Orchestras

Prague Philharmonic Choir

About group

The Prague Philharmonic Choir (PPC) is a leading European vocal formation. As one of the most prominent Czech professional ensembles, it operates under the sole jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. In the course of the choir´s long history since its foundation in 1935, it has been directed by a succession of distinguished Czech choirmasters. Its current principal choirmaster, Lukáš Vasilek, has been at the PPC´s head since 2007.

The PPC´s repertoire is centered primarily around oratorio and cantata works. In their presentation, the choir has worked with pre-eminent international orchestras (in recent years including e.g. the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Czech Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic, the Staatskapelle Dresden or the Wiener Symphoniker, among others), and with some of the most distinguished conductors (most recently including Daniel Barenboim, Jiří Bělohlávek, Christoph Eschenbach, Manfred Honeck, Jakub Hrůša, Philippe Jordan, Fabio Luisi, Zubin Mehta and Simon Rattle). Beyond its standard choral repertoire, the PPC is likewise active in the domain of opera, working regularly with the National Theatre in Prague, and since 2010 holding the status of choir in residence at the opera festival of Bregenz, Austria.

Apart from these commitments, the PPC engages in a number of its own independent projects. Since 2011 it has produced a choral concert series in Prague, with a programme focused notably on presentations of highly sophisticated and less well known choral works, either a cappella or with chamber-scale instrumental accompaniment. The choir regards as an inseparable part of its activity educational endeavours addressing the young generations of musicians. Targeting students of voice disciplines has been its Choral Academy, a project aimed at offering young up-and-coming artists practical training through work with a professional vocal ensemble; and in a special programme intended for children, the PPC organizes a series of educational concerts, plus on-site singing workshops taking place in schools.

The PPC has to its credit an extensive discography, with many titles released by major international labels. Over the last few years, these have included e.g. Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, Sony Classical and Supraphon. The last season saw the release of, most notably, two important albums, one featuring Bohuslav Martinů´s cantatas (Supraphon, 2016), the other Antonín Dvořák´s Stabat Mater (Decca, 2017). The last mentioned recording was made with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of its principal conductor, the late Jiří Bělohlávek.     

In the 2017/2018 season the PPC is up for concerts in Prague with several different orchestras including the Czech Philharmonic and the Wiener Symphoniker, apart from that looking forward to a Russian tour with the St Petersburg Philharmonic and the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow under the baton of Vladimir Fedoseyev, plus appearances in Israel with the Israel Philharmonic and the conductor Gianandrea Noseda. At the Dresdner Musikfestspiele, the choir will be performing with the Munich Philharmonic, and in summer it will return to the Bregenz festival for its production of Bizet´s Carmen, plus the world premiere of Berthold Goldschmidt´s opera Beatrice Cenci. Finally, it will accompany the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Jakub Hrůša, in a new Decca recording of Antonín Dvořák´s Requiem.

Nearest concerts

Grand Hall:
191186, St. Petersburg, Mikhailovskaya st., 2
+7 (812) 240-01-80, +7 (812) 240-01-00
Small Hall:
191011, St. Petersburg, Nevsky av., 30
+7 (812) 240-01-70
Write us:
Box office opening hours: 11 am to 8 pm (on concerts days to 8.30 pm)
Lunch Break: 3 pm to 4 pm
Box office opening hours: from 11 am to 7 pm (on concerts days to 7.30 pm)
Lunch Break: 3 pm to 4 pm
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«Saint-Petersburg Philharmonia»