ABOUT ME
Radek Baborák, chief conductor of the West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra, is one of the most prominent personalities on the world music scene. In more than 35 years of international appearances as a solo horn player and conductor, he has earned an exceptional reputation with the most important orchestras and festivals. With his extensive experience as a horn player, Baborák brings a unique perspective and expertise to his conducting career. His conducting style is known for its precision, musicality and deep understanding of the pieces he plays. He is able to interpret and convey the emotions and nuances of the music, creating captivating and memorable concert experiences that are appreciated by critics and music-loving audiences. His repertoire ranges from the works of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th century masters to the works of living composers whose works he has premiered.
As a soloist, he has performed with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras and many other top orchestras under conductors such as James Lewine, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Roger Norrington, Jiří Bělohlávek, Seiji Ozawa, Daniel Barenboim and Vladimir Ashkenazy.
In 2011, he expanded his musical career to include conducting. His mentor is maestro Seiji Ozawa, whom he assists with the Mito Chamber Orchestra, which he conducts regularly.
He founded and conducts the Czech Sinfonietta Orchestra, which performs at renowned festivals in the Czech Republic such as Prague Spring, Dvořák's Prague, Smetana's Litomyšl and others. He has achieved extraordinary success at these festivals, accompanying soloists such as Marta Argerich, Yefim Bronfmann, Sergei Nakarjakov, Ricardo Galliano and Guy Braunstein.
As a conductor he has worked with the Mozarteum Salzburg, the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, the Thuringia Philharmonic, the Tokyo Philharmonic, the New Japan Symphony Orchestra, the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, the Sochr, Fok St. Prague Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonic and others.
He has been the artistic director of the Prague Chamber Soloists since 2016.
He is intensively involved in chamber music, especially with the Baborak Ensemble, which is regularly invited to the Mozartwoche Salzburg, the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin and on tours in Europe and Japan. For his ensemble, he creates unique versions of works by composers such as J. S. Bach and Astor Piazzolla.
His musical partners at over a hundred music festivals in which he has participated include legends such as Daniel Barenboim, Marta Argerich, Heinrich Schif, Janine Jansen, Francoise Leleux, Emanuel Pahud, Ian Bostridge, Julian Rachlin and others.
He has performed as a solo horn player with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
He has won the most prestigious competitions in Geneva, Markneukirchen and ARD Munich.
He has made dozens of award-winning recordings for EMI, Sony Classic, Suprafon, Octavia Records, Animal Music and Hänsler Classic.
He has taught as an associate professor at the Fondazione Arturo Toscanini in Bologna, the Escuela Reina Sophia in Madrid, the Hamu Prague and the TOHO University in Tokyo. He is currently a visiting professor at the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin and a mentor at the MenArt Education Academy.
During the pandemic, he initiated collections for freelance artists and subsequently supported Ukrainian musicians. These activities supported hundreds of colleagues.
Radek Baborák is guest conductor of the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, permanent soloist of the Brandenburg State Orchestra and will make his conducting debut with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Bratislava, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in London and the National Philharmonic Orchestra Lviv in 2024.