Elias Grandy on leading the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra into its 100th season: “It’s a mixture of excitement and honour”
The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra has unveiled the programme for its upcoming 100th anniversary season, which will also see German-Japanese conductor Elias Grandy take up the post of chief conductor. I spoke with him about the upcoming season, its highlights, and what lies ahead for the orchestra under his leadership.
You first worked with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra as a last-minute replacement in March 2025, and people spoke about a special chemistry. How did you feel that connection?
"Yes, it was definitely a special chemistry, otherwise I wouldn’t be here now. It’s like when you meet a new person. Meeting a new orchestra is always like starting a new relationship. We all know from life that sometimes we meet people we really like, and sometimes we meet people we might not like so much. In this case, I think we just really liked each other and then said, yes, let’s go on a few more dates together."
What does it feel like taking over as a chief conductor in this special year marking the 100th anniversary?
"It’s a mixture. Of course, there is absolute excitement for me to start in this new position, but it’s also a great honour. There is also a humbling aspect to it, because 100 years is a very long history, and I haven’t even started to be part of this history.
"So it’s this mixture of all these things, which I think is also reflected in our season. We celebrate the orchestra’s existence over 100 years, that it has been part of this community, of this nation, of this city, and part of Czech Radio for a hundred years.
"We look at the beauty of it, what it means to have an orchestra, and also at what is going to come in the future, where we want to take it. An anniversary is always a great moment to reflect on the value that lies in such an institution. I think no one can deny the value of something that is so important and that has grown for a hundred years."
Your first season starts with an inaugural concert at Prague’s Rudolfinum Concert Hall, revisiting a 1926 program. Can you tell us more about that?
"Yes, it’s a wonderful program. It starts with Smetana’s The Bartered Bride Overture, then Beethoven’s two Romances for violin and orchestra, and a selection of legends. We also play the Second Symphony, and in the second half, the Second Symphony by Fibich.
"I think it’s a wonderful idea to replicate exactly the same program that was played a hundred years ago, because it shows how music, institutions, and an orchestra like this live through a century and still feel creative and fresh in the present moment.
"It creates a wonderful arc, and I hope that in 100 years our successors will decide to replicate this program again."
Before officially taking up the post, you will conduct a concert at St. Vitus Cathedral inaugurating a new organ. What will be on the program?
"The suggestion was to perform Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony, because it is the most famous piece for symphony orchestra and organ and offers a wonderful opportunity to bring those two elements together."
"We will also have Dvořák’s Biblical Songs performed by Jan Martiník together with us. In the meantime, I have learned that there are also Czech pieces for symphony and organ that would be very worthwhile. But for now, we are doing Saint-Saëns, and we are very happy with it."
Can you mention some of the events you are particularly looking forward to?
"To be quite honest, I’m looking forward to every single one of these programs. We will be at the Dvořák Prague Festival in September, followed by the anniversary concert.
"We will also perform Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss, and a program featuring Lukáš Vondráček with Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto. We will have Mahler’s First Symphony and Prague 1000 Voices, with many choruses from all over the country.
"We also have a Beethoven cycle with the piano concertos. There are so many great concerts and great programs, and I will do everything I can to make them exciting, worthwhile, and enjoyable. These are intense and meaningful moments for our audience."
You will be taking over from Petr Popelka. Did you have a chance to meet him, and do you see your work as a continuation or a new chapter?
"It’s both, always. Petr is a wonderful conductor, and I think it’s great that things now align so that I can take over from him. The orchestra had a wonderful time with him and still is having a wonderful time with him.
"Continuity is very important in anything that grows and is meant to grow, as is respect for what has come before. But it is also natural that people are different, they think differently and feel differently. So there will be continuity, and at the same time, it will naturally also be a new chapter."
