2025 Festival Year

There are probably very few people in the world who have heard all of Antonín Dvořák’s surviving works. But thanks to the exclusive Dvořák Collection series, anyone who regularly attends the Dvořák Prague Festival has the chance to achieve just that. The festival has already presented his complete symphonies, vocal works with orchestra, piano compositions, and a wealth of chamber music. This year, we continue our journey into intimate musical realms with perhaps the most delicate and personal project yet: a complete performance of Dvořák’s songs and duets.

Songs have the power to capture the soul—of an individual, a community, or even humanity as a whole. In classical music, the genre was long overshadowed, regarded as a lesser form until the time of Beethoven and Schubert. By Dvořák’s era, however, it had been recognised as an inspiration drawn from sources once considered less refined. And yet, its directness, clarity, and emotional depth speak straight to the heart.

This year’s song repertoire is curated by the exceptional soprano Kateřina Kněžíková, whose artistry unites voice and emotion at the highest level. And while Antonín Dvořák is undoubtedly the most famous Czech composer, that does not mean his entire body of work is widely known. The Dvořák Prague Festival not only proudly bears his name—it also embraces the honourable mission of preserving and celebrating his complete legacy.

Being overwhelmed by the grandeur of a full symphonic sound is one thing—succumbing to the magic of music’s intimate touch is quite another. Over the years, the Chamber Series has grown into a festival within a festival, firmly establishing itself as an essential part of the Dvořák Prague Festival. Masterpieces like the American Quartet have been performed multiple times, always at the highest artistic level. But early works have also been given the same meticulous care. A truly unique achievement was the complete performance of Dvořák’s piano works, curated by Ivo Kahánek.

Among past curators were remarkable artists such as Gil Shaham, Sharon Kam, and members of the Pavel Haas Quartet—assembling a top ten of the world’s finest chamber musicians from them would be no challenge. This year, the Chamber Series will connect with the Dvořák Collection, which is dedicated to the composer’s songs and duets, while also expanding towards Dvořák’s contemporaries and even jazz. The string players of the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonics, along with the wind players of the Belfiato Quintet, will showcase the very best of their artistry. Meanwhile, Jiří Bárta and Terezie Fialová will be joined by jazz musicians Petr Dvorský and Jiří Stivín Jr., bringing yet another fresh perspective to this ever-evolving series.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Academy of St Martin in the Fields and many other orchestras are just a few of the best in orchestral art that the Dvořák Prague Festival has presented to its audiences in recent years. Many of these ensembles represent the very finest in the world and capture leading positions in professional periodicals’ rankings (whose objective criteria we artists may sometimes find difficult to comprehend). This year’s edition is no exception.

Every major festival needs more than just funding—it requires an attractive programme, a loyal audience, and a resident orchestra. From the very beginning, there was no question that this role at the Dvořák Prague Festival would belong to the Czech Philharmonic. After all, it was Antonín Dvořák himself who conducted the orchestra’s very first concert in 1896. This historic moment took place in Rudolfinum, where the festival’s main events are still held today, keeping the tradition of Czech music alive at every turn.

The Czech Philharmonic’s concerts have been an integral part of the festival since its inception. More than just a link to history, they connect the festival with Prague’s vibrant musical life and demonstrate that today, this leading Czech orchestra stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s finest ensembles.

This year, the Czech Philharmonic takes centre stage for two festival evenings. Under the baton of Robin Ticciati, with Vilde Frang as soloist, the orchestra will perform Schumann’s Violin Concerto, followed by Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique. The second evening will feature Leonidas Kavakos, who takes on the dual role of conductor and soloist in Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3, concluding with Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 6.

A recital, by dictionary definition, is a concert showcasing a single artistic personality, whether as a performer or a composer. In reality, however, music is far more vibrant than any definition, and recital programmes are often just as lively and diverse.

The most traditional recital in this year’s festival will be a solo evening with British pianist Paul Lewis. Festival audiences will surely remember his phenomenal performance of Brahms’s First Piano Concerto in 2023. This time, he returns as a soloist with a programme dedicated to German and Austrian composers, both past and present.

On Antonín Dvořák’s birthday, the recital format will also be embraced by Kateřina Kněžíková and the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra under Robert Jindra. Their programme, featuring Gypsy Songs, Love Songs, and a complete performance of Legends, will celebrate both the music and the legacy of the most frequently performed Czech composer.

Beyond these, other concerts within the Chamber Series, curated this year by Kateřina Kněžíková, will also revolve around the spirit of the recital. Even when they depart from its formal structure, they will remain true to its essence—their musical content.

Renowned, accomplished, and seasoned musicians help shape the identity of the Dvořák Prague Festival, their names drawing audiences year after year. Yet even the most celebrated artists once had to take their first steps. While the festival is a platform for established performers, it also provides space for the stars of tomorrow.

For young musicians, performing at a prestigious festival before an audience accustomed to the world’s finest artists is both a challenge and an opportunity. For listeners, it is a chance to be surprised—not only by the maturity of these emerging talents but also by their bold choice of repertoire. This year, the festival welcomes the outstanding young musicians of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester.

Another highlight is the latest edition of the Concertino Praga competition, organised by the Dvořák Prague Festival in collaboration with Czech Radio. Together, these events form a unique showcase—an opportunity to witness musicians at the very start of their careers, many of whom will return to the festival in the future as its biggest stars.

In cities like London, Berlin, and Paris, it is common to see people attending concerts in everyday clothes—simply because the size of these cities makes it impractical to go home and change into formal attire before a performance. Prague audiences now have the same opportunity, thanks to Artium by KKCG at Bořislavka Centre—a space dedicated to all forms of art, from painting and sculpture to digital art and music. These early evening concerts offer a unique atmosphere: an informal setting, outstanding young musicians, and art within arm’s reach.

For this year’s Artium programme line—Innovation, we have selected young musicians who have already demonstrated and fully mastered their craft. After all, true innovation can only come from deep knowledge and skill. Only when musicians fully command their art can they explore new interpretative paths with lasting impact.

Achieving mastery in any field takes time. Innovation is not only about the final outcome but also about the journey towards presenting a unique artistic vision. This year’s participants in the Bořislavka concert series are a shining example of this approach, whether through the programme of the Ševčík Academy or performances by students of Brno’s leading music conservatoires.

For musicians, the name Schumann instantly evokes the image of Robert Schumann—a brilliant composer, writer, and a leading figure of the Romantic era. But this year, the Dvořák Prague Festival pays tribute not only to his music but also to a broader artistic legacy—one that includes Clara Schumann, an extraordinary pianist and composer in her own right.

Robert and Clara Schumann played a crucial role in the life of Johannes Brahms, one of Antonín Dvořák’s closest artistic friends. Their influence is reflected in this year’s programme, which features Robert Schumann’s piano, cello, and the rarely performed violin concerto, alongside Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto, a work that speaks to her exceptional artistry.

Together, Robert and Clara formed a creative partnership that left an indelible mark on European music—a bond that was as artistically fruitful as it was personally complex. Their presence at this year’s festival follows in the footsteps of previous Dvořák Prague Festival performances dedicated to the concertos of Antonín Dvořák, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Johannes Brahms.