Following a spectacular 2023/24 season, Jakub Hrůša led the Czech Philharmonic on a five-date tour European tour in August 2024. On the 21 August, they began the tour at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Germany, performing Suk’s Asrael Symphony, with cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason joining as soloist for Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor:
“From the beginning to the end of both works [by Dvořák and Suk], it was evident how much Jakub Hrůša conducted with all his soul…With great vibrato and strong expression, the orchestral exposition [of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto] featured warm string sounds and a beautiful horn solo which immediately captivated the listener…Hrůša, who conducted from a small score, used gestures sparingly to achieve the maximum effect: the woodwind solos dialogued with the cello, and gripping climaxes from the massive brass section was achieved with the finest nuances…All [in Suk’s Asrael] was played with soul and dedication from the first to the last bar by this truly great orchestra.” – Helmut Peters, Hamburger Abendblatt
“Hrůša’s conducting [in Suk’s Asrael] was notable for both its enormous agility and sophistication; facial expressions and body language followed the music – from the measured to the outgoing but never for the sake of it. Leader and orchestra were clearly performing as one organic unit.” – Dr. Andreas Ströbl, Klassik Begeistert
Hrůša and the Orchestra then went on to grace the Lucerne Festival, Switzerland on the 23 August and the Rheingau Musik Festival, Germany on the 25 August, with an all-Dvořák programme:
“Hrůša chose to combine the works [Dvořák’s three Overtures – In Nature’s Realm, Carnival and Othello], into a symphony of gripping and dramatic features; a trilogy of passions, starting from the dreamy experience of nature to jealous frenzy at the end. The flexibility with which Hrůša and the Czech Philharmonic developed the constantly changing characters always with fine tonal detail, really brought to light a neglected masterpiece.” – Christian Wildhagen, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
‘The Czech Philharmonic, which is considered the orchestra par excellence in Dvořák’s works in its homeland, presented itself on top form. Under the confident direction of Jakub Hrůša, a conductor who knows how to shape the music of his homeland with incomparable dedication, the complex structures of the work were impressively developed. The interaction between soloist and orchestra was lively and intimate at the same time… The warmth and clarity of the performance created an intimate yet festive atmosphere which made the concert a truly amazing experience.” – Dirk Schauß, Online Merker
“A fantastic and triumphant performance then of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. Not least thanks to the wonderful harmony between the soloist and orchestra, and above, the moving and intelligent conducting of Jakub Hrůša, a master of his field…The large orchestra – now over 90 instrumentalists – created a sound [in Dvořák’s three Overtures] that eclipsed anything heard before. Rich and transparent at the same time, it was the sound of an ensemble born from a 129-year-old tradition of Czech musical culture, and one of the most unique in the world.” – H. Boscaiolo
On the 27 & 28 August, Hrůša conducted the Czech Philharmonic in two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms. For the first concert, the programme featured Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor with cellist Anastasia Kobekina, and Suk’s Asrael Symphony. On the second night, the Orchestra performed Kaprálová’s Military Sinfonietta and Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass with the Prague Philharmonic Choir, with pianist Mao Fujita joining for Dvořák’s Piano Concerto in G Minor.
“BBC Proms’ celebration of Czech music is sensuous and arresting…Under Jakub Hrůša, the Czech Philharmonic demonstrated how it is one of the world’s superlative orchestras. Throughout all the pieces, it showed distinctly melodious and sensuous qualities all its own, ranging from the harsh to the sweet. It was often at its most spellbinding in quiet music; the high strings created lingering magic…The orchestra excelled in judging special sound alchemies…Hrůša’s conducting was energetic, without flamboyance…. There seemed no ego in his direction: he was just fully engaged…The richness of these two concerts makes you want to immerse yourself in more Czech music for months.” – Alastair Macaulay, Financial Times
“The playing of the Czech musicians was full of life and detail, the flexibility of the orchestra’s string sound matched by the wonderfully characterful woodwind [in Suk’s Asrael]… Whether turning to the silvery sighs of the liminal second movement, the untethered, restless spirits of the third or the tender feeling of the adagio, the Czech Philharmonic and conductor Jakub Hrůša got to the heart of the music…With Hrůša and the Czech Philharmonic in impeccable tandem, Mao Fujita allowed Dvořák’s Piano Concerto to unfold with rhapsodic delicacy and irresistible playfulness…When the Prague Philharmonic Choir, full-bodied and stunningly expressive burst in – Janáček’s unique, pantheistic vision of the Christian Mass became epic in scale.” – Rebecca Franks, The Times
“Hrůša has described Suk as “a Czech Mahler”, and clearly revelled in the large orchestral canvas and instrumental colourings of Suk’s score. The Czech Philharmonic responded whole-heartedly, with grinding fulsome strings, luminous woodwinds and full-bodied brass, the overall sound being refined but still with a welcome earthiness…The serenity of the winds and brass over rippling string sin the final pages provided satisfying closure…In this BBC Proms performance by the Prague Philharmonic Choir and the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Jakub Hrůša, there was no orgy but a feast of sensual pleasures that all Epicureans could enjoy. This orchestra lives and breathes every note of Janáček’s music: I was particularly impressed by the full-toned strings, each line of which was cleanly articulated and together with the characterful wind, the festive brass and quite titanic contributions from the timpani, there was a thrilling vibrancy of sound…Hrůša held the eight sections of this mass together with a combination of infectious vitality and sensitivity towards all its textural complexity.” – Mark Thomas, Bachtrack
“The Czech Philharmonic’s Central European sound instantly recognisable: lush strings, rich-toned horns with subtle vibrato, and truly individual woodwind soloists. The orchestral exposition [in Dvořák’s Cello Concerto] was a masterclass in conducting, superbly controlled perfectly idiomatic…If the performance proved one thing [with Anastasia Kobekina] it was how fine a collaborative conductor Hrůša is…This piece [Suk’s Asrael] can appear diffuse, but Hrůša bound it together perfectly, daring the music to dissipate. He was certainly helped in his endeavours by the stunning orchestra: those perilously high violin lines found the Czech Philharmonic’s violins offering the most exquisite silvery sound…An undeniable achievement. Suk’s score could hardly be better served…I cannot imagine it [Kaprálová’s Military Sinfonetta] ever being played with more sensitivity and conviction than it was here…Thank you, Czech Philharmonic and Jakub Hrůša, for bringing us her music…The performance of the Glagolitic Mass was simply astonishing…The Prague Philharmonic Choir’s sound was devastating… singing with such absolute conviction and precision…The orchestra matched the singers in fiery commitment: those wonderful Czech strings silvery in one moment, cutting like swords the next; the tangy eloquence of the woodwind and the refulgence of the brass; a fearless timpanist…I shall be surprised if the achieve of Hrůša and the Czech Philharmonic over these two nights is any way diminished by the orchestral heavyweights appearing at the Proms this year: for me, this Janáček performance is likely to prove indelible.” – Colin Clarke, Seen and Heard International
“Hrůša is set to replace Antonio Pappano as Music Director at Covent Garden next year, and if his exceptional interpretation of the emotional roller coaster of Asrael is anything to go by, British operagoers are in for a treat…Those peerless violins were the stars of the second movement…the fever dream of the scherzo was immaculately controlled for dynamic, tempo and timbre, giving us moments of lush string rhapsody and angsty orchestral fugues…After the busy opening of the final movement, the spookily quiet trombone chorus led eventually to some especially punchy playing full of careening, squeaking woodwind, Hrůša and the orchestra ensuring that all this mercuriality was artfully merged into a single symphonic wail of rejection. A truly outstanding performance…The Czech Philharmonic crown their appearances at the Proms with an incandescent performance of Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass under Jakub Hrůša…Hrůša kept his players on a tight rein [in Kaprálová’s Military Sinfonietta], his clear beat eliciting playing of pinpoint accuracy, from all sections of the attentive orchestra…After that we were treated to an exceptional performance of Dvořák’s Piano Concerto…Mao Fujita was lovingly supported by Hrůša – the synergy between the two of them evident in every bar…Janáček’s music courses through the veins of the Czech Philharmonic, and every section played as though possessed, Hrůša revelling in the composer’s quirky orchestral textures and colours whilst maintaining total control of his massed forces assembled on the platform…2024 is The Year of Czech Music, and it’s hard to imagine a more electrifying contribution than this outstanding Prom.” – Keith McDonnell, MusicOMH
“With Jakub Hrůša at the helm, the Czech Philharmonic play Dvořák’s music like Gods. Hrůša has such a gloriously decisive upbeat, the players know when and how and with what total clarity they are about to land. The opening out of the conductor’s eloquently expressive left hand will, for example, inspire the principal oboe to make a phrase bloom like a flower. And the unanimous sense of purpose achieved by each of the string sections is something quite unbelievable.” – Sebastian Scotney, The Arts Desk
Photo: Ian Ehm