The Dvořák Prague Festival was officially opened by a concert conducted by Jakub Hrůša

The concert began with Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, featuring German soloist Julian Steckel. After the intermission, Dvořák's New World Symphony was performed, and following its final notes, the audience responded with enthusiastic applause, leading to two encores.

The festival celebrates not only the works of Antonín Dvořák but also other Czech composers and local figures such as Bedřich Smetana and Gustav Mahler. Notable in the program is the concert "United by Mahler," which will take place outdoors at the Prague Exhibition Grounds, featuring the combined orchestras of the Czech Philharmonic and the Bamberg Symphony under the baton of Jakub Hrůša.

"This year's Dvořák Prague Festival is deeply connected with the celebrations of the Year of Czech Music. For several years, we have been opening the festival with signature works of Antonín Dvořák. When we were considering what else besides Dvořák should represent Czech music, we approached conductor Jakub Hrůša, who is one of the greatest ambassadors of Czech music in the world today," said the festival's artistic director, pianist Jan Simon.