Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Municipal House: Smetana Hall

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

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.

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

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

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.

Conductor Christoph Eschenbach brings style and sophistication to a freewheeling finale to this year's festival, ending with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Tomáš Hanus and the Welsh National Opera Orchestra offer a convincing demonstration of why Czech conductors are making a splash abroad. 

An uncharacteristically weak showing by Andris Nelsons and the Vienna Philharmonic took the air out of an otherwise impressive year for the festival.

Leading the Czech Philharmonic in a sampling of works by Charles Ives, Robertson built a bridge between Old World sensibilities and contemporary musical ideas.

Czech tenor Petr Nekoranec adds luster to a performance attuned to troubled times.

Pop star Angélique Kidjo joins Dennis Russell Davies and the Brno Philharmonic for vibrant performances of Adams and Glass.

In keeping with the festival's tradition of persevering through adversity, organizers turned a pandemic-imposed restriction to their advantage. 

Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse lets the air out of a promising program and a Czech classic.

A four-year sojourn is brought to a brilliant finish by Orquestra de Cadaqués.

The venerable festival recaps and renews 100 years of Czechoslovak music with an outsized flourish from Slovak Philharmonic.

The Czech Philharmonic goes pops for a night to honor the life and legacy of Leonard Bernstein.

History was never more relevant than in this musical observance of a modern political milestone.

Krzysztof Penderecki leads a masterful performance and powerful tribute to Jiří Bělohlávek.

A superstar soloist helps the Toronto Symphony Orchestra offer a telling tribute to Czech conductor Karel Ančerl.

Big names brought a big sound but not much else to the traditional performance of Smetana's Má vlast.

Conductor Tomáš Netopil reprises the spirit of the festival and adds a modern burnish with an energetic performance of a smart, satisfying program.

Playing in a premier Western venue with violin virtuoso Gil Shaham, the Eastern orchestra seems not quite ready for prime time.

In its seventh visit to Prague Spring, the orchestra shows affection for the old but more versatility with new music

Leading Staatskapelle Berlin, Daniel Barenboim offers yet another take on one of his favorite composers

Picking up where his Czech predecessors left off, Vasily Petrenko led the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in a satisfying close to this year's festival.

Yuri Temirkanov and the St Petersburg Philharmonic bring bracing versions of Shostakovich to Prague Spring.

With an inspired showing in Prague, the Berlin Philharmonic reprises one of the most significant moments in the orchestra's history.

Performers in Prague traditionally get flowers as they’re taking bows, and this concert to close the Prague Spring Festival must have emptied an entire floral shop.

Placé sous le signe des célébrations du centenaire de l'indépendance du pays, le festival « Les touches tchèques de la musique » s'est achevé ce dimanche sur un concert mettant à l'honneur la violoncelliste Camille Thomas.