The Czech National Symphony Orchestra Announces New Music Director Maestro Steven Mercurio

The Czech National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) announced today that Steven Mercuriowill become its new Music Director as of the upcoming 2019/20 season. Maestro Mercurio, an American conductor and composer known for his exceptional versatility and dynamism, has fostered a vibrant, ten-year affiliation with the orchestra, with extensive collaborations taking place across multiple musical genres and in every capacity: symphonically, operatically, and through extensive recording projects. Maestro Mercurio is currently in Prague, conducting the orchestra in music by Martinu and Shostakovich.

The Czech National Symphony Orchestra is self-governed and Maestro Mercurio's appointment is at the behest of the musicians themselves. Jan Hasenöhrl, the orchestra's artistic director said: "After many years of wonderful collaborations, we are very much looking forward to having Maestro Mercurio with us as our Music Director. His musicianship, energy, and versatility make him the ideal conductor for the future of the CNSO." Mercurio succeeds Maestro Libor Pešek, who had held the position since 2007.

Maestro Steven Mercurio, who conducted the orchestra on a US tour last month, comments: "It is a great honor to be chosen by these wonderful musicians. They are open, flexible, curious and always interested in creating a magnificent musical product. I'm looking forward to an exciting future together."

In addition to the concert season at the celebrated and historic Smetana Hall, which includes a seasonal Proms concert, the orchestra frequently tours and records. For his inaugural season as Music Director, Maestro Mercurio will conduct concerts in Prague in September, January and March, with repertoire including Mahler's Symphony No. 1 "The Titan", Dvorák's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World." He will also lead the orchestra on a tour of the United Kingdom in October.

Maestro Mercurio's recordings with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra include Strauss' Metamorphosen and Tod und Verklärung for Vanguard Classics; New Jewish Music for Analekta; and his own A Grateful Tail, a symphony inspired by dogs and the role they play in humans' lives, which was premiered by the CNSO with the participation of Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham. Coming soon on the CNSO's own label is an all-strings recording featuring Dvo?ák's Serenade for Strings, Vaughan-Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, and Mercurio's Eulogy.

In addition to his collaborations with the CNSO, Maestro Mercurio's upcoming performances include the Israeli premiere of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's 1968 opera The Passenger for The Israel Opera, and several major concerts with Andrea Bocelli.

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