orchestras—embarking on its first international tour just five years after its founding. Since then, it has collaborated with many world-renowned conductors and soloists, including Sir Charles Mackerras, Karel Ančerl, Mariss Jansons, Sviatoslav Richter, and Rudolf Firkušný.

Studio recordings from Ostrava released by labels such as Linn Records, Supraphon, and CPO have received critical and public acclaim, earning awards such as the BBC Music Magazine Award and Diapason d’Or.

In the past five years, the orchestra has toured extensively throughout Europe as well as in Japan, China, and South Korea. Prestigious venues recently played by the Janáček Philharmonic include Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, the Musikverein in Vienna, and the Berlin Philharmonie.

The orchestra’s longtime home, the House of Culture of the City of Ostrava, is currently undergoing renovation. The project includes the construction of a new concert hall meeting world-class acoustic standards, designed by Steven Holl Architects (New York) in collaboration with Architecture Acts (Prague). The acoustics are being designed by the renowned firm Nagata Acoustics, making the new building an ideal venue for symphonic concerts and marking the beginning of a new era for the orchestra. Until its completion, the JPO is performing in a temporary venue at the Vesmír cinema hall.