The year 2014 is a remarkable year for Czech music, with over sixty prominent Czech composers, performers, and musical organizations celebrating anniversaries – from Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Leoš Janáček, Bohuslav Martinů, and Josef Suk to Rafael Kubelík and Milada Šubrtová to the Prague Symphony Orchestra and the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava. As the attentive public may be aware, years ending in the numeral 4 are recognized as “years of music.” The tradition is very long and started in the year 1924 with celebration of Smetana´s anniversary.

The Ministry of Culture CR in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Ministry for Regional Development of the CR, initiated the 2014 Year of Czech Music program with the primary objectives of supporting projects promoting Czech music both at home and abroad.

Artistic partons of the programme are mezzo soprano Magdalena Kožená and chief conductor of Berliner Philharmoniker Sir Simon Rattle.