koubova@festival.cz – Prague Spring https://festival.cz/en/ 81st International Music Festival Fri, 15 May 2026 15:36:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 Maël Metzger from France wins the 77th Prague Spring International Music Competition in the flute category https://festival.cz/en/vitezem-77-rocniku-mezinarodni-hudebni-souteze-prazske-jaro-v-oboru-fletna-se-stal-mael-metzger-z-francie/ Fri, 15 May 2026 15:32:33 +0000 https://festival.cz/vitezem-77-rocniku-mezinarodni-hudebni-souteze-prazske-jaro-v-oboru-fletna-se-stal-mael-metzger-z-francie/ The winner in the flute category of the 77th Prague Spring International Music Competition is the twenty-two-year-old Maël Metzger from France. Second and third places went to his compatriots Iris Daverio and Mathilde Alvin Besson. An Honourable Mention of the Jury was awarded to the German flautist Moritz Schulte. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced so many emotions in my life as I have here tonight during the final,” said Maël Metzger after receiving the prize. He also received the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Prize, Prize of the City of Prague for the most successful laureate, the Bärenreiter Prize, the Czech Radio Prize, a performance at the 82nd Prague Spring International Music Festival in 2027 and with the Pilsen Philharmonic during the 2026–2027 season. The popular Audience Prize presented by the Friends of Prague Spring patrons’ club, won Iris Daverio.

Overview of prizes awarded

1st Prize Maël Metzger

2nd Prize Iris Daverio

3rd Prize Mathilde Alvin Besson

Honourable Mention of the Jury: Moritz Schulte

Audience Prize: Iris Daverio

Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Prize for the best performance of a composition by Bohuslav Martinů: Maël Metzger

Czech Music Fund Foundation Prize for the best performance of Dances and Song of the Night for Flute and Piano by Petr Popelka: Moritz Schulte

Prize of the City of Prague for the most successful laureate: Maël Metzger

Czech Radio Prize: Maël Metzger

Bärenreiter Prize: Maël Metzger

Performance at the 82nd Prague Spring International Music Festival in 2027: Maël Metzger

Performance with the Pilsen Philharmonic during the 2026–2027 season: Maël Metzger

As is tradition, the laureates also received several paid performance engagements both in the Czech Republic and abroad.

It is worth repeating that a record 239 flautists applied for this year’s Prague Spring International Music Competition. “The level of competition was extremely high. Thank you to the wonderful team that organized everything so well, thank you to all the judges, and thank you to the contestants, who were very brave. They could all be my children, and it’s very hard for a father to see his children work so hard because they have a desire to succeed. And that is exactly what these three young artists are doing, and we should give them a big BRAVO for it,” said Philippe Bernold, Chairman of the flute jury.

The final round featured Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partita in A minor for solo flute BWV 1013 and the Concerto for Flute and Orchestra by Jindřich Feld accompanied by the Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Kaspar Zehnder. The winner was decided by a jury comprising Philippe Bernold (France) – Chairman of the Jury, Emily Beynon (United Kingdom / Netherlands), Christina Fassbender (Germany), Davide Formisano (Italy, Germany), Barthold Kuijken (Belgium), Václav Kunt (Czech Republic) and Jan Ostrý(Czech Republic).

The entire final evening, which took place on 13 May in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum, is available on the Prague Spring  YouTube channel, @PragueSpringFestival. Nearly 4,200 users watched the live stream of the final round, and to date, nearly 35,000 users have viewed live streams or recordings of the 2026 Prague Spring International Music Competition. Partners of the competition are the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the City of Prague and the ČEZ Foundation. Tomorrow, May 14, the competition will culminate with the piano finals.

]]> Watch the Prague Spring Competition LIVE! https://festival.cz/en/watch-the-prague-spring-competition-live/ Sat, 09 May 2026 08:21:00 +0000 https://festival.cz/?p=138901 Can’t make it to the concert hall to support your favorites? No problem! Starting with the Round II, you can watch the competition online via live streams on the Prague Spring YouTube channel. Below are links to the individual streams—don’t miss a thing!

Sunday, May 10, 2026

FLUTE Round II – Part I starting at 10 am

FLUTE Round II – Part II starting at 2:30 pm

FLUTE Round II – Part III starting at 7 pm

Monday, May 11, 2026

PIANO Round II – Part I starting at 10 am

PIANO Round II – Part II starting at 2 pm

PIANO Round II – Part III starting at 7 pm

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

FLUTE Finals starting at 6 pm

Thursday, May 14, 2026

PIANO Finals starting at 6 pm

]]> Prague Spring with children – what does SpringTEEN have in store?   https://festival.cz/en/na-prazske-jaro-s-detmi-aneb-co-prinese-springteen/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:02:01 +0000 https://festival.cz/na-prazske-jaro-s-detmi-aneb-co-prinese-springteen/ Wondering where to take your children or grandchildren this May? Then be sure to set aside the afternoon of Saturday 30 May for Prague Spring’s family day, SpringTEEN! One of the festival’s most successful projects in recent years – which last year welcomed more than eight hundred children – will once again offer playful workshops and concerts for young audiences aged six to fifteen. This time, we will venture beyond the realm of sound alone into a world of visualisation, movement and music theatre. 

Your guides for this year’s SpringTEEN will be Klára Boudalová, Jan Cina, the SpringTEEN Band – joined by the SpringTEEN Band Junior – and we will set off on an imaginary interplanetary musical journey with the Floex Ensemble and its drummer, robot Josef, whom the children will programme themselves. In collaboration with ABB, the worlds of art and technology will once again come together: children will build musical instruments from switches, motors and relays. We will teach a flower to sing, experiment with mysterious Chladni plates, and perhaps even succeed in coaxing sound from the otherwise taciturn cauliflower.

Our new addition is the Garden of Silence workshop, prepared in collaboration with the AutTalk Foundation, where children on the autism spectrum – as well as anyone wishing to pause and unwind – can enjoy SpringTEEN accompanied by the sounds of the hang drum, kalimba and Tibetan singing bowls. In addition, audiences can look forward to classical, film and electronic music, as well as jazz. The day culminates in the Grand Finale at 18.30, featuring the world premiere of a new work by Marko Ivanović, in which both participants of the afternoon workshops and random spectators will be able to take part.

Thanks also to the support of the ČEZ Foundation, one third of SpringTEEN events are free of charge, with the remaining activities offered at very accessible prices – so do not hesitate too long before booking your places! Already, half of the capacity has been filled. The Convent of St Agnes will be open to you and your children on Saturday 30 May from 14.00 to 20.00 ⤵️

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]]> The winner of the 76th Prague Spring International Music Competition in the violoncello category is Yuya Mizuno from Japan https://festival.cz/en/the-winner-of-the-76th-prague-spring-international-music-competition-in-the-violoncello-category-is-yuya-mizuno-from-japan/ Wed, 14 May 2025 22:35:56 +0000 https://festival.cz/?p=124245 The winner of the 76th Prague Spring International Music Competition in the violoncello category is Yuya Mizuno, 27 years old, from Japan. Second place went to Till Schuler from Germany. Third place went to Alexandra Kahrer from Austria. “I am so grateful for this result and also for the opportunity to play Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in the Dvořák Hall, in this historic and really beautiful place. And additionally, I received a first price, which really surprised me, and I was truly very happy to hear that. The ten days in Prague were truly incredible; everyone here is very kind. I am truly grateful for all the support I have received here, and I will do my best to give my all in the future,” said winner Yuya Mizuno. 

Overview of awards

1st Prize: Yuya Mizuno

2nd Prize: Till Schuler

3rd Prize: Alexandra Kahrer

Honourable Mentions of the Jury awarded after Round II

  • Seungyeon Baik
  • Constantin Heise
  • Sanghyeok Park

Audience Prize: Alexandra Kahrer

Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Prize: Tae-Yeon Kim

Czech Music Fund Foundation Prize for the best performance of the Sonata No. 5 „Frammenti e Canto“ by Pavel Zemek Novák: Alexandra Kahrer

Viktor Kalabis and Zuzana Růžičková Prize: Yuya Mizuno

Prize of the City of Prague: Yuya Mizuno

Bärenreiter Prize: Yuya Mizuno

Performance at the Festival EuroArt Praha during the 2025–2026 season: Till Schuler

Performance at the 81st Prague Spring International Music Festival in 2026: Yuya Mizuno

Let us remind you that a record number of 203 cellists registered for this year’s Prague Spring Competition. “I think I speak on behalf of all my dear colleagues, we have spent fantastic ten days listening to extremely high standard of playing, of commitment, of passion, and of love of music and of our wonderful instrument, the cello. For everybody who has been lucky enough to play tonight, it is a prize enough just to play Dvořák in this great and historic space where Dvořák himself would listen to music,” said jury chairman Raphael Wallfisch.

The performances of the three finalists during the final evening, which took place on May 14 in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum, accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marek Prášil, can be viewed on the YouTube channel of the Prague Spring. The winner was chosen by a jury consisting of Raphael Wallfisch (UK, jury chair), Maria Kliegel (Germany), Marc Coppey (France), Natalie Clein (UK), Michal Kaňka (Czech Republic), Tomáš Jamník (Czech Republic) and Ľudovít Kanta (Slovakia).

The partners of the competition were: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Capital City of Prague, and the ČEZ Foundation.

]]> The most successful participant of the 76th Prague Spring Competition in the oboe category is Fedor Osver https://festival.cz/en/the-most-successful-participant-of-the-76th-prague-spring-competition-in-the-oboe-category-is-fedor-osver/ Tue, 13 May 2025 23:08:25 +0000 https://festival.cz/?p=124173 The most successful participant in the 76th Prague Spring International Music Competition in the oboe category is 21-year-old Fedor Osver from Russia, who won second prize. Third place went to Pedro Moreira from Portugal, while the Honourable Mention of the Jury of the First Grade went to Leandro Lazzari from Italy. No first prize was awarded. “I think I will remember this evening for the rest of my life, how we played two beautiful concertos in this amazing concert hall with a great orchestra and conductor. I would like to thank everyone who took care of us. It was a wonderful ten days,” said Fedor Osver after the ceremony. He also received the Prize of the City of Prague for the most successful laureate, the Bärenreiter Prize, and the popular Audience Prize, which was given to him personally by the patron of the Prague Spring Festival as well as of this prize, Karla Lažanská.

Overview of awards

1st Prize: not awarded

2nd Prize: Fedor Osver

3rd Prize: Pedro Moreira

Honourable Mention of the Jury of the First Grade: Leandro Lazzari

Audience Prize: Fedor Osver

Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Prize: not awarded

Prize of the City of Prague for the most successful laureate: Fedor Osver

Bärenreiter Prize: Fedor Osver

Performances with the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2025–2026 season: Pedro Moreira

The winners also received several concert opportunities not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad.

Let us remind you that a record number of 254 oboists registered for this year’s Prague Spring Competition. “All three finalists represent years of hard work, practice and dedication to their artistry and we thank them for inspiring us with their musicianship,” says the jury chair Nancy Ambrose King.

In the final rounds, Jiří Gemrot’s Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra and Bohuslav Martinů’s Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra H 353 were performer, accompanied by the Prague Philharmonia and conductor Robert Kružík. The winner was chosen by a jury consisting of Nancy Ambrose King (USA, jury chair), Fabien Thouand (France), Clara Dent-Bogányi (Austria), Kalev Kuljus (Estonia), Vilém Veverka (Czech Republic), Jan Souček (Czech Republic) and Johannes Grosso (France).

The entire final evening, which took place on May 13 in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum, can be viewed on the YouTube channel of the Prague Spring

The partners of the competition are: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Capital City of Prague, and the ČEZ Foundation.

]]> Three young cellists from Austria, Japan and Germany have made it to the finals of the 2025 Prague Spring Competition https://festival.cz/en/three-young-cellists-from-austria-japan-and-germany-have-made-it-to-the-finals-of-the-2025-prague-spring-competition/ Sun, 11 May 2025 23:10:05 +0000 https://festival.cz/?p=124066 Out of the twelve participants in the second round of the Prague Spring Competition in the violoncello category, the following three cellists have made it to the final round which will take place on Wednesday, 14 May, at 6:00 p.m. at the Rudolfinum: Alexandra Kahrer (Austria), Yuya Mizuno (Japan) and Till Schuler (Germany).

In the finals, all three finalists will perform identical compositions. First, they will perform a selection from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 1010, followed by Antonín Dvořák’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104, accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marek Prášil. All tickets for the final contest of the three best cellists of this year’s competition are sold out, but you can watch it live online on the YouTube channel of the Prague Spring.

Honourable mentions were awarded to Seungyeon Baik and Sanghyeok Park from the Republic of Korea and Constantin Heise from Germany. The Czech Music Fund Award for the best performance of a composition written for the Prague Spring International Music Competition 2025 – Sonata No. 5 per violoncello solo “Frammenti e Canto” by Pavel Zemek-Novák – went to Alexandra Kahrer from Austria. The Bohuslav Martinů Prize for the best performance of Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2 H 286 went to Tae-Yeon Kim from the Republic of Korea.

The final round of the 2025 Prague Spring Competition in the violoncello category will take place on Wednesday, 14 May, at 6 p.m. in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum. The results are expected around 11:30 p.m. The winner will be selected by a jury consisting of Raphael Wallfisch (UK, jury chair), Maria Kliegel (Germany), Marc Coppey (France), Natalie Clein (UK), Michal Kaňka (Czech Republic), Tomáš Jamník (Czech Republic) and Ľudovít Kanta (Slovakia).

The partners of the competition are Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Capital City of Prague, and the ČEZ Foundation.

For more information follow us on our Facebook a Instagram.

]]> Three young oboists from Italy, Portugal and Russia have made it to the finals of the 2025 Prague Spring Competition https://festival.cz/en/three-young-oboists-from-italy-portugal-and-russia-have-made-it-to-the-finals-of-the-2025-prague-spring-competition/ Sat, 10 May 2025 23:08:03 +0000 https://festival.cz/?p=124017 Out of the twelve participants in the second round of the Prague Spring Competition in the oboe category, the following three oboists have made it to the final round which will take place on Tuesday, 13 May, at 6:00 p.m. at the Rudolfinum: Leandro Lazzari (Italy), Pedro Moreira (Portugal) a Fedor Osver (Russia).

In the finals, all three will perform Jiří Gemrot’s Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra, accompanied by the Prague Philharmonia and conductor Robert Kružík. For the second part of the evening, each of them has chosen Bohuslav Martinů’s Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra H 353. You can watch the final contest of the three best oboists of this year’s competition live online on the YouTube channel of the Prague Spring. It is also still possible to come to the Rudolfinum in person to cheer them on. Members of the audience will not only experience the great, almost sporting atmosphere of the final round, but will also have the chance to win tickets to one of this year’s Prague Spring Festival concerts.

Tickets for the second round can be purchased on-site or through the festival’s website.

The Honorable Mention and the Czech Music Fund Award for the best performance of a composition written for the Prague Spring International Music Competition 2025, Jen tak pro sebe na hoboj (Playing the Oboe Plainly to Oneself) by Jan Klusák, went to Iria Folgado Dopico from Spain. The CultureTone Foundation Prize was awarded to Clara Maria Schweinberger from Germany.

The final round of the 2025 Prague Spring Competition in the oboe category will take place on Tuesday, 13 May, at 6 p.m. in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum. The results are expected around 10 p.m. The winner will be selected by a jury consisting of Nancy Ambrose King (USA, jury chair), Fabien Thouand (France), Clara Dent-Bogányi (Austria), Kalev Kuljus (Estonia), Vilém Veverka (Czech Republic), Jan Souček (Czech Republic), and Johannes Grosso (France).

The partners of the competition are Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Capital City of Prague, and the ČEZ Foundation.

For more information follow us on our Facebook and Instagram.

Watch the 2nd round of the competition.

]]> The first round of the cello competition has also come to an end. Who has advanced to the next round on May 11? https://festival.cz/en/the-first-round-of-the-cello-competition-has-also-come-to-an-end-who-has-advanced-to-the-next-round-on-may-11/ Fri, 09 May 2025 22:43:49 +0000 https://festival.cz/?p=123841 After two exhausting days full of outstanding performances by young cellists, the jury announced this evening the 12 participants advancing to the Round II. The selected semifinalists (listed in alphabetical order) are:

Cha Danbi (Republic of Korea)

Heise Constantin (Germany)

Kahrer Alexandra (Austria)

Kim Tae-Yeon (Republic of Korea)

Lee Jeri (Republic of Korea)

Lee Yeong-Kwang (Republic of Korea)

Lee Youbien (Republic of Korea)

Mizuno Yuya (Japan)

Park Sanghyeok (Republic of Korea)

Schuler Till (Germany)

Wang Yasen (China)

The Round II will take place on Sunday, May 11, starting at 9.30 am in the Bohuslav Martinů Hall at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (HAMU).

Each contestant will perform four pieces: The first movement of a sonata by Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, or Fryderyk Chopin. A solo piece by Mieczysław Weinberg, Krzysztof Penderecki, György Ligeti, or Elliott Carter. A sonata by Bohuslav Martinů, Sergei Prokofiev, Francis Poulenc, or Miloslav Kabeláč and a new composition by Pavel Zemek Novák, Sonata No. 5 “Frammenti e Canto”, written especially for this year’s competition.

You can find the detailed schedule of the Round II HERE.

Tickets for the second round can be purchased on-site or through the festival’s website.

If you can’t attend in person, you can also watch the performances of the individual semifinalists online.

For more information, follow us on our Facebook a Instagram.

]]> We know twelve oboists who have advanced to the second round of the Prague Spring 2025 competition. https://festival.cz/en/we-know-twelve-oboists-who-have-advanced-to-the-second-round-of-the-prague-spring-2025-competition/ Thu, 08 May 2025 23:11:10 +0000 https://festival.cz/?p=123832 The Round I of the OBOE Competition has concluded, and we now know the names of the 12 contestants who will advance to the Round II. The selected participants (listed in alphabetical order) are:

Cesaraccio Carlo (Italy)

Folgado Dopico Iria (Spain)

Kim Seongkyung (Republic of Korea)

Köhler Baratto Layla (Brazil)

Lazzari Leandro (Italy)

Lun Keith Wai Kei (Hong Kong)

Ma Seongye (Republic of Korea)

Médeville – Bogard Faustine (France)

Moreira Pedro (Portugal)

Ning Yuening (China)

Osver Fedor (Russia)

Schweinberger Clara Maria (Germany)

You can attend the Round II on Saturday, May 10, starting at 9.30 am, this time in the Bohuslav Martinů Hall at the HAMU building.

In this round, the contestants will perform, in collaboration with the Zemlinsky Quartet, the Oboe Quartet in F major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Additionally, they will present one pieceby either by Klement Slavický, André Jolivet, or Charles Koechlin, as well as Playing the Oboue Plainly to Oneself, a work for solo oboe written especially for the Prague Spring International Music Competition 2025 by Jan Klusák.

You can find the full schedule for the Round II HERE.

Tickets for the Round II are available at the venue or on the festival’s website.

If you can’t attend in person, you can also watch the performances of the individual semifinalists online.

For more information, follow us on our Facebook and Instagram.

]]> Young Cellists’ Competition Begins: Who Will Follow in the Footsteps of Past Legends? https://festival.cz/en/cello-zacala-soutez-v-oboru-violoncello/ Thu, 08 May 2025 01:22:26 +0000 https://festival.cz/?p=123790 The CELLO category of the 76th Prague Spring International Music Competition officially opened on May 7 with a festive ceremony in the Bohuslav Martinů Hall. This marks the fourteenth appearance of the cello in the history of this prestigious event.

A total of 42 talented young cellists from 11 countries will compete in the Round I. From this group, a maximum of 12 participants will be selected to advance to the Round II by an esteemed international jury led by Raphael Wallfisch. The jury also includes Natalie Clein, Marc Coppey, Tomáš Jamník, Ľudovít Kanta, Michal Kaňka, and Maria Kliegel.

The Round I repertoire features works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonín Dvořák, and Carlo Alfredo Piatti.

You can find the full schedule for both days of the Round I HERE.

Join us in person and show your support for the next generation of musical talent! Tickets for both days are available at the venue or online through the festival’s official website.

For more information, follow us on our Facebook and Instagram.

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