Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek has been awarded this year’s Antonín Dvořák Prize.
The award, which is presented by the Czech Academy of Classical Music to individuals who promote and popularise Czech music, is being given to Bělohlávek for his recordings of Dvořák’s complete symphonies and concertos with the Czech Philharmonic and for his role as president of the Dvořák Society for Czech and Slovak Music.
Currently artistic director and chief conductor of the Czech Phil, Bělohlávek has also held posts at the Prague Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra among others.
'Looking after the legacy, and promoting the works of Antonín Dvořák is the chief aim of the Academy of Classical Music,' says Robert Kolář, director of the Czech Academy of Classical Music. We are proud that the prize-giving ceremony is taking place in such an august institution as Carnegie Hall, which is indelibly linked to Dvořák's life and work.'
It was at Carnegie Hall that Dvorák’s most famous symphony, the Ninth ('New World’) was first performed. Bělohlávek will lead the Czech Philharmonic in a special performance of the symphony at the award ceremony, which takes place on Sunday 16 November with the Czech Minister of Culture, Daniel Herman, and Dvořák's grandson, Antonín Dvořák III, in attendance.
This year's jury included conductor Jakub Hrůša, director of Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra Jan Simon and artistic director of the Dvořák Prague Festival Marek Vrabec.
Previous recipients of the Antonín Dvořák Prize include violinist Josef Suk and soprano Ludmila Dvořáková.
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