The adventures of Mr Belohlavek

This week saw a rare London appearance by the peripatetic new chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Jiří Bělohlávek (above) flew into town to conduct Janacek's opera The Adventures of Mr Broucek with an imported Czech cast. Many of us wondered what prompted the visit? Now all is revealed. The concert performance was recorded for commercial release by Deutsche Grammophon. I wonder if anyone negotiated a royalty for the BBC license payers?

Forthcoming dates for maestro Bělohlávek include Dvorak with the BBC Symphony later in March, Jenufa with the Washington National Symphony and Opera in Washington in April, Brahms with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in May, and Tristan at Glyndebourne in August while the BBC Proms are in London. But while the BBC Symphony Orchestra awaits rejuvenation after the dismal reign of Leonard Slatkin, their new chief conductor is promoting an 'ecologically sound' hotel in the Czech Republic. Do you really want to read more about jet-set maestros?

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