Prague Philharmonia's 32nd Season Connects Tradition and the Present
The Prague Philharmonia launches its 32nd concert season with a commitment to bringing audiences diverse musical experiences. Under the direction of Chief Conductor and Music Director Emmanuel Villaume, the orchestra will offer a series of concerts featuring contrasting dramaturgy, interesting stories, and attractive guests of international renown.
The Prague Philharmonia will traditionally kick off the season with a gala concert at Prague's Rudolfinum on September 4, 2025. The orchestra will present works by 'their' beloved Viennese masters Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert, contrasted with Saint-Saëns, accompanied by Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski.
Throughout the season, other leading soloists such as flutist Emmanuel Pahud and violinist Vadim Gluzman will also perform. Music Director Emmanuel Villaume will take up the conductor's baton five times in total during the season, including the opening concert.
“I am delighted that even in our 32nd season, the Prague Philharmonia remains true to its characteristic style – combining precise interpretation with dramaturgical invention,” stated Kateřina Kalistová, Director of the Prague Philharmonia. “We want to be an orchestra that inspires, surprises, and brings the joy of music across generations. In the new season, we offer not only the best of the classical repertoire but also new contexts, bold programming contrasts, and encounters with exceptional artists from around the world.”
“Our goal is to bring audiences a musical program that inspires and connects,” says Emmanuel Villaume, Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Prague Philharmonia. “In the 2025/2026 season, we will focus on the music of the masters of musical Classicism and Romanticism, such as Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, and Brahms. We play these composers most often, but it's rare for them all to appear in a single season.” He adds, “I am proud that we will be able to welcome top soloists and conductors who are sharing this season with us.”
The upcoming season offers both a taste of home and the scent of distant lands. Regarding home, one of the season's highlights will be the performance of Bedřich Smetana's cycle Má vlast. Also featured will be Antonín Dvořák's exquisite Serenade for Wind Instruments and Pavel Vranický's elemental Symphony in D minor – "La Tempesta" with live wind and lightning effects. A touch of contrasting exoticism will be provided, for example, by Camille Saint-Saëns's Piano Concerto No. 5 – "Egyptian" in close proximity to W. A. Mozart's 'Egyptian' The Magic Flute and Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 63, inspired by Ottoman themes.
Among the other conductors leading the orchestra during the season will be the exceptional German conductor Oscar Jockel, the charismatic Eugene Tzigane, and Czech talent Jiří Habart. A number of other renowned soloists will also perform, such as cellist Brannon Cho and pianist Sir Stephen Hough.
Pushing the Boundaries of Listening to Contemporary Music
The Contemporary Music Series S continues in the 2025/2026 season at Švanda Theatre in the format of a music talk show, curated by Hana Dohnálková. Prominent guests will include Jakub Rataj, Zdenek Merta, Tímea Urban Hvozdíková, Pavel Trojan and Pavel Trojan Jr., and Ian Mikyska. Two special musical guests will also perform – Vilém Veverka and Jiří Stivín. The extraordinary final concert will be dedicated to the American musical avant-garde of the 20th century – John Cage and Morton Feldman. Their works will be performed under the preparation of their collaborator and friend Petr Kotík, who will also conduct and provide commentary for the concert.
The Chamber Series Leitmotif Takes Us Back to Our Roots
Chamber Series K will feature concerts inspired by folklore and folk music from composers such as Leoš Janáček, Jan Vičar, and Antonín Dvořák, as well as international composers like Béla Bartók and George Enescu. The Prague Philharmonia's chamber series also traditionally includes composer anniversaries. In the 2025/2026 season, the most significant anniversaries celebrated are those of Robert and Clara Schumann, and Dmitri Shostakovich.
Over ten concert evenings, performers will include the Zemlinsky Quartet, the Ševčík Quartet (appearing for the first time in the chamber series) together with pianist Marek Kozák, the vocal octet Gentlemen Singers, and the Josef Suk Piano Quartet.
Donor Series Offers Encounters with Art Stories
For the ninth time, the popular donor series will, over four evenings, present top talents from the current world stage as well as firmly established soloists in concert programs tailored to this exceptional setting. The space of the Imperial Hall highlights the orchestra's characteristic virtuosity and artistic enthusiasm.
Invitations have been accepted by iconic French cellist Anne Gastinel, rising star violinist Fumiaki Miura, and the distinctive Irish mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan. The June concert will traditionally feature a close encounter with the orchestra's artistic director, Emmanuel Villaume.
The evenings, set in the heart of valuable art collections, begin with engaging lectures prepared by the curators of the Lobkowicz Archives. The subsequent gatherings with soloists and orchestra members are a highly valued conclusion to these shared evenings. The Lobkowicz subscription series is conceived as a donor series and is one way to directly support the artistic activities of the Prague Philharmonia orchestra.
Popular Concerts for Children Also Return
In the new season, the Prague Philharmonia continues its popular series of concerts for the youngest listeners at the Rudolfinum. Children and their parents can look forward to familiar compositions presented in an interactive and playful way.
The upcoming season features a new creative team taking the helm – director Viktorie Vášová, music popularizer Klára Boudalová, and visual artist Klára Fleková. The concerts will be based on exciting stories that draw young listeners into the world of music through fantasy and adventure.
The program will offer four new titles: Journey to King Inyoni, Save the Yeti, The Alchemist's Cauldron, and 200 Metres Under the Sea. Each story will be accompanied by music from Dvořák, Mozart, Grieg, Vivaldi, Smetana, and others. The acting duo Lucia Čižinská and Štěpán Lustyk will also feature in all concerts, guiding the children through the entire program in an entertaining manner.
Prague Philharmonia's International Performances in the 32nd Season
Following the opening of the Prague season, the orchestra will perform again in September at the Bratislava Music Festival. Together with the Prague Philharmonic Choir, they will present Bohuslav Martinů's magnificent The Epic of Gilgamesh, feature soloist Josef Špaček in Ludwig van Beethoven's Violin Concerto, and perform under the baton of conductor Robert Kružík.
In October, the orchestra embarks on a major tour to Japan, performing a total of nine concerts, followed by a performance at Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music. The final international performance of 2025 will be a December concert at the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, Spain, with conductor Oscar Jockel and Canadian violinist Blake Pouliot.
In January 2026, a major US tour awaits the orchestra with Music Director and Chief Conductor Emmanuel Villaume, concluding with a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.
In the first part of 2026, the orchestra will perform twice at the Kölner Philharmonie (Cologne Philharmonic Hall): in January with music by Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák, and in March with works by W. A. Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. This marks the beginning of a long-term and regular collaboration between the Prague Philharmonia and this prestigious German institution.