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Petr Popelka conducts new Elektra in Oslo

On 21 January, Petr Popelka conducts the premiere of the new production of Richard Strauss’ Elektra at Oslo Opera, directed by Ole Anders Tandberg.

The music of Richard Strauss occupies a central place in Popelka’s career: for ten years he was a member of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, which premiered no fewer than 9 operas by Strauss at the Semperoper. Now Popelka brings the 1909 masterpiece to Oslo, the city where he has previously conducted two opera projects and has been celebrated for his success in his role as a chief conductor of Norwegian Radio Orchestra since 2020.

Petr has built an impressive conducting career within the last three years, conducting top orchestras such as Gewandhausorchester, Staatskapelle Berlin, Staatskapelle Dresden and Bamberger Symphoniker, to name but a few. His latest opera project was an acclaimed new production of Shostakovich’s Nose at the Semperoper in the summer of 2022.

Petr Popelka conducts world premiere by Martin Smolka in Prague

Tonight, Petr returns to the Rudolfinum to conduct the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra in a concert of Haydn and Richard Strauss.  At the heart of the programme is Martin Smolka’s Presto e lento, a new work for piano and orchestra, which will be performed by British pianist Nicolas Hodges, one of the leading specialists in contemporary piano music.  The work was commissioned by PRSO as part of its long-standing commitment to championing new music.

Petr Popelka, conductor
Nicolas Hodges, piano
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

Petr Popelka conducts the Brahms Requiem with Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir

On November 25, Petr Popelka gives his debut with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, conducting Johannes Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with a wonderful vocal cast, consisting of Christina Landshamer, Boris Prýgl and the Tampere Philharmonic Choir.

Brahms began composing his epic German Requiem in 1865.  While the work was started following the death of his mother, it is suggested that the German Requiem was first conceived nine years earlier, following the death of Robert Schumann who had been a monumental figure in Brahms’ life.  Brahms assembled the libretto himself from Bible texts, drawing on passages from the Old Testament, the Apocrypha, and the New Testament.

Later this season, Popelka will perform the work with Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra at the monumental Ottobeuren Abbey in Bavaria, Germany.

Petr Popelka, conductor
Christina Landshamer, soprano
Boris Prýgl, baritone
Tampere Philharmonic Choir
(choir conductor Ruut Kiiski and choirmaster Jouni Rissanen)