Simon Rattle to conduct Czech Philharmonic benefit concert, featuring Magdalena Kožená

The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra closes a series of four benefit concerts at Prague’s Rudolfinum on Saturday under the baton of guest British conductor Simon Rattle and featuring his wife, Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená.

The programme includes a selection of Antonín Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, while Kožená will perform works by Gustav Mahler and Luciano Beria. In cooperation with the Czech Red Cross, the benefit focuses on regular blood donations and the Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund.

Previous benefit concerts raised almost millions of crowns for Prague and Brno hospitals caring for Covid-19 patients, for Život 90, a group helping lonely and vulnerable seniors, and for the humanitarian group People in Need.