Disk of 2023 > Classic
Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra, conductor Petr Popelka. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – CD Review, November 16th 2023
The Oslo Broadcasting Orchestra is one of the most prestigious Norwegian orchestras. Founded in 1946, this ensemble has a vast repertoire, both in the field of classical music and jazz, a repertoire reflected in its vast discography. Since 2020, the Czech musician Petr Popelka is the main conductor of this ensemble, at whose rostrium he has so far released two albums: one in 2022 with orchestral pieces by Jean Sibelius and the second released on September 15th, 2023, which includes the Symphonies no. 39 and 40 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The album was recorded in January and August 2022 at the Oslo Broadcasting Concert Hall and is produced by Lawo Classics from the same city.
Conductor Petr Popelka is pursuing his career in Prague and Oslo. He has been active so far as a double bass player, composer and conductor, studied music in his home town Prague and in Freiburg and had successful collaborations with famous ensembles such as the Bamberg and Frankfurt Symphony Orchestras, the State Chapel in Dresden, the RAI National Orchestra in Italy and the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra. From 2022, the 37-year-old musician is the artistic director of the Prague Broadcasting Orchestra and this season has been appointed principal conductor of theVienna Symphony Orchestra. He will end his activity at the conduct of the Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra. Petr Popelka is therefore a conductor in great demand at international level, who runs many projects, an artist with an outstanding energy that he puts to the use in his music and recordings of a special quality.
Translated by Constantin Grigorescu,
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year I
Corrected by Silvia Petrescu