This heraldic piece of Czech music was performed by the North Czech Philharmonic Teplice and under the baton of Tomáš Brauner, who belongs to the most sought-after conductors of the young generation. During the tones of My Country at the Castle Riding Hall the audience really had the impression that they were listening to a sequence of romantic images from history and nature, whether noble or dramatic.

Even for Tomáš Brauner the performance of the full cycle of six symphonic poems is a feast, “This is the second time I have conducted the full My Country this year. Orchestras don’t play it that often, only parts of it are played, especially the world-wide known ones, Vltava and Vyšehrad. But the whole of My Country has amazing power and it is simply a part of the general knowledge about our country and its history.” And how demanding is this cycle for him as a conductor? “You need physical endurance and a good allocation of energy!” says Tomáš Brauner, who will be the principal guest conductor of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra in the next season. What does this position involve? “At the beginning of the season, for example, I am going to open the new subscribers’ series at the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House, which we could call more popular. They will be compositions which are not performed too often but by famous and acclaimed composers. I am also involved in the dramaturgy and a part of my duties will also be recording for the Czech Radio. At the same time I am of course also the chief conductor of the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra.”

He also revealed why he had such a nostalgic relationship to Český Krumlov, “As a passionate canoeist I know Český Krumlov very well and I always remember my student years when we often came here. It is a good thing that a festival which has gained world renown was born in this beautiful town.”