PKF — Prague Philharmonia
The PKF — Prague Philharmonia was founded in 1994 on the initiative of the conductor Jiří Bělohlávek (1946-2017) under the original name Prague Chamber Philharmonia. Today it is one of the most recognised orchestras, not only among Czech but also world ensembles. Regular invitations to tour abroad as well as recording projects with the most renowned international labels bear testimony to this. Since the 2015–16 season the orchestra has been led by the French conductor Emmanuel Villaume.
Emmanuel Villaume
music director and chief conductor
music director and chief conductor
French-born conductor Emmanuel Villaume has led captivating performances with the most prominent opera companies and symphony orchestras around the world. Since the 2015–2016 season he has been Chief Conductor of the PKF – Prague Philharmonia.
Members
PKF — Prague Philharmonia
PKF — Prague Philharmonia
Members for 1st violin, 2nd violin, violas, cello, double basses, woodwinds, brass wind instruments, percussion ...
PKF Orchestral Academy
PKF — Prague Philharmonia
PKF — Prague Philharmonia
The PKF – Prague Philharmonia Orchestral Academy was established in 2008 as the very first project of its kind in the Czech Republic. Each year the orchestra welcomes in to its family 12 to 14 young, talented musicians. The PKF helps these players by giving them valuable orchestral experience and enthusiastically laying out the basic philosophy of the PKF: precision, a sense of teamwork and detail, artistic modesty, friendship and respect.
History
PKF — Prague Philharmonia
PKF — Prague Philharmonia
When reading that the PKF – Prague Philharmonia, former Prague Philharmonia, was founded in 1994, an inquisitive person immediately asks by whom and why, whether the orchestra originated “out of nowhere” or linked up to another ensemble… The establishment of an orchestra alone gives rise to a number of questions. The following text does not give a detailed account of the ensemble’s genesis but strives to answer the question of why and how it came to life and in so doing illuminates the motivations of those who have connected a large part of their lives with the orchestra.
Jiří Bělohlávek
— honorary founder
— honorary founder
Jiří Bělohlávek was born in Prague in 1946, and his love of music became apparent at an early age. Bělohlávek studied the cello with Professor Karel Pravoslav Sádlo, before continuing his studies at the Prague Conservatory and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. It was during these years that Jiří Bělohlávek began conducting in earnest, receiving instruction from Robert Brock, Alois Klíma, Bohumír Liška and Josef Veselka.
