Czech Philharmonic conducted by Semyon Bychkov with Daniil Trifonov, piano

For over a century, the Czech Philharmonic has established itself as one of the great orchestras of Europe and has represented the pinnacle of Czech cultural achievement. In 1896, Antonín Dvořák conducted the orchestra’s debut performance at the Rudolfinum, still home to the orchestra’s Prague concerts. Led by renowned conductor Semyon Bychkov, they will perform Dvořák’s Piano Concerto and Smetana’s Má vlast for their Koerner hall debuts.

Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov’s season started in Prague with the official concert to mark the Czech Republic’s Presidency of the EU and continued at the Dvořák Prague International Music Festival with concert performances of Dvořák’s Rusalka. Now in his sixth season, Semyon Bychkov’s relationship with the Orchestra has become noticeably deeper with extraordinary performances of the great Czech masters running in parallel with a much-acclaimed Mahler cycle, and memorable performances of Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Strauss, Schumann, and Beethoven.

Grammy Award-winning pianist Daniil Trifonov has made a spectacular ascent of the classical music world, as a solo artist, champion of the concerto repertoire, chamber and vocal collaborator, and composer. Combining consummate technique with rare sensitivity and depth, his performances are a perpetual source of awe. He has been described as “the most astounding pianist of our age” (The Times).

Program Notes