Jakub Hrůša

Born in the Czech Republic and described by Gramophone as being “on the verge of greatness”, Jakub Hrůša is Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Prague Philharmonia and Principal Guest Conductor of Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He is a regular guest with many of Europe’s leading orchestras, and in 2010 became the youngest conductor since 1949 to lead the opening concert of the Prague Spring Festival. He made his North American début in 2009, and the same year made his Australian début with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, followed by visits to Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras. He is also a regular visitor to Asia where he led the Prague Philharmonia on a major tour of Japan in 2012 and has appeared as a guest conductor with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic and Osaka Philharmonic.

In opera, Jakub Hrůša made his Glyndebourne Festival and Tour débuts in 2008 and has also led productions for Royal Danish Opera (Boris Godunov) and Prague National Theatre (The Cunning Little Vixen). He has released six discs for Supraphon including a critically-acclaimed live recording of Smetana’s Má Vlást from the Prague Spring Festival in 2010. Other recordings include the Tchaikovsky and Bruch violin concertos with Nicola Benedetti for Universal and, more recently, a live recording of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique with Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra for Octavia Records in Japan. He is currently President of the International Martinů Circle.