Czech Philharmonic opens the 67th Smetana’s Litomyšl Festival

The 67th edition of the annual music festival Smetana’s Litomyšl opened on Saturday evening in the Eastern Bohemian town with a performance by the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Jakub Hrůša and featuring Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang.

For the first time in two years, the festival's opening concert returned to the courtyard of the Litomyšl Castle, where organizers have built a brand-new covered stage.

This year’s festival will place a greater emphasis on dance and ballet and will run until July 6. Nearly 50 performances are scheduled, including four operas. In addition to the castle courtyard, concerts and events will be held at Smetana House, two local churches, and the nearby Nové Hrady Castle.