Czech Next Wave - EP9: Conductor Jakub Hrůša

At the age of just 39, Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša is already a major name in classical music, serving as chief conductor of the Bamberg Symphony and principal guest conductor at the Czech Philharmonic in Prague, as well as regularly wielding his baton with many of the world’s top orchestras.

In this in-depth conversation, Hrůša shares highly illuminating insights into the conductor’s art, discusses the development of Czech music in the shadow of German-speaking neighbours (“in German eyes we were peasants, basically!”) and his devotion to bringing lesser-known Czech composers to new audiences – and shares a perhaps surprising ambition for the future.

Czech Next Wave is produced jointly by the Czech Centres network and Radio Prague International. It introduces listeners around the world to emerging, exciting and highly talented young Czech in various areas of the arts and beyond.