Prague Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Prague Symphony Orchestra (Prague
, Czech Republic
, Czech: Symfonický orchestr hlavního města Prahy FOK) was founded in 1934 by Rudolf Pekárek
. In the 1930s the orchestra performed the scores for many Czech films, and also appeared regularly on Czech radio. An early promoter of the orchestra was Dr. Václav Smetáček
, who, in 1942 became the orchestra's chief conductor, a post he held for the next 30 years.
The orchestra has traditionally been known by the acronym FOK, standing for Film-Opera-Koncert, reflecting the orchestra's fields of activity as envisioned by its founder. When the city of Prague
made the orchestra its official concert ensemble in 1952, it retained the acronym, giving it the official title Symphony Orchestra of the Capital City of Prague - FOK.
The orchestra has travelled extensively in Europe
, Japan
, and the United States
, and has recorded for many different labels. Since 2006, the orchestra's chief conductor is Jiří Kout.
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Czech: Symfonický orchestr hlavního města Prahy FOK) was founded in 1934 by Rudolf Pekárek
Rudolf Pekárek
Rudolf Pekárek was a Czech-Australian conductor.In 1934 he founded the Prague Symphony Orchestra, giving work to many unemployed musicians. It was known as the FOK Orchestra , or the FOK Salon Orchestra or sometimes Pekarek's Salon Orchestra...
. In the 1930s the orchestra performed the scores for many Czech films, and also appeared regularly on Czech radio. An early promoter of the orchestra was Dr. Václav Smetáček
Václav Smetácek
Václav Smetáček was a Czech conductor, composer, and oboist.He studied in Prague among others with Jaroslav Křička, conducting with Metod Doležil and Pavel Dědeček, musicology, aesthetics, and philosophy at Charles University...
, who, in 1942 became the orchestra's chief conductor, a post he held for the next 30 years.
The orchestra has traditionally been known by the acronym FOK, standing for Film-Opera-Koncert, reflecting the orchestra's fields of activity as envisioned by its founder. When the city of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
made the orchestra its official concert ensemble in 1952, it retained the acronym, giving it the official title Symphony Orchestra of the Capital City of Prague - FOK.
The orchestra has travelled extensively in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and has recorded for many different labels. Since 2006, the orchestra's chief conductor is Jiří Kout.
Principal conductors
- Václav SmetáčekVáclav SmetácekVáclav Smetáček was a Czech conductor, composer, and oboist.He studied in Prague among others with Jaroslav Křička, conducting with Metod Doležil and Pavel Dědeček, musicology, aesthetics, and philosophy at Charles University...
(1942–1972) - Ladislav Slovák (1972–1976)
- Jindřich Rohan (1976–1977)
- Jiří BělohlávekJirí BelohlávekJiří Bělohlávek is a Czech conductor. His father was a barrister and judge. In his youth Bělohlávek studied cello with Miloš Sádlo and was later a graduate of the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague...
(1977–1990) - Petr AltrichterPetr AltrichterPetr Altrichter is a Czech conductor. He studied French horn and conducting at the Conservatory of Music in Ostrava. He also studied at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts...
(1990–1992) - Martin TurnovskýMartin TurnovskýMartin Turnovský is a Czech conductor.-Biography:Turnovský was born in Prague. His father was familiar with the conductor George Szell, who helped in the beginnings of Turnovský's career. During World War II, at the age of 16, Turnovský was imprisoned in German concentration camp, due to his...
(1992–1995) - Gaetano Delogu (1995–1998)
- Serge BaudoSerge BaudoSerge Baudo is a French conductor, the son of the oboist Étienne Baudo. He is the nephew of the cellist Paul Tortelier....
(2001–2006) - Jiří Kout (2006–present)
Contribution in rock crossover projects
Since 1995 the orchestra has been part of several crossover projects, which aim to mix metal and classical music together. The most important are:- The Lingua Mortis album by RageRage (band)Rage are a German heavy metal band, formed in 1984. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s, along with bands such as Helloween, Running Wild and Blind Guardian.-Background:...
in 1996 - The LemuriaLemuria (album)Lemuria is the eleventh full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the name of a hypothetical "Lost Land" called Lemuria. It was released simultaneously with Sirius B. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.-Track listing:#"Typhon" – 4:36#"Uthark Runa" ...
and Sirius BSirius B (album)Sirius B is the twelfth full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the star Sirius B. It was released simultaneously with Lemuria. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.-Track listing:...
albums by TherionTherion (band)Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. The word "therion" comes from the Greek therion , meaning "Beast," i.e., that of the Christian Book of Revelation...
in 2004 - The Gettysburg (1863) trilogy on The Glorious BurdenThe Glorious Burden-Disc 2: Gettysburg :-American version:-European version:-Iced Earth:* Jon Schaffer − rhythm guitar, backing vocals* Tim 'Ripper' Owens − lead vocals* Ralph Santolla − lead guitar* James MacDonough − bass guitar* Richard Christy − drums...
album by Iced EarthIced EarthIced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. Originally formed under the name "Purgatory" in 1984, Iced Earth has released a total of ten studio albums, one live album, three EP's, two compilations and boxsets...
in 2004 - Several songs and The Keepers Trilogy on the Unarmed album by HelloweenHelloweenHelloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
in 2010