Czech Philharmonic is coming to Bucharest

The Czech Philharmonic, one of the oldest orchestras in Europe, is coming to Bucharest for two concerts this week at the Romanian Athenaeum, as part of the George Enescu Festival.

The program of the orchestra’s first concert (Wednesday 30.08 at 5 p.m.) combines a purely modern Concerto for Two Pianos by Bryce Desner and Tchaikovsky’s classic Fifth Symphony. Manfred Honeck will lead the Czech Philharmonic joined by the piano duo of Katia and Marielle Labèque.

The Czech Philharmonic’s second concert at the George Enescu Festival (Thursday 31.08 at 4 pm) will feature Enescu’s symphonic poem Vox Maris with the Romanian tenor Cosmin Ifrim and the George Enescu Philharmonic Choir, led by choirmaster Ion Iosif Prunner. Conductor Manfred Honeck included Beethoven’s First Symphony and Tomáš Ille’s arrangement of melodies from Rusalka.

Founded in 1896, the Czech Philharmonic is one of the oldest in Europe, recognized as one of the top orchestras worldwide, and appreciated for its specific warm tone. Starting this season, PPF Group, an international investment company with over 60,000 employees worldwide and operating in 26 countries, including Romania, is the Czech Philharmonic’s global partner, contributing to its international tours. PPF Group has been supporting the institution and its distinctive sound since 2015, by acquiring instruments, crafted by master instrument makers, for the orchestra’s string section.