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35-502: The name "Czech Philharmonic Orchestra" appeared for the first time in 1894, as the title of the orchestra of the Prague National Theatre . It played its first concert under its current name on January 4, 1896 when Antonín Dvořák conducted his own compositions, but it did not become fully independent from the opera until 1901. The first representative concert took place on October 15, 1901 conducted by Ludvík Čelanský ,

70-528: A concert enforced by the German offices. Subsequent chief conductors included Rafael Kubelík (1942–1948), Karel Ančerl (1950–1968), Václav Neumann (1968–1989), Jiří Bělohlávek (1990–1992), Gerd Albrecht (1993–1996), Vladimir Ashkenazy (1996–2003), Zdeněk Mácal (2003–2007), and Eliahu Inbal (2009–2012). In the wake of the Velvet Revolution , under new conditions of financial insecurity,

105-484: A part of the National Theatre and simultaneously changed somewhat the area of the auditorium to improve visibility. He did, however, take into account with utmost sensitivity the style of Zítek's design, and so he managed to merge three buildings by various architects to form an absolute unity of style. The interior artwork was done by Mikoláš Aleš and František Ženíšek . The building of the National Theatre

140-597: A rich artistic tradition, which helped to preserve and develop the most important features of the nation–the Czech language and a sense for a Czech musical and dramatic way of thinking. Today the National Theatre consists of three artistic ensembles: opera, ballet and drama. They alternate in their performances in the historic building of the National Theatre, in the State Opera , in the Estates Theatre and in

175-473: A thorough renovation of the stagings. He began with the first performance of The Excursions of Mr. Brouček , and mounted Berg's Wozzeck immediately after its premiere, leading to a scandal and the threat of his dismissal. The National Theatre is overseen by the director, and the advisory body of the Council of the National Theatre. The advisory board has 11 to 13 members, who are appointed and dismissed by

210-819: The Kolowrat Theatre . All three artistic ensembles select their repertoire both from classical heritage , and modern authors. The cornerstone of the National Theatre was laid on 16 May 1868, but the idea of building a theatre dates back to the autumn of 1844 at the gatherings of patriots in Prague . An application was submitted by František Palacký to the Provincial Committee of the Bohemian Assembly on 29 January 1845, requesting "the privilege of constructing, furnishing, maintaining and managing" of an independent Czech theatre. The application

245-477: The Supraphon label. The Czech Philharmonic has won many awards, ten Grand Prix du Disque de l'Académie Charles Cros , five Grand Prix du disque de l' Académie française and several Cannes Classical Awards. The Czech Philharmonic was nominated for Grammy Awards in 2005, and also two Wiener Flötenuhr awards, with Pavel Štěpán , Zdeněk Mácal and Václav Neumann (1971 and 1982). It was voted 20th place of

280-443: The "Czech Philharmonic Orchestra" to the "Czech Philharmonic" at the beginning of 2015. In January 2017, the orchestra announced the extension of Bělohlávek's contract through the 2021–2022 season. Bělohlávek continued to serve as the orchestra's chief conductor until his death on 31 May 2017. In 2013, Semyon Bychkov first guest-conducted the orchestra, which subsequently named him director of its Tchaikovsky Project. In October 2017,

315-609: The 'non-transparent' appointment of Per Boye Hansen as Artistic Director. On 4 May 2005, Komerční banka signed an agreement with the National Theatre in Prague to annually honor the most prominent acts performed at the Czech National Theatre in overall three categories – ballet, drama and opera. The recipients of the KOBANADI Award (KOBANADI = KOmerční BAnka + NArodní DIvadlo) receive a statuette designed by

350-598: The 2015–2016 season. In October 2017, the orchestra announced the appointments of Hrůša and of Tomáš Netopil as joint principal guest conductors of the orchestra, effective with the 2018–2019 season. In February 2024, the orchestra announced the appointment of Sir Simon Rattle as its next principal guest conductor, for a period of five years, with the title of 'Rafael Kubelík Conducting Chair'. The Czech Philharmonic's first phonograph recording dates from 1929, when Václav Talich recorded My Country for His Master's Voice . The orchestra recordings are most often released on

385-638: The Scottish author Compton Mackenzie who continued to edit the magazine until 1961. It was acquired by Haymarket in 1999. In 2013 the Mark Allen Group became the publisher. The magazine presents the Gramophone Awards each year to the classical recordings which it considers the finest in a variety of categories. On its website Gramophone claims to be: "The world's authority on classical music since 1923." This used to appear on

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420-621: The Society and requested the 33-year-old professor of civil engineering at the Prague Technical College , architect Josef Zítek , to draft a design for the National Theatre. He then came out on top in a later-declared open competition, and in 1867 construction work began. On 16 May 1868, the foundation stone was laid, and in November the foundations were completed. In 1875, the new building reached its full height and in 1877

455-462: The academic Jaroslav Róna , 100,000 Czech koruna (approx. €4,000 as of March 2011). The first ceremony was held on 26 October 2006 at the stage of the National Theatre. Gramophone (magazine) Gramophone (known as The Gramophone prior to 1970) is a magazine published monthly in London, devoted to classical music , particularly to reviews of recordings . It was founded in 1923 by

490-472: The behind-the-scenes battles that flared up following the catastrophe. Architect Josef Zítek was no longer in the running, and his pupil architect Josef Schulz was summoned to work on the reconstruction. He was the one to assert the expansion of the edifice to include the block of flats belonging to Dr. Polák that was situated behind the building of the Provisional Theatre. He made this building

525-416: The completion of the finishing touches. While this work was under way a fire broke out on 12 August 1881, which destroyed the copper dome, the auditorium and the stage of the theatre. The fire was seen as a national catastrophe and was met with a mighty wave of determination to take up a new collection: Within 47 days a million florins were collected. This national enthusiasm, however, did not correspond to

560-476: The contract for the guild which had steered the theatre through its early years was not renewed by the regional government, and as a result of growing dissatisfaction with the artistic levels, the National Theatre transferred its management to a new National Theatre Company. In addition, most of the people associated with the guild were considered to be conservative in outlook, while the new Company were liberals, receptive to fresh ideas. The composer Karel Kovařovic

595-459: The director. Current members of the council include: JUDr. Pavel Smutný, Prof. Dr. Dadja Altenburg Pešta Kohl, Ing. Petr Dvořák, Ing. Jiří Maceška, JUDr. Vlasta Formánková, Ing. Bohdan Wojnar, Prof. Ing. Jiří Drahoš, DrSc., dr.h.c., Pavel Kohout, Ing. Oldřich Černoch CSc. and Ing. Peter Palečka. In 2019 the National Theatre and State Opera in Prague were the place of protests and disruption by artists and staff, including an open letter complaining at

630-439: The first artistic director of the orchestra. In 1908, Gustav Mahler led the orchestra in the world premiere of his Symphony No. 7 . The orchestra first became internationally known during the principal conductorship of Václav Talich , who held the post from 1919 to 1931, and again from 1933 to 1941. In 1941, Talich and the orchestra made a controversial journey to Germany, where they performed Bedřich Smetana 's My Country in

665-409: The front cover of every issue; recent editions have changed the wording to "The world's best classical music reviews." Its circulation, including digital subscribers, was 24,380 in 2014. Apart from the annual Gramophone Classical Music Awards , each month features a dozen recordings as Gramophone Editor's Choice (now Gramophone Choice ). Then, in the annual Christmas edition, there is a review of

700-563: The main box office. Today it functions as the main stage of the three artistic ensembles of the National Theatre: drama, opera and ballet. In 1989 the general director of the National Theatre, composer Jiří Pauer was dismissed from his post because of his support for the policies of the former Communist Czechoslovak government. Pauer locked all staff out of the National and Smetana theatres on 17 November 1989 to prevent members of

735-422: The opera, ballet and drama companies from staging protest performances. After a three-week strike Pauer was replaced by Ivo Žídek . At first the National Theatre was supported by a private guild of individuals with a director managing its affairs on behalf of the guild. Lack of subsidy caused some financial and artistic difficulties, but without long-term damage to the growth or status of the institution. In 1900

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770-415: The orchestra announced the appointment of Bychkov as its next chief conductor and music director, effective with the 2018–2019 season. In September 2022, the orchestra announced the extension of Bychkov's contract through 2028. Past principal guest conductors of the orchestra have included Sir Charles Mackerras and Manfred Honeck . Jakub Hrůša is the orchestra's current 'permanent guest conductor', as of

805-435: The orchestra reorganised in 1991 and controversially voted to appoint Gerd Albrecht its new chief conductor and to dismiss Bělohlávek. Instead of remaining until Albrecht's accession, Bělohlávek resigned from the orchestra in 1992. In December 2010, the orchestra announced the reappointment of Bělohlávek as chief conductor, beginning in 2012, with an initial contract of 4 years. The orchestra's official English name changed from

840-423: The stone pieces by Max Verich and an interior sculpted pediment group over the proscenium arch by Schnirch. The National Theatre was opened for the first time on 11 June 1881, to honour the visit of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria . Bedřich Smetana 's opera Libuše was given its world premiere, conducted by Adolf Čech . Another 11 performances were presented after that. Then the theatre was closed down to enable

875-577: The stories of the Manuscripts ; both of these concepts were based on Josef Mánes ' paintings and connected with the contemporary style of romantic landscape painting (also linked to Czech history). They provided the fundamental ideology guiding artistic expression, which today is described as the art of the generation of the National Theatre. The theatre includes a triga (a three-horse chariot) and 10 exterior allegorical sculptures by Bohuslav Schnirch , 10 more exterior pieces by Antonín Pavel Wagner ,

910-400: The theatre on the banks of the river Vltava facing the panorama of Prague Castle , but at the same time the cramped area and trapezium shape posed challenging problems for the designers of the building. The era of von Bach absolutism brought to a halt preparations for the envisaged theatre and supported the concept of a modest provisional building, which was erected on the south side of

945-486: The theatre parcel by architect Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann and opened on 18 November 1862. The premiere of the famous opera The Bartered Bride took place at the Provisional Theatre on 30 May 1866. The building then became a constituent part of the final version of the National Theatre; its outside cladding is visible to this day in the elevated section of the rear part of the building, and the interior layout

980-481: The theatre was roofed over. As of 1873 there was an ongoing competition for the interior decoration of the building, the scenario of which had been elaborated by a special commission under the leadership of Sladkovský. On the one hand, the themes were in the spirit of the Neo-Renaissance concept of a classic building. On the other hand, they were inspired by the current enthusiasm for Slavonic mythology and

1015-424: The top 20 best orchestras in the world in a 2008 survey by Gramophone magazine. Prague National Theatre The National Theatre ( Czech : Národní divadlo ) is a historic opera house in Prague , Czech Republic. It is known as the alma mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art. The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural institutions, with

1050-597: The year's recordings where each critic selects four or five recordings, and these selections make up the Gramophone Critics' Choice. In April 2012, Gramophone launched its Hall of Fame , an annual listing of the men and women (artists, producers, engineers, A&R directors and label founders) who have contributed to the classical records industry. The first 50 were revealed in the May 2012 issue and on Gramophone ’s website, and each year will see another intake into

1085-467: Was combined with the completion of work on the entire setting of the theatre. The work was completed to meet an important deadline, which was the date of the 100th anniversary of the opening of the National Theatre: 18 November 1983. On that day the theatre was handed over to the public again with a performance of Smetana’s Libuše . The historic building, noted for its beautiful architecture, also includes an annex of modern design which contains offices and

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1120-519: Was granted in April 1845, but it was not until six years later – in April 1851 – that the founding Society for the Establishment of a Czech National Theatre in Prague made the first public appeal to start a collection. A year later the proceeds went toward the purchase of land belonging to a former salt works covering an area of not quite 28 acres (11 ha) which determined the magnificent site of

1155-508: Was inaugurated on 18 November 1883. The building, with perfect technical equipment (electric illumination, a steel-constructed stage), served without any extensive modifications for almost one hundred years. It was only on 1 April 1977, following a performance of the Lantern by Jirásek , that the theatre was closed down for six years. Architect Zdeněk Vávra was appointed to take charge of the overall reconstruction work. This extensive project

1190-425: Was made opera director, and as a conductor, his work became noticeable in improvements in the orchestra, chorus and solo ensemble. He also attracted leading singers to the ensemble, such as Karel Burian (later a Wagnerian tenor at Bayreuth), Otakar Mařák , Emil Pollert , and Gabriela Horvatova. After the death of Kovařovic in 1920, Otakar Ostrčil took over, continuing the progressive artistic direction and leading

1225-410: Was only obliterated following the latest reconstruction of the National Theatre in 1977 – 1983. Simultaneously with the realization of this minimal programme asserted by F.L. Rieger and the Provincial Committee, the young progressive advocates of the original ambitious concept of the building ( Sladkovský , Tyrš , Neruda , Hálek) launched an offensive. In 1865 these men attained leading positions in

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