Prague Philharmonic Choir

Lukáš Vasilek / choir master

The Prague Philharmonic Choir was founded in 1935 by choirmaster and educator Jan Kühn, making it the oldest professional choir in the Czech Republic. Its name regularly appears on leading international stages.

The ensemble is currently acclaimed above all for its interpretations of oratorio and cantata repertoire. Since 2007, it has been led by Principal Choirmaster and Artistic Director Lukáš Vasilek, joined by Lukáš Kozubík as Second Choirmaster.

Since 2023, the Prague Philharmonic Choir has been supported by the ČEZ Group as its general partner. In addition to sponsoring the choir’s perfor­mances at home and abroad, the ČEZ Group also contributes to the development of young vocal talent and supports the choir’s educational initiatives.

Under the leadership of Lukáš Vasilek, the Prague Philharmonic Choir has established itself as a highly respected performing partner of leading international orchestras.

In its home country, the ensemble collaborates regularly with the Czech Philharmonic and, for its own choral concerts, with the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra or the Prague Philharmonia. On the international stage, the choir has performed with renowned orchestras including the Berlin and Dresden Philharmonics, the Wiener Symphoniker, and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra.

The PPC has also gained extensive experience working with some of the world’s leading conductors, including Semyon Bychkov, Jakub Hrůša, Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Harding, Zubin Mehta, and Christoph Eschenbach. The Choir regularly performs at the Czech Republic’s most prestigious festivals, such as Smetana’s Litomyšl, Prague Spring, Dvořák Prague, and the Days of Bohuslav Martinů. Since 2010, the PPC has held the position of Choir in Residence at the Bregenzer Festspiele.

In addition to its performances, the PPC is actively involved in numerous educational initiatives. Each season, it presents a series of educational concerts designed for children, catering both to school groups and families. Central to these programmes is the goal of fostering enjoyment and active engagement among young listeners. The PPC Choral Academy, established in honour of Soňa Červená, offers singing students the valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience as part of a professional ensemble, participate in major musical projects, and learn through collaboration with leading artists.

The Choir’s qualities are further demonstrated through its extensive and ever-expanding recording archive. The PPC has appeared on recordings released by PENTATONE, Decca Classics, Sony Classical, and Supraphon. It has received numerous international awards for its recording projects, including accolades from Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, and the prestigious Diapason d’or de l’année Award. The choir’s very first recording dates back to 1952, featuring Dvořák’s oratorio Stabat Mater conducted by Václav Talich. Its most recent release, Stravinsky, Janáček, Bartók: Village Stories, explores and reinterprets the magic of folk songs and traditional rituals in the music of these three 20th-century masters.

The Prague Philharmonic Choir is the recipient of the 2018 Classic Prague Award for Best Vocal Concert, Czech Television’s Clas­sical Music of the Year Award, and the 2022 Antonín Dvořák Prize for outstanding artistic achievements and the promotion of Czech music. In May 2024, the album Village Stories was honored with the Choc de Classica award.

www.prazskyfilharmonickysbor.cz