Biography
Chief Conductor and Music Director / FOK – Prague Symphony Orchestra (from 2025/26)
Founder and Artistic Director / International Summer Music Academy in Kroměříž (CZ)
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An inspirational force, particularly in Czech music, Tomáš Netopil is in his first season as Chief Conductor of the FOK – Prague Symphony Orchestra. He was previously Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic from 2018–2024 and his close collaboration continued last season conducting the orchestra’s televised New Year concerts, highlight of their season, and concerts at the Litomyšl and Kissinger Sommer Festivals.
Previous positions include General Music Director of the Aalto Musik Theater and Philharmonie Essen (2013–2023), and from 2008–2012 Tomáš Netopil held the position of Music Director of the Prague National Theatre and he continues to appear as a guest conductor at top international houses with recent and future productions at the Geneva Opera (La Clemenza di Tito), Berliner Staatsoper (Madame Butterfly), Chicago Lyric Theatre (Salome), National Theatre Tokyo (Die Zauberflote), Prague National Theatre (Rusalka) and Oper Koln (Don Giovanni).
Symphonic engagements include the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Tonkunstler Vienna, Oslo Philharmonic, Antwerp Symphony, Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Sydney Symphony, and he continues regular relationships with Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo and the Orchestre National des Pays de Loire. In North America he opens the 25/26 season for the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and works with orchestra such as the Fort Worth Symphony and Naples Philharmonic.
Tomáš Netopil continues to develop his career in the period instrument space with regularly engagements with Concentus Musicus Wien and Collegium 1704, and many upcoming performances and recording projects with inspiring new ensemble Silentium!
Tomáš Netopil has created the International Summer Music Academy in Kroměříž offering students both exceptional artistic tuition and the opportunity to meet and work with major international musicians. In Summer 2021, in association with the Dvořák Prague Festival, the Academy established the Dvořákova Praha Youth Philharmonic with musicians from conservatories and music academies, coached by principal players of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tomáš Netopil’s most recent recordings are with the Czech Philharmonic and include the Richard Blackford Cello Concerto with Alisa Weilerstein and Dvořák Legends and Rhapsodies, both with Pentatone. His discography for Supraphon includes Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass (the first ever recording of the original 1927 version), Dvořák’s complete cello works, Martinů’s Ariane and Double Concerto, and Smetana’s Má vlast with the Prague Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure in Essen, his releases have included recordings of Suk Asrael and Mahler Symphonies nos. 2, 3, 6 and 9.
Tomáš Netopil studied violin and conducting in his native Czechia, as well as at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm under the guidance of Professor Jorma Panula. In 2002 he won the 1st Sir Georg Solti Conductors Competition at the Alte Oper Frankfurt.