The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra: A century of notable conductors
The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra’s 100-year history is also a century of remarkable conducting personalities. Each of them imprinted their own character on the ensemble, advanced its artistic ambitions and helped it grow from a radio orchestra into an internationally respected symphony orchestra. The stories of the chief conductors and other conductors of the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra are tales of persistent work, the search for identity and the gradual conquest of the world’s stages.
Karel Ančerl
Immediately after the war ended, the orchestra resumed its regular activities, but at the same time sought new leadership. This came in 1947 in the person of Karel Ančerl. Although his tenure was brief, it was nonetheless pivotal. Under his leadership, the orchestra made its debut at the Prague Spring music festival, performing three times and exclusively with a Czech and Slovak repertoire. Ančerl thus laid the foundation for the ensemble’s future prestige.
Václav Talich
Václav Talich, one of the greatest figures in Czech music, served as an artistic advisor to Czech Radio ensembles from 1949 to 1952. His brief return in 1953 and his final appearance at the Prague Spring in 1954, when he alternated with Alois Klíma in conducting Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, demonstrate his deep connection to the radio symphony orchestra. At that time, the orchestra already had 100 members, a symbol of its growing importance.
Alois Klíma
After Ančerl, Alois Klíma took over as chief conductor; he had worked with the orchestra for many years and led it until 1971. He made more than a thousand radio recordings, conducted around a hundred premieres, and significantly expanded the repertoire. It was during his tenure that the name Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (1964) was adopted, following the merger of the large symphony orchestra with the smaller Prague Radio Orchestra. Other prominent conductors of this era included Václav Jiráček, Jiří Stárek and Josef Hrnčíř.
Jaroslav Krombholc
From 1973 to 1979, Jaroslav Krombholc, a student of Václav Talich and a leading figure in Czech opera, served as the head of the PRSO, he demonstrating that his domain was not only the opera stage but also the concert hall. He premiered works by Czech composers and, thanks to his international reputation, brought world-class conductors to the orchestra, such as Serge Baudo, Gennady Rozhdestvensky and Charles Mackerras.
František Vajnar
Like his predecessor, František Vajnar also came to the PRSO from the National Theater. At the time of his appointment, he was at the height of his powers, having conducted the Czech Philharmonic, worked in Sweden and taught at Prague’s HAMU music school. His tenure was cut short by disagreements with the station’s “normalization” leadership, though he left a significant mark on the orchestra.
Vladimír Válek
The longest and arguably most significant era in the history of the PRSO belongs to Vladimír Válek, who led the orchestra for an incredible 26 years (1985–2011). Under his leadership, the ensemble shed its reputation as a “studio orchestra” and became a full-fledged concert ensemble with an international reputation. Válek brought top-tier musicians to the orchestra, opened doors for it in Japan, China and the U.S., and produced over 1,000 recordings. In 2014, he was inducted into the Czech Radio Hall of Fame.
Ondrej Lenárd
Slovak conductor Ondrej Lenárd succeeded Válek from 2011 to 2017. He brought with him experience from leading the Slovak Philharmonic and the Tokyo Philharmonic, and forged a strong artistic partnership with the orchestra. Speaking about the PRSO, he said: “You can’t fool a microphone. Working with a radio orchestra is a great learning experience… It was one of the most beautiful periods of my life.”
Alexander Liebreich
Alexander Liebreich’s tenure from 2018 to 2022 was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet he managed to forge a strong artistic bond with the orchestra. “Prague is one of the greatest music cities in Europe,” he said upon his arrival. He retained that enthusiasm even as he left for Valencia.
Petr Popelka
In September 2022, former double bassist Petr Popelka became chief conductor of the PRSO. After rising rapidly from the Dresden Staatskapelle to major orchestras across Europe and the U.S., he established himself as a leading conductor, making notable opera and orchestral debuts, including with the Berlin Philharmonic in 2026. His tenure with the PRSO brought major successes, including a celebrated 2024 Japan tour and prestigious projects such as Gurre-Lieder. A highlight was the orchestra’s invitation to open the Prague Spring Festival in 2026. He is succeeded by German-Japanese conductor Elias Grandy, who begins a new chapter for the orchestra with an international outlook and distinctive artistic vision.
