Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra receives major French award for Smetana album

This Friday, the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra celebrated a major international success in Paris, where it received the Diapason d’Or de l’Année award for its triple album of the complete symphonic works of Bedřich Smetana. The award, presented by critics from the French classical music magazine Diapason and the radio station France Musique, was accepted at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées by the Director General of Czech Radio, René Zavoral.

The Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra recorded the symphonic work Má vlast under the baton of conductor Petr Popelka|Photo: Michal Fanta, SOČR

The album was recorded over two and a half years under the direction of the orchestra’s chief conductor, Petr Popelka, who also works with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Released by the Supraphon label, the recording offers a rich and varied portrait of Smetana’s symphonic music.

Alongside a new recording of the cycle Má vlast, available in Dolby Atmos format, it includes the String Quartet “From My Life” in an orchestral version arranged by George Szell, as well as the Triumphal Symphony and three expansive “Swedish” symphonic poems inspired by the literary works of Shakespeare and Schiller.

The recording quickly attracted international attention following its release, earning praise from critics at The Times and The Guardian and being selected as Editor’s Choice by the British magazine Gramophone. The orchestra has also previously received Germany’s Opus Klassik award, but this marks its first comparable recognition in France.