The Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava is one of the leading symphony orchestras in the Czech Republic. Both its distinctive sound and its rich, progressive repertoire are shaped by a long-standing tradition and are highly valued by audiences and critics at home and abroad. The orchestra’s uniqueness lies above all in its ability to interpret not only Janáček’s works with exceptional insight, but also a wide repertoire ranging from late Romanticism to contemporary music, including works by Suk, Mahler, Bartók, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich. From the 2026/27 season, Daniel Raiskin serves as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director.

In recent years, the orchestra has performed with distinguished soloists such as cellists Gautier Capuçon and Steven Isserlis, violinists Lisa Batiashvili and Vadim Gluzman, singers Elīna Garanča and Jonas Kaufmann, and pianists Sergey Babayan, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Boris Giltburg, Simon Trpčeski, among many others. Conductors who regularly collaborate with the orchestra in Ostrava include Andrey Boreyko, Lawrence Foster, and Domingo Hindoyan. 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 artists such as Tomáš Klus and Vojtěch Dyk. It also places strong emphasis on educational projects for younger audiences and seniors, as well as on nurturing talented soloists and conductors, who are given the opportunity to perform with the orchestra—even within a dedicated concert series. Since 2020, the JFO has contributed to alternative education and the professional development of young musicians from around the world through its International Orchestral Academy.

The orchestra’s long musical tradition dates back to the first half of the 20th century, when its predecessor collaborated with figures such as Paul Hindemith, Sergei Prokofiev, and Igor Stravinsky. The Ostrava Symphony Orchestra was officially founded in 1954 and soon established itself among the leading Czech ensembles—embarking on its first international tour just five years later. Since then, it has worked with many world-renowned conductors and soloists, including Sir Charles Mackerras, Karel Ančerl, Mariss Jansons, Sviatoslav Richter, and Rudolf Firkušný.

Studio recordings made in Ostrava—for labels such as Linn Records, Supraphon, and CPO—have received critical acclaim and audience recognition, earning awards including the BBC Music Magazine Award and the Diapason d’Or de l’Année.

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

The long-standing home of the orchestra, the House of Culture of the City of Ostrava, is currently undergoing renovation. This project also includes the construction of a new concert hall with world-class acoustics, designed by Steven Holl Architects from New York in collaboration with the Prague-based studio Architecture Acts. With acoustics by Nagata Acoustics, the building will provide an ideal space for symphonic concerts and mark the beginning of a new era for the orchestra. Until then, the JFO performs in the temporary Vesmír Hall.