Jiří Bělohlávek served as the chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic on two separate occasions, bridging the periods between 1990 and 1992 and again from 2012 until his death in 2017. A dedicated interpreter of Czech orchestral works, he navigated the shifting political landscape of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic throughout his decades-long career as a musician and pedagogue.
Formative Years and Education
Born in Prague in 1946, Bělohlávek initially studied the cello under Miloš Sádlo. He refined his musical craft at the Prague Conservatory and later the Academy of Performing Arts. Following his graduation, he spent two years studying conducting with Sergiu Celibidache. In 1970, he gained early recognition by winning the Czech Young Conductors' Competition.
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Bělohlávek held early positions as an assistant conductor with the Czech Philharmonic and as chief conductor of the Brno Philharmonic and the Prague Symphony Orchestra. After the Velvet Revolution, he assumed the role of chief conductor for the Czech Philharmonic in 1990, though he resigned two years later. In 1993, he founded the Prague Philharmonia, securing private funding for the ensemble and serving as its first music director until 2005.
International Appointments
Beyond his domestic work, Bělohlávek maintained a significant presence in the United Kingdom. He served as the principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra starting in 1995, later becoming its twelfth chief conductor from 2006 to 2012. He was the first non-native English speaker to conduct the Last Night of the Proms, a role he fulfilled in 2007, 2010, and 2012. He also conducted at the Metropolitan Opera and held the position of principal guest conductor with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra from 2012 until 2017.
Academic and Final Years
A committed pedagogue, Bělohlávek became a Professor of Conducting at the Prague Academy of Music in 1997. His influence extended to students such as Jakub Hrůša and Tomáš Netopil. He returned to the Czech Philharmonic as chief conductor in 2012, where he remained until he died in Prague in 2017. He is buried at the Vyšehrad cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1946, Prague
- Died: 2017, Prague
- Primary Occupations: Conductor, pedagogue, cellist
- Major Awards: Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Czech Medal of Merit (1st class)
- Chief Conductor Positions: Czech Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonia
- Education: Prague Conservatory, Brno Conservatory, Academy of Performing Arts
- Burial Site: Vyšehrad cemetery
Questions readers ask
Which composers did Bělohlávek focus on?
He was noted for his interpretations of Czech composers, specifically Antonín Dvořák and Bohuslav Martinů.
What notable recognition did he receive in the United Kingdom?
He was appointed an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2012 for his services to music.
Achievements
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Czech Medal of Merit, 1st class
- Artis Bohemiae Amicis Medal — 2016
- Instruments: cello
- Genres: classical music