The Czech Philharmonic: the Rudolfinum, the sound and how to get a seat

The first thing a visitor notices about the Rudolfinum is the roofline. Statues of composers and artists stand along the balustrade of a neo-Renaissance building that looks across the Vltava to Prague Castle. Inside is Dvořák Hall, one of the best-regarded concert rooms in Central Europe, and the base of the Czech Philharmonic, the orchestra that is most closely identified with Czech music abroad.

The orchestra, its home and the way an ordinary visitor can get into a concert are covered here.

A short history

The Czech Philharmonic traces its public life to January 1896. The first concert took place in the Rudolfinum on 4 January, with Antonín Dvořák conducting an all-Dvořák programme. The orchestra had grown out of the orchestra of the National Theatre, whose musicians sought a symphonic stage of their own. For some years it was a self-governing body of musicians, and the early decades were a struggle for funds and standing.

Its reputation grew in the twentieth century. Václav Talich, who became chief conductor in 1919, built the orchestra into an ensemble with a distinct sound and a repertoire built on Czech composers: Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček, Suk and Martinů. Later conductors, among them Rafael Kubelík, Karel Ančerl and Václav Neumann, kept that tradition and made recordings that circulated worldwide. Czech conductors have led the orchestra for much of its history, and foreign guests have worked with it regularly. Jiří Bělohlávek, chief conductor from 2012, was one of the best-known Czech conductors of his generation. Who holds the post today and which guests are booked this season is on the orchestra's website.

The orchestra's relationship with the state has changed with the regimes. Under communism it was an institution funded by the state and used on international tours. After 1989 it kept public funding, with the Ministry of Culture as its founder, along with revenues from tickets and sponsors.

The Rudolfinum

The building was designed by Josef Zítek and Josef Schulz and opened in 1885. It was named after Crown Prince Rudolf of Habsburg and was built to house a concert hall, an art gallery and a music school. The Czech Savings Bank financed the project, which was conceived as a symbol of Czech cultural ambition in the Habsburg monarchy.

History left its mark on the interior. After 1918 the building was taken over by the new state and from 1919 housed the Chamber of Deputies of the Czechoslovak parliament. During the German occupation it was used by the occupiers, and the statue of Felix Mendelssohn was removed from the roof because the composer was Jewish. After the war it was restored and returned to its musical role, and the Philharmonic made it its home in 1946. The river that makes the setting so attractive is also a hazard: the August 2002 floods affected cultural buildings along the Vltava, and the defences built since are described in Prague's floods: what 2002 broke, what 2013 proved.

The two main halls are Dvořák Hall, the large concert room, and Suk Hall, a smaller space used for chamber music and recitals. The Galerie Rudolfinum, a contemporary art gallery, occupies other parts of the building.

What the orchestra plays

Subscription concerts run through the season, which follows the academic calendar from autumn to early summer (as of 2026; check the orchestra's programme). Programmes mix the big symphonic repertoire with Czech works, and the orchestra regularly plays Smetana's cycle Má vlast (My Country), a piece that has a symbolic place in Czech culture. The Prague Spring festival, held each spring, traditionally opens with it on the anniversary of Smetana's death, 12 May. A Dvořák festival in the autumn brings together orchestras and soloists from several countries at the Rudolfinum.

Besides the main series, the orchestra runs chamber concerts, programmes for families and schools, and touring and recording activity. Expect pieces from the Czech canon to feature, even in programmes designed for visitors.

Why the sound is distinctive

Musicians and critics often describe the orchestra's character as warm and singing, with strings that favour long phrases and a woodwind section with a recognisable colour. Such descriptions are impressionistic, and the orchestra has changed with each generation of players and conductors, but there is a real tradition behind them: the players have for more than a century performed the same national repertoire in the same hall, and passed on how it should sound. If you want to test the claim, hear a Dvořák symphony or Smetana's Vltava in Dvořák Hall and compare it with a recording by a foreign orchestra.

Acoustics matter too. Dvořák Hall has a high ceiling and a shoebox shape in the manner of nineteenth-century halls, which favours a full, resonant sound. Seats in the parterre, the balcony and the gallery sound different, so the seating plan on the booking page is worth studying.

How to get tickets

The simplest route is the orchestra's own channels. The Czech Philharmonic sells tickets through its box office at the Rudolfinum and its website, which is in English as well as Czech. Prices vary with the programme and the seat, and there are concessions for students and others, so check the current price list. Popular concerts, particularly with well-known soloists or conductors, sell out ahead, while many ordinary subscription evenings have seats available close to the date.

Be careful with resellers. Street sellers and unofficial websites sometimes charge a premium for tickets that are priced much lower at the official box office. Buying from the orchestra gives you a ticket that is valid, and a refund route if a concert is cancelled.

Check the programme before booking. Some concerts are sung in Czech or involve choirs, and some include talks before the music. The Rudolfinum is also used for other organisers' events, so confirm that the concert you are booking is by the Czech Philharmonic if that is what you want.

Getting there

The Rudolfinum stands on Alšovo nábřeží, in Josefov, the old Jewish Quarter, beside the river and near the Old Town. The nearest metro station is Staroměstská on line A. Trams also stop nearby; the city's tram network is described in Prague trams explained, and the lines in Prague metro lines and network logic. Tickets for public transport are covered in how to buy tickets for Prague public transport. On foot it is a few minutes from the Old Town Square, so many visitors combine a concert with a stroll through Josefov. For a longer walk through the capital's cultural landmarks, add Václav Havel's Prague, and for a lighter evening, the puppets of Spejbl and Hurvínek.

Dress is generally relaxed, although many concertgoers dress up for evening performances. Arrive early: latecomers may be asked to wait until a break before entering the hall, a standard practice at concert halls.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Czech Philharmonic founded?

Its first concert was on 4 January 1896 in the Rudolfinum, conducted by Antonín Dvořák.

Where does it play?

Mostly in Dvořák Hall at the Rudolfinum in Prague's Josefov district. It also tours and plays at festivals.

Do I need to buy tickets in advance?

For popular programmes, yes. Ordinary evenings often have seats closer to the date; check the website.

How do I get there?

Take metro line A to Staroměstská, then walk a few minutes to the Rudolfinum on the riverbank.

Open the orchestra's season page this week and look for a programme built around a Czech composer; those are the evenings the orchestra plays best.