The Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra (SOČR) was founded on 1 October 1926 as the Radiojournal Orchestra and has since grown into one of the country's leading symphonic ensembles. It performs regularly at the Rudolfinum and Municipal House in Prague, tours internationally, and has a long record of premiering new Czech works. In 2026 it marks its centenary, opening its landmark 100th season under incoming chief conductor Elias Grandy.
SOČR celebrated its 100th anniversary with an open-air concert in Prague's Rieger Gardens under the baton of Petr Popelka and Robert Jindra.
SOČR opened the 81st Prague Spring Festival with a performance of Smetana's Má vlasti - for the first time in the festival's history as its opening orchestra in the jubilee year.
SOČR announced the program of its jubilee 100th concert season 2026/2027, including world premieres of Czech works and a new premium concert series in the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle.
SOČR officially announced that from the 2026/2027 season, the German-Japanese conductor Elias Grandy will lead the orchestra as chief conductor and artistic director for four years until summer 2030.
The recording of Smetana's Má vlasti with conductor Petr Popelka received the Editor's Choice award from the British magazine Gramophone and the French Diapason d'or ARTE prize.
The closing concert of the Vysočina for Itself cycle features Mozart's Prague Symphony and Dvořák's New World Symphony performed by the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra under conductor Alena Hron.
The 81st Prague Spring International Music Festival features more than sixty events with 97 artists from 28 countries. The festival includes concerts, masterclasses, and exhibitions at various Prague venues from May through June.
