Tomáš Netopil
Conductor
Chief Conductor and Music Director FOK-Prague Symphony Orchestra (from 25/26)
Founder and Artistic Director – International Summer Academy in Kroměříž (Czechia)
Former General Music Director – Aalto Musik Theater & Philharmonie Essen (2013-2023)
Former Principal Guest Conductor – Czech Philharmonic (2018-2024)
An inspirational force, particularly in Czech music, Tomáš Netopil is in his first season as Chief Conductor of FOK-Prague Symphony Orchestra. He was previously Principal Guest Conductor of Czech Philharmonic from 2018-2024 and his close collaboration continued last season conducting the orchestra’s televised New Year concerts, and concerts at Litomyšl and Kissinger Sommer Festivals.
Previous positions include General Music Director of Aalto Musiktheater and Philharmonie Essen (2013-2023), and Music Director of Prague National Theatre (2008-2012). He continues to appear as a guest conductor at top international houses with recent and future productions at Geneva Opera (La Clemenza di Tito), Berliner Staatsoper (Madame Butterfly), Lyric Opera of Chicago (Salome), National Theatre Tokyo (Die Zauberflöte), Prague National Theatre (Rusalka) and Oper Köln (Don Giovanni).
Symphonic engagements include Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Tonkünstler Orchestra Vienna, Oslo Philharmonic, Antwerp Symphony, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, and Sydney Symphony, and he continues regular relationships with Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo and Orchestre National des Pays de Loire. In North America he opens the 2025/26 season for Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and works with orchestras such as Fort Worth Symphony and Naples Philharmonic.
Netopil is further expanding his career in the period instrument field through regular collaborations with Concentus Musicus Wien and Collegium 1704, along with numerous upcoming performances and recording projects with the new ensemble Silentium.
Netopil has created the International Summer Music Academy in Kroměříž offering students both exceptional artistic tuition and the opportunity to meet and work with major international musicians. In Summer 2021, in association with Dvořák Prague Festival, the Academy established Dvořákova Praha Youth Philharmonic with musicians from conservatories and music academies, coached by principal players of Czech Philharmonic.
Netopil’s most recent recordings are with Czech Philharmonic and include Richard Blackford’s Cello Concerto with soloist Alisa Weilerstein, and Dvořák’s Legends and Rhapsodies, both with the label Pentatone. His discography for the label Supraphon includes Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass (the first ever recording of the original 1927 version), Dvořák’s complete cello works, Martinů’s Ariane and Double Concerto, and Smetana’s Má vlast with Prague Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure in Essen, his releases have included recordings of Suk’s Asrael and Mahler Symphonies Nos. 2, 3, 6, and 9.
He studied violin and conducting in his native Czechia, as well as at Royal College of Music, Stockholm under the guidance of Professor Jorma Panula. In 2002 he won the first Sir Georg Solti Conductors’ Competition at Alte Oper Frankfurt.
You can see Tomáš Netopil live with the Auckland Philharmonia on Thursday 5 November at Pictures at an Exhibition.