Orchestra
Orchestra profile
The Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc is one of the leading and oldest symphony orchestras in the Czech Republic. Based in the historic capital of Moravia, it will begin its 81st concert season in September 2026, affirming its tradition and undeniable status as a symphony orchestra whose influence extends far beyond the borders of its region. It was founded immediately after the end of the Second World War, on 26 May 1945, and prominent figures from the Czech and international music scenes played a part in shaping its artistic identity. To name but a few, these included conductors Otto Klemperer, Zdeněk Mácal and Václav Neumann; virtuoso violinists Josef Suk, Gidon Kremer and Václav Hudeček; and renowned cellists Pierre Fournier and Mischa Maisky. The renowned composer Benjamin Britten, for example, premiered his works with the MFO, and the world-famous singer José Cura has also performed with the orchestra.
The post of chief conductor has previously been held by František Stupka, Jaromír Nohejl, Jin Wang, Petr Vronský and Jakub Klecker. The current chief conductor is Zsolt Hamar. However, other Czech conductors also frequently collaborate with the orchestra, including Tomáš Netopil, Petr Popelka, Tomáš Brauner and Robert Jindra. The orchestra regularly performs at festivals and on tours both at home and abroad; in its modern history, it has performed in many European countries (Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Austria, France, Hungary and Croatia) and in Asia (Japan, China and Hong Kong).
Over the course of its existence, the Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc has built up an exceptionally extensive and varied repertoire. It focuses primarily on the great composers of the 19th and 20th century world music, but also promotes Czech and international contemporary music, as evidenced by its performance of more than 250 world premieres. The orchestra is also recognised as an authentic interpreter of the classics of Czech national musical culture: Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Leoš Janáček and Bohuslav Martinů. The Philharmonic’s recordings have been released by prestigious record labels such as Naxos, PARMA Recordings and Toccata Classics.
Collaborations with popular Czech artists such as Miroslav Žbirka, Karel Gott, Lucie Bílá, Ewa Farna, Aneta Langerová and Igor Orozovič have provided the orchestra with fascinating musical encounters and connections with various musical genres. The MFO is leading the cultural life in Olomouc and the Olomouc Region; it organises the International Organ Festival Olomouc and the Dvořák Olomouc International Music Festival. It also focuses on educational programmes for younger audiences and families with children, and involves local artists in its activities. It contributes to the professional development of talented young musicians and conductors, particularly in collaboration with JAMU.
