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Petr Popelka

Conductor
Chief Conductor and Artistic Director, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Chief Conductor, Norwegian Radio Orchestra

  • Within just a few seasons, Petr Popelka has established himself as one of the most inspiring young conductors. In September 2022, he became Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and has been Chief Conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK) since August 2020.

  • Innerhalb kürzester Zeit hat sich Petr Popelka als einer der inspirierendsten Dirigenten seiner Generation einen Namen gemacht. Der Tscheche ist seit der Saison 2022/2023 Chefdirigent und Künstlerischer Leiter des Radio-Symphonieorchesters Prag und seit August 2020 Chefdirigent des Norwegischen Rundfunkorchesters in Oslo.


     

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  • As a guest conductor in the 2022/2023 season, Petr Popelka will make debuts with orchestras such as the Gewandhausorchester, Staatskapelle Berlin, Bamberger Symphoniker, SWR Symphonieorchester, WDR Sinfonieorchester, RundfunkSinfonieorchester Berlin, Orchestra sinfonica nazionale della RAI, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He will return to the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Wiener Symphoniker (TV concert Spring in Vienna), Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Operatic engagements will take him to Den Norske Opera, Oslo, for a new production of Strauss Elektra, and to Semperoper Dresden for Shostakovich The Nose. Together with his orchestras from Prague and Oslo, he will perform Schoenberg Gurre-Lieder. Previous debuts include the Czech Philharmonic, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, hrSinfonieorchester, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie and Mozarteumorchester Salzburg.

    In the 2019/2020 season, Petr Popelka was the first ever Conductor Fellow of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester. Having devoted himself increasingly to conducting since 2016, his new career path was particularly encouraged and nurtured by Vladimir Kiradjiev and Alan Gilbert. He acquired his music education both in his hometown of Prague as well as in Freiburg. Between 2010 and 2019 he held the position of deputy principal double bass of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. Next to conducting, his work as a composer plays another important role within his artistic range.

  • Innerhalb kürzester Zeit hat sich Petr Popelka als einer der inspirierendsten Dirigenten seiner Generation einen Namen gemacht. Der Tscheche ist seit der Saison 2022/2023 Chefdirigent und Künstlerischer Leiter des Radio-Symphonieorchesters Prag und seit August 2020 Chefdirigent des Norwegischen Rundfunkorchesters in Oslo.


    In der Saison 2022/2023 debütiert er beim Gewandhausorchester, Staatskapelle Berlin, Bamberger Symphoniker, SWR Symphonieorchester, WDR Sinfonieorchester, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Orchestra sinfonica nazionale della RAI, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg sowie Atlanta Symphony Orchestra und kehrt u. a. zur Sächsischen Staatskapelle Dresden, Wiener Symphoniker (TV-Konzert „Frühling in Wien“), Danish National Symphony Orchestra und Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra zurück. Eine Neuproduktion von Strauss‘ „Elektra“ führt ihn an die Osloer Oper und Schostakowitschs „Nase“ wieder an die Semperoper Dresden. Zusammen mit seinen Orchestern aus Prag und Oslo wird er außerdem Schönbergs monumentale „Gurre-Lieder“ zur Aufführung bringen. Frühere Debüts führten ihn u.a. zur Tschechischen Philharmonie, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Deutschen Radio Philharmonie und Mozarteumorchester Salzburg.


    In der Saison 2019/2020 war Petr Popelka der erste Conductor Fellow des NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchesters. Wichtige dirigentische Impulse erhielt er von Vladimir Kiradjiev und Alan Gilbert, nachdem er sich seit 2016 vermehrt dem Dirigieren widmete. Er erhielt seine musikalische Ausbildung in seiner Heimatstadt Prag und in Freiburg. 2010 bis 2019 war er stellvertretender Solo-Kontrabassist der Sächsischen Staatskapelle Dresden. Neben dem Dirigieren nimmt das Komponieren eine wichtige Position in Petr Popelkas künstlerischer Arbeit ein.

Performances

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'Popelka is completely immersed in his world, but knows how to balance his passion to effectively shape climaxes. In full orchestration...the RSB can display the full range of its qualities. A triumph!'

Der Tagesspiegel, January 2023

'How he coordinated the shimmering interplay of the groups of instruments, Shostakovich's intricate rhythms, the togetherness on stage and digging in at times insane tempi including numerous contrasts and breaks - and in doing so obviously had a great deal of joy, which was transmitted to the orchestra and the audience - , that deserves the utmost respect.'

Neue Musikzeitung, July 2022

'You can't take your eyes off him. He is extraordinarily musical, paints with gestures in a smooth way, lets the musicians carefully play out the smallest movements and sighs.'

KlasikaPlus, October 2021

Intermusica represents Petr Popelka worldwide.

Dennis Gerlach
Senior Artist Manager, Munich
+44 20 7608 9919
dgerlach@intermusica.com

Hazel Park
Assistant Artist Manager
+44 20 7608 9948

If you have any queries, please fill in the form below, and we will be in touch soon

All artists

Chansonnier

HK Gruber

Counter-tenor

Tim Mead

Piano accompanist

Roger Vignoles