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Václav Luks launches a celebration of his ensemble's 20th anniversary with a seductive secular treatment of sacred music.

A daunting program of Strauss and Shostakovich showcases conductor Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic at their very best.

At the Prague State Opera, Calixto Brieito relocates Mozart's opera seria to modern times, with disastrous results. 

Conductor Semyon Bychkov and soloist Seong-Jin Cho offer an underwhelming introduction to the new season at the Rudolfinum. 

Daniele Gatti and Kirill Gerstein offer fresh, invigorating takes on two warhorses with the Staatskapelle Dresden. 

Alain Altinoglu and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra leave a lot to the imagination in a fiery treatment of two signature Dvořák works.

Aribert Reimann's Lear takes no prisoners in a disturbing portrayal of a world gone awry, but Barbora Horáková's scattergun direction adds to the confusion. 

Under the baton of Semyon Bychkov, the Czech Philharmonic and a sprawling supporting cast lead listeners up a stairway to heaven. 

The director drains the life out of an impassioned opera with a staging devoid of authenticity and ideas.

With Jaap van Zweden on the podium, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra makes a memorable festival debut, offering a fresh take on a high-powered classic.

Conducted by Fabio Luisi, Japan's premier orchestra serves up a superb blend of Eastern and Western music and influences. 

The festival returns to its roots, and freshens them, with Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic offering a muscular take on Má vlast.

Czech National Ballet present an outstanding programme of intriguing new dance, enveloping a late twentieth century gem.

With Jakub Hrůša on the podium and Leif Ove Andsnes at the keyboard, the orchestra offer glowing treatment of a dark program. 

In a fine-tuned collaboration with conductor Alain Altinoglu, the gifted young pianist shows brilliant command of a keyboard showpiece.

Puccini's classic takes on a harsh contemporary edge in a dark treatment by director Sláva Daubnerová at Prague's National Theatre. 

The challenges of Cherubini’s version of the Greek tragedy prove too much for the National Theatre to overcome.

Czech National Ballet sheds a new light on MacMillan's unique ability to make story-telling ballets on a grand scale.

The Czech Philharmonic's impassioned performance of Honegger's dramatic oratorio marks an historic milestone in Prague. 

With an assist from soloist Kirill Gerstein, Alan Gilbert holds the audience rapt in his inaugural appearance with the Czech Philharmonic.

The composer's work and influence shone brightly in the finale to this year's Bohuslav Martinů Days festival.

A modern twist on an ancient tale, Mauro Bigonzetti's new Scheherazade brings challenging and innovative choreography to make this a highly enjoyable production.

SKUTR's daring direction and Václav Luks's early music expertise combine to bring new vitality to a Baroque classic. 

With Petr Popelka on the podium, the Czech Philharmonic provides a memorable commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.

A chilly reception for director Kay Link's fresh take on a mythical Czech heroine mars an otherwise superb performance.

Chief Conductor Emmanuel Villaume led a sparkling contribution to the Year of Czech Music, pairing rarely heard items with popular standards.

Giovanni Antonini's colorful work with the Czech Philharmonic brightens a fervent performance by Magdalena Kožená.

Directors Martin Kukučka and Lukáš Trpišovský, who work together as SKUTR, take on Dvořák’s Rusalka with a surfeit of ideas. 

The orchestra doesn't miss a beat in opening the season with a substitute conductor Charles Dutoit and a dashing new artist-in-residence in Daniil Trifonov. 

With a wild world premiere, the Dvořák’s Prague festival expands its musical palette and heightens its standing.

Superb singing and brilliant work in the pit can't quite rescue Jiří Nekvasil's overambitious production.

Nigel Lowery’s new production at Prague State Opera is a gusher of ideas, starting as slapstick but profoundly moving by the end.

Klangforum Wien finishes a far-reaching excursion into the boldest realms of modern music with a flourish.

The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France brings a contemporary burnish to the Year of Czech Music with Kryštof Mařatka's new violin concerto, Sanctuaries – In the Depths of Cave Paintings.

Aided by spirited singers and enthusiastic musicians, director Ondřej Havelka brings an imaginative, ironic touch to a lesser-known Smetana opera.

Lackluster Gershwin undercuts an otherwise impressive outing by Jakub Hrůša and the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. 

Czech National Ballet are well suited to Ronald Hynd's delightful production of Coppélia.

Kirill Petrenko and the Berliner Philharmoniker take Smetana's Má vlast to new heights.

Leonard Slatkin brings a New World burnish and expertise to a high-energy outing with the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

Jakub Hrůša returns to his Moravian roots leading the Czech Philharmonic in a stellar concert performance of Janáček's Cunning Little Vixen.

Andriy Yurkevych leads a rousing musical performance, but this visually impressive Nabucco tries to hard to be relevant and misses the mark.

Eugene Tzigane and Midori join PKF – Prague Philharmonia for fresh takes on familiar classics.

Fine vocal and musical performances can't overcome Sláva Daubnerová's staging which misses the mark.

The Czech Philharmonic dazzles with Yuja Wang at the piano and makes history with Sir Simon Rattle on the podium.

Youri Vámos’s mash up of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol makes for a devilishly Victorian take on Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic.

With an assist from Gidon Kremer, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra shines in an overheated, challenging program.

Tomáš Netopil and the Czech Philharmonic bring high energy to the Martinů Days festival with a smart, fresh take on Ariadne. 

The Prague National Theatre serves up a bright finish to its insightful, troubling tour of interwar music. 

Shostakovich's murderess comes to terrifying life in Martin Čičvák's smart, sensational production for the Prague State Opera. 

In his first appearance with the Czech Philharmonic, the conductor showed a deep respect for tradition and an innate feel for Czech music.