Czech Philharmonic starts with new chief conductor Inbal

The Czech Philharmonic (CF), the country's most prestigious orchestra, opened its 114th season Saturday by a concert titled Homage to Czech Music under the baton of its new chief conductor Eliahu Inbal, renowned British conductor of Israeli origin.

Inbal, with the CF and pianist Gerhard Oppitz, performed the piano concerto in G minor by Antonin Dvorak, Parabolas for a big orchestra by Bohuslav Martinu and the Taras Bulba rhapsody by Leos Janacek.

The post of CF chief conductor remained vacant in the past two years as the previous chief conductor, Zdenek Macal, left the post early. Inbal, 73, is to lead the CF for three years. He said he wants to preserve the orchestra's top quality, mainly by staging more frequent rehearsals and concerts.

He wants to focus on works by Czech composers, such as Martinu, who has the 50th death anniversary this year, and to cultivate the orchestra's traditional "music language."

Inbal has worked with a number of world orchestras. At present he is the music director of Venice's La Fenice theatre. Last spring he became chief conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra.

Inbal was chosen to the post by the CF's former management headed by director Vaclav Riedlbauch. The new CF director, Vladimir Darjanin, sought a change to the decision but failed. Nevertheless, he has already started searching for Inbal's successor.