Prague Philharmonic Choir

The Prague Philharmonic Choir (PPC) was founded in 1935 by choirmaster and teacher Jan Kühn. Now in its 91st season, it is the oldest professional choir in the Czech Republic. The choir is celebrated far beyond Czech borders, particularly for its interpretations of oratorios and cantatas. Lukáš Vasilek has served as Principal Conductor and Artistic Director since 2007, and he is joined by Lukáš Kozubík, who holds the position of Second Choirmaster.

Under Lukáš Vasilek’s leadership, the PPC has earned a reputation as a highly respected performing partner of leading international orchestras. At home, the ensemble collaborates regularly with the Czech Philharmonic and, for its own choral concerts, with the Prague Philharmonia. Internationally, the PPC has performed with, among others, the Berlin and Dresden Philharmonic Orchestras, the Wiener Symphoniker, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

The choir has also gained extensive experience working with some of the world’s foremost conductors, including Semyon Bychkov, Jakub Hrůša, and Sir Simon Rattle. It appears regularly at the Czech Republic’s most prestigious festivals, including Smetana’s Litomyšl, Prague Spring, Dvořák Prague, and the Bohuslav Martinů Days. Since 2010, the PPC has been the Choir in Residence at the Bregenzer Festspiele.

In its 91st season, the Prague Philharmonic Choir will embark on further exciting collaborations with world-renowned conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Antonio Pappano, and Giovanni Antonini.

In addition to its performances, the PPC is actively engaged in educational work. Each season, it presents a series of educational concerts for children, both for school groups and family audiences. At the heart of these programmes is a commitment to fun and interactive learning. The PPC Choral Academy, named in honour of Soňa Červená, offers voice students the opportunity to gain real-world experience as members of a professional ensemble, taking part in major musical projects and working alongside leading artists.

The choir’s artistic excellence is also reflected in its extensive and ever-growing recording archive. The PPC has appeared on releases from PENTATONE, Decca Classics, Sony Classical, and Supraphon. Its recordings have received numerous international awards, including honours from Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, and the prestigious Diapason d’or de l’année. The choir’s first recording, released in 1952, featured Dvořák’s oratorio Stabat Mater conducted by Václav Talich; its most recent release, Stravinsky, Janáček, Bartók: Village Stories, explores the magic of folk song and traditional ritual in the works of three twentieth-century masters.

The Prague Philharmonic Choir is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the 2018 Classic Prague Award for Best Vocal Concert, Czech Television’s Classical Music of the Year Award, and the 2022 Antonín Dvořák Prize for exceptional artistic achievement and the promotion of Czech music. The album Village Stories was awarded the Choc de Classica in May 2024.