R2 / Elias Grandy and Lukáš Vondráček ⬩ Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

The programme opens with the world premiere of Concerto for Orchestra by the composer Petr Wajsar, a work commissioned by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.
This will be followed by Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major. The composer completed it in 1921 during his stay in France, although some of its musical ideas date back to his student years before the First World War. As the evening’s soloist, we welcome the internationally acclaimed virtuoso pianist Lukáš Vondráček, whose distinctive interpretation of this masterpiece of 20th-century piano literature promises to be a highlight of the concert.

The second half of the evening brings Richard Strauss’s symphonic poem Also sprach Zarathustra, inspired by the philosophical novel by Friedrich Nietzsche. It opens with the famous introduction “Sunrise”, widely known from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Strauss unfolds a rich palette of orchestral colours, dramatic contrasts, and lyrical episodes, from which a powerful musical statement gradually emerges. The work forms a panorama of emotions and philosophical images that leave space for the listener’s own interpretation.  

Lukáš Vondráček came to international prominence after winning the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2016, a success that launched his intensive global career. He performs with leading orchestras and regularly appears across Europe, North America, and Asia, and is admired for his technical brilliance, tonal colour, and ability to convey deep emotion through his playing. Alongside his concert career, he is also active in recording, and his repertoire ranges from the Classical and Romantic periods to music of the 20th century.

Join us for a musical evening in which a world premiere, a virtuoso piano concerto, and great orchestral mastery come together in a compelling musical dialogue – with Lukáš Vondráček as soloist under the baton of Chief Conductor Elias Grandy.