Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno
The 2024/25 season is very busy for Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno – festival Anima Mundi in Pisa (Janáček, Martinů), Stuttgarter Philharmoniker (Verdi Requiem with Carlo Goldstein), Bamberger Symphoniker (Suk, Mozart – with J. Hrůša and M. Honeck), Brno Philharmonic in Vienna Musikverein and Brno (Mahler - Klagende Lied with D.R. Davies).
In early 2025 the choir is coming to Dresden (Britten War Requiem with Dresdner Philharmoniker and Sir D. Runnicles), and to Mainz and Mannheim (Missa Solemnis with Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie and Michael Francis). Follow concerts at Prague Spring Festival (Mahler 8th,2 concerts and cd recording with Czech Philharmonic with Semyon Bychkov). The choir participates for the first time in Easter Festival Baden-Baden (Madama Butterfly, Berliner Philharmoniker with Kiril Petrenko).
As resident ensemble of Opernfestspiele Heidenheim, this year the choir shall sing and record Verdi Attila, and perform church concert with two Stabat Mater pieces (by P. Fiala, and A. Dvořák) - with Cappella Acquilea and M. Bosch.
Opernfestspiele Heidenheim were hounoured at OPER! AWARDS 2025 – winner in category BEST FESTIVAL.
The 2024 brought the choir to Belgrade (Mo.Gabriel Feltz and Belgrade Philharmonic, Bach B minor Mass), and to debut in the Saudi Arabia´s capital Riyadh – the world´s premiere of opera “Zarqa al-Yamama” (The story of blue.eyed woman of Yamama), Lee Bradshaw (music), Danile Finzi Pasca (stage director), with Mo. Pablo Gonzales and Dresdner Symphoniker.
The Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno has earned a place at the very summit of the choral world. Conductors, orchestras and soloists, who have cooperated with the Brno singers, extol their qualities, while the critics acclaim particularly the ensemble’s compact sound and broad range of means of expression.
The Choir, founded in 1990, is a regular guest at the most prestigious European festivals and appears on the most distinguished concert stages. The audiences are captivated by its level of professionalism as well as extraordinary musical feeling.
The man behind the Choir’s accomplishments is Petr Fiala (1943), its founding father, Chorus Master and Director. A graduate of the Brno Conservatory and the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts (where he studied piano, composition and conducting), Fiala is also a prolific composer (his output numbers some 180 pieces). He has been an active choir master and conductor for more than 50 years. Since season 2023/24, the second chorusmaster is Joel Hána (1990).
The Choir has recorded many CDs and received a few accolades. In 2007 the singers from Brno were honored by two prestigious European Echo Klassik awards—as the ‘2007 Ensemble of the Year’ (recognizing their rendition of Anton Bruckner’s Motets) and for the ‘2007 Recording of the Year’ (i.e. Franz Liszt’s oratorio Christus). In 2008 the recording of Paul von Klenau’s Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornetts Christoph Rilke was nominated for the prestigious Danish P2 Music Prize in the category ‘2008 Symphonic Recording of the Year’, while in 2009 the recording of B. A. Zimmermann’s Requiem für einen jungen Dichter was awarded the Preis der Deutschen Schallplatenkritik. Moreover, accolades have lately not been limited to the European continent: the eminent Japanese Geijutsu Disc Review awarded the Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno its prestigious ‘Tokusen’ Mark of Honor for the live recording of Dvořák’s Requiem.
Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno received the Classic Prague Award for the Best Vocal Performance 2019 – for the excellent performance of Janáček Glagolitic Mass with Czech Philharmonic and Maestro Petr Altrichter.
The activities of the Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno are generously supported by the Region of Southern Moravia, the City of Brno and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. The Choir’s general partner is Tescan Orsay Holding, Plc.
