Czech Philharmonic extends contract with Semyon Bychkov

Czech Philharmonic has announced the extension of the orchestra’s contract with chief conductor and music director Semyon Bychkov. Bychkov, who has held the role since 2018, will now remain in the position until 2028.

The announcement was given by the orchestra’s chief executive David Mareček last night before the opening concert of the Czech Philharmonic’s 127th season.

In an interview published on the orchestra’s YouTube account, Bychkov said: ‘Czech Philharmonic has become the centre of my life since I started working with it. That is why I am happy that it will remain so in the years to come. At the beginning of my tenure, we had many dreams, some of which have already come true. But we have other dreams instead, which we will try to realize in the coming period’

Born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Bychkov studied at the Glinka Choir School, the Leningrad Conservatory and the Mannes School of Music. Following his period of education in the US, Bychkov gained an international reputation with roles including music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony in Michigan, principal guest conductor, then music director, of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Bychkov held the role of music director of the Orchestre de Paris, as well as principal guest conductor of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and chief conductor of Dresden's Semperoper and of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne. Bychkov made his Royal Opera House debut in 2003 and, in 2012, the role of Günter Wand Conducting Chair was created especially for him with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

During his time with the Czech Philharmonic, Bychkov’s tenure the orchestra has been nominated for Gramophone’s 2022 ‘Orchestra of the Year’ they have also recorded Mahler’s Fifth Symphony together. The recording, by the Orchestra’s own state-of-the-art producing house, will be released on 14 October.

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