Jakub Hrůša (41) is only the second Czech to head to Covent Garden in central London, Westminster, to prove his skills as music director at the famous Royal Opera House. The first was the conductor, composer and violinist Rafael Kubelík (1914–1996), briefly in the 1950s. Overall, the Czech is the seventh boss of the famous scene.
The Royal Opera House connects the trio of theaters standing on the same site in Covent Garden since 1732. | Royal Opera House
“I am extremely happy to accept the offered position and look forward to further cooperation with her great team. And I am happy that London will not only be the place where I have always liked to live and work and where my family lives for most of the year, but now also my real artistic home in the field of opera,” said Hrůša, when he learned the information about his appointment. He will replace the English-Italian conductor and pianist Antonio Pappano (62), who is leaving the position after 22 years.
With his art and feeling for music, Jakub Hrůša will continue the legacy of the phenomenal Rafael Kubelík. | Marian Lenhard
As representatives of the scene revealed to Bleska, the Czech conductor convinced them the most with his exceptional talent. “We are absolutely delighted to be working with him,” said Margaret Campbell, chairwoman of the orchestra committee of the institution whose charter was issued as early as 1660. The director of the Royal Opera, Oliver Mears, also sings the praises of the star from the Czech Republic. Also because Hrůša conducted the performance of Carmen here in 2018 and the production of Lohengrin this June.
“Jakub has proven that he is one of the most amazing conductors today. We were impressed by his great music and theater work, but also by the generosity and warmth of his personality: Jakub is a team player, he can get the best out of his colleagues. As a musician of high intellect, thoughtfulness and a deep belief in the power of music to change us, he is a perfect fit for Covent Garden,” said Mears.
How the appointment of Jakub Hrůš is an exceptional event is also proven by the fact that it took place after an extensive international search for the right personality for this post. The whole process was led by a group of important people from the world of British culture, as well as Oliver Mears. They unanimously recommended the pea. And their decision was then approved by the Board of Directors of the Royal Opera House after extensive negotiations with the members of the Boards of Directors of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Royal Opera Chorus.
Check out a sample of Hrůš’s work:
Experts and the public are excited about the selection of Hrůš at the head of the music scene, and congratulations are pouring in. “Good choice! A few years ago I saw him conduct the Berlin Philharmonic. He is a great conductor,” said Claudia Plötzová from Germany, for example. “Wonderful, I still remember him from Zlín as a young man who brilliantly conducted the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic. Big congratulations!” said Pavla Uličná on Facebook. “Amazing,” summed up Greek musician Zoe Zeniodi.