SIR CHARLES MACKERRAS

On 17th November 2025, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of birth of legendary conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, a true connoisseur and champion of Czech music. During his long and incredibly fruitful conducting career, he made a lot of recordings for Supraphon, mainly with the Czech Philharmonic with which he collaborated for many years.

His vast Supraphon’s discography includes award-winning recordings such as Janáček’s opera Katya Kabanova (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Cannes Classical Award), Janáček’s opera Šárka (Gramophone Award nomination, Grammy Awards nomination), Dvořák’s Symphonic Variations, Scherzo capriccioso, Legends (Cannes Classical Award), Martinů’s Three Fragments from the Opera Juliette (Gramophone Award, ECHO Klassik), Dvořák’s Symphonic Poems (Gramophone Award, Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik) etc. Throughout the music world, Mackerras's name is synonymous with Czech music itself – Dvořák and Janáček in particular: "I am a great fan of Dvořák's music because it always seemed to me that, apart from Mozart, Dvořák is the greatest composer.” Sir Charles Mackerras fatefully encountered Janáček during the very first days of his studies with Václav Talich in Prague. Subsequently, he introduced Janáček to the wider world. “If I have achieved anything in my life, it is the propagation of Janáček." In April 2010, Sir Charles Mackerras received from Supraphon two Gold and two Platinum Discs for the conductor’s bestselling albums. He also received the Artis Bohemiae Amicis prize from the Ministry of Culture, for his championing of Czech music all over the world.