Petr Popelka

Johannes Brahms spent the last 25 years of his life not far from where the Wiener Konzerthaus now stands. On 21 June 2026, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the young Russian pianist Yulianna Avdeeva perform the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15, under the baton of principal conductor Petr Popelka. Part of europiano, ARTE's special day celebrating the piano concerto across Europe.

To mark Music Day, ten European orchestras will perform some of the finest piano concertos alongside prestigious soloists and under the baton of renowned conductors from various cities across the continent. The programme for this exceptional concert features works by Brahms, Grieg, Chopin, Beethoven, Ravel and Mozart.

A brilliant performance of Schönberg's monumental work at the Prague State Opera. Arnold Schönberg composed Gurre-Lieder to a text by J. P. Jacobsen about the tragic love of the Danish king Waldemar and his mistress Tove Lille, who was murdered out of jealousy by Queen Helviga. He orchestrated the composition for a monumental orchestral and vocal ensemble: five vocal solos, a narrator, a male and mixed choir, and a huge orchestra comprising 25 woodwind instruments, 25 brass instruments, four harps, a celesta, 16 different percussion instruments (including iron chains), and an exceptionally large string section. Every performance of this masterpiece, composed down to the last detail, is truly an overwhelming experience. SOČR chief conductor Petr Popelka seized this unique opportunity, as at the time of the performance of Songs he was also chief conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and in this unique project he brought together the two ensembles entrusted to him.

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The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra has been commemorating the Velvet Revolution to celebrate democracy, freedom and non-violence since 2020. This is now a tradition on 17 November, the bank holidays. This year, Prague's Rudolfinum welcomes two talented young artists: Czech violinist Josef Špaček and French violist Antoine Tamestit, conducted by Petr Popelka, for an all-Czech programme.

Celebrating its 125th anniversary, the Viennese orchestra arrives in Trieste, Italy, to perform at the splendid Teatro Rossetti. Soloists include Michael Spyres and Tara Stafford, performing operetta arias by Johann Strauss and Franz Lehár. The Wiener Symphoniker are conducted by their new conductor Petr Popelka with pieces by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky completing the programme.