HARMONIA MORAVIAE 2026
Welcome to the programme of the 24th Harmonia Moraviae International Music Festival in which we invite you to nine unique concerts from 24th September to 19th November 2026.
The common theme of this year’s festival is the idea of returning to our roots, reminding us of where music springs from and what continues to make it so powerful to this day. The festival therefore looks to nature as its primary source of inspiration, delving into the spiritual dimension of music, which has been one of its most solid foundations for centuries. It also explores folk tradition themes – the musical roots from which European culture grew and which remain alive to this day.
Alongside the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic resident orchestra, you can look forward to performances of the highest artistic calibre from leading figures on the Czech music scene, including the distinctive pianist Tomáš Kačo, the renowned viola player Kristina Fialová, the ethereal barefoot organist Katta, the acclaimed Janáček Quartet and the outstanding Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno. Also gracing the festival stage are world-class artists including the outstanding American pianist Jonathan Biss, former principal trombonist of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra Otmar Gaiswinkler, and the phenomenal Slovak violinist Teo Gertler. The roots of modern pop music also bear fruit in the Swingphonic project led by the charismatic singer Jan Smigmator, and his homage to the golden age of swing and jazz.
We hope you will find profound artistic experiences in this year’s festival, and opportunities to take time out and find inner inspiration amidst the harmony of autumn.
Thank you for your support!
Your Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
Festival Programme
24/9/2026 Jonathan Biss | Beethoven as Never Before
1/10/2026 Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage
4/10/2026 Tonus Ensemble
7/10/2026 Swingphonic
8/10/2026 Swingphonic
20/10/2026 Janáček Quartet | Strings in Harmony
22/10/2026 Katta | Light and the Organ
12/11/2026 Inspiration in Nature
19/11/2026 Tomáš Kačo |Music Without Borders
Festival organised by the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
Patrons of the festival:
Radim Holiš, Governor of Zlín Region
Jiří Korec, Mayor of the Statutory City of Zlín
Mons. Josef Nuzík, Archbishop of Olomouc, Metropolitan of Moravia
Patron of the festival’s opening concert:
The US Embassy, Prague
Thu, 24. 9. 2026, 19:00 hrs.
Jonathan Biss | Beethoven As Never Before
Venue: Zlín Congress Centre | Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s. |
81st Season Opening Concert
Jonathan Biss | piano
Robert Kružík | conductor
Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
Ludwig van Beethoven | Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Antonín Dvořák | Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World"
Robert Kružík, Jonathan Biss and the Zlín Philharmonic on the same stage! Our 81st season's opening concert promises an extraordinary artistic experience with a symbolic foretaste of one of the highlights of this season in which we mark the 200th anniversary of the death of Ludwig van Beethoven, reflected in this evening's choice of repertoire as a tribute to his legacy.
Our internationally renowned American soloist Jonathan Biss, who has earned worldwide acclaim for his profound, thoughtful, and deeply felt interpretations of Beethoven's works, plays the Fourth G-major Piano Concerto. Written in 1805–1806, it combines gentle lyricism with expressive intensity and sophisticated form..
Our second piece in tonight's gala concert is Dvořák's iconic New World Symphony, recognised across the continents as one of the most distinguished works of Czech music. A masterful fusion of European musical tradition and American inspiration, it retains its status as a timeless gem, dear to the hearts of Czech audiences both at home and abroad.
“For me, the opening night of the Harmonia Moraviae Festival holds the promise of a powerful energy which we wish to share with you through the introspection of Beethoven and the sincerity of Dvořák. Working with a pianist of the calibre of Jonathan Biss is always a great source of inspiration for both conductor and orchestra, and I believe our creative spark and enthusiasm will carry through from the stage straight to you.”
Robert Kružík
Thu, 1. 10. 2026, 19:00 hrs.
Harold's Pilgrimage
Venue: Zlín Congress Centre | Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s. |
Kristina Fialová | viola
Marta Chila Reichelová | soprano
Marie Vrbová | alto
Vít Nosek | tenor
Tadeáš Hoza | bass
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno
Petr Fiala| chorusmaster
Robert Kružík | conductor
Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
Hector Berlioz | Harold in Italy, Symphony with solo viola, Op. 16
Franz Schubert | Mass No. 5 in A flat major, D.678
October begins with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra presenting a programme in which images of nature blend readily with the spiritual dimension of music. In this performance chief conductor Robert Kružík is joined on stage by a quartet of leading Czech vocalists, the Brno Czech Philharmonic Choir and the critically acclaimed viola player Kristina Fialová, whose plaudits highlight her technical prowess, expressive concentration and exceptionally refined tonal articulation in the way she makes her instrument sing.
We start with Hector Berlioz's Harold in Italy, a symphony with solo viola and a remarkable genesis. It was in early 1834 that the virtuoso Niccolò Paganini commissioned Berlioz to compose a new work to showcase the rare Antonio Stradivari viola he had acquired. Berlioz, enchanted by the melancholic sound of the instrument, opted not to write a schematic virtuoso concerto, despite Paganini's idea. He created a program symphony in which the viola features not as a dominant soloist, but as a commenting voice moving freely above the orchestral structure. This concept disappointed Paganini so much that he did not even attend the premiere of the work – a rebuff he was later to regret.
Berlioz was inspired by Byron's poetic epic Childe Harold, and he presents the viola in a role personifying the figure of a lonely pilgrim who travels through changing landscapes and situations. The individual movements depict scenes of mountain melancholy, encounters with pilgrims, an evening serenade, and a dramatic image of robbers. Although the piece is not a literal musical narrative, the character of Harold is often understood as Berlioz's personal alter ego, observing the world with detachment and inner sensitivity.
The theme of spiritual recollection present in the contemplative passages of the Berlioz work forms a natural transition to Franz Schubert's Mass No. 5 in A flat major written between 1819 and 1822, and deemed in its final form to be one of his most ambitious spiritual works. In his correspondence, Schubert wrote that he had considered dedicating the mass to the imperial court, such was the importance that he attached to the work. His revision of the score in 1826 reflects his effort to achieve the highest artistic level, and although this ambitious composition did not win him the position he coveted at the imperial court, it is a work of lasting value. The mass masterfully combines the tradition of Viennese church music with deep personal lyricism and rich melody. Schubert's feeling for the Latin text and his ability to impart a human dimension to the spiritual content make this mass one of the highlights of his sacred work – one whose purity and inner strength have enduring appeal.
“Hector Berlioz’s monumental symphony Harold in Italy is one of the pinnacles of the Romantic orchestral canon. The captivating dialogue between the solo viola and the orchestra, inspired by Byron’s pilgrim Harold, leads the listener through a landscape brimming with emotion, contrast and vivid musical imagery. I warmly invite you to an exceptional evening in which I will be performing alongside the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Robert Kružík, and I look forward to sharing with you one of the most beautiful and evocative works in the viola repertoire.”
Kristina Fialová
Sun, 4. 10. 2026, 18:00 hrs.
Ensemble Tonus
Venue: Church of Our Lady Pomocnice křesťanů, Zlín – Jižní Svahy
Tonus Ensemble
Heinrich Bruckner | cornett, historical trumpet
Otmar Gaiswinkler | historical trombones
Jakub Zívalík | historical trombones
Dominik Schnaitt | historical trombones
Johannes Maria Bogner | positive organ
Belinda Loukota | soprano
Authentic Renaissance and Baroque brass music by Monteverdi, Caldara, Marini, Froberger, Speer, Albrechtsberger, Handel and more
Our October concert at the Jižní Svahy Church of Our Lady takes us on a musical journey from the Renaissance to the high and late Baroque in the company of. the eminent Viennese Ensemble Tonus, who have long specialised in the performance of 17th and 18th century works. Founded in 1999 by members of the Wiener Symphoniker, Concentus Musicus orchestras and teachers from the Vienna Academy of Music, the Tonus Ensemble presents historically informed interpretation using period instruments, notably the cornetto, baroque trumpet and Renaissance trombone. The past 25 years have seen these musicians perform at prestigious venues such as Vienna's Musikverein and Konzerthaus, at the International Baroque Festival at St Anna's Church in Steinbruch, the Bregenz Festival and the Salzburg Whitsun Festival.
Our programme tonight features Italian and German masters from the turn of the Renaissance and Baroque to the high and late Baroque periods, with works by the likes of Monteverdi, Croce, Bendinelli, Franck, Caldara, Legrenzi, Antegnati, Froberger and Handel, along with pieces by composers whose work is rarely heard today, but are no less remarkable for their time.
Our guest this evening is the Austrian soprano Belinda Loukota, whose repertoire ranges from the 16th century to the present, in a concert offering a varied soundscape of Renaissance and Baroque vocal pieces complemented by the organ and historical brass instruments.
“With the unique sound of historical brass and woodwind instruments and the positive organ, the Tonus Ensemble presents authentic Renaissance and Baroque music performed by leading Austrian musicians. The evening is complemented with soprano arias performed by Belinda Loukota Gaiswinkler. Come and enjoy the atmosphere of music from centuries past.”
Tonus Ensemble
Wed, 7. 10. 2026, 19:00 hrs.
Swingphonic
Venue: Zlín Congress Centre | Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s. |
We are dedicating the 7th October concert to supporting Pink October, in collaboration with the KNTB Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Zlín.
Jan Smigmator | vocals
Mikuláš Pokorný | piano
Tomáš Baroš | double bass
Marek Urbánek| percussion
Jan Kyncl | tenor saxophone
Richard Šanda | trombone
Stanislav Vavřínek | conductor
Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
Songs by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, George Gershwin, original work and more
Swing is style that fundamentally changed the face of popular music in the first half of the 20th century, ushering in a new type of rhythmic energy and freedom of expression. Rooted at the turn of the 20s and 30s in the soundscape of American Big Band jazz orchestras, it quickly became a symbol of the vibrant urban culture of its time, its compelling vitality, lightness and - yes, an elegance all its own - still appealing to audiences across the generations even today.
The Swingphonic project takes this tradition to the next level in the broader sound setting of the symphony orchestra, with the arrangements based on the original jazz idiom but mobilising all the colour and breadth of the orchestral set-up to produce more delicate shading of moods and even greater expressivity. This creates a lively dialogue between the world of swing with its rhythmic pulses and distinctive phrasing on the one hand, and the symphonic sound, which lends a new dimension and unexpected depth to familiar melodies, on the other.
Heading up tonight's presentation is the singer Jan Smigmator, one of the most prominent faces on the contemporary Czech swing scene. His interpretations take forward the tradition of conventional swing, yet shake off the straitjacket of mere stylistic imitation. He is joined by the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic's jazz quintet and string section in numbers associated with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and others, whose work is among the most enduring treasures of the 20th century's swing and jazz tradition.
“Combining my work with a renowned symphony orchestra’s big string section always gives it a whole new dimension, and I believe this sound is a perfect fit for the great jazz and swing styles. Our SWINGPHONIC concerts with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra will surely be unforgettable not only for us on stage, but above all for the audience. It’s been a while since I was last in Zlín so I’m really looking forward to performing for the local audiences here.”
Jan Smigmator
Tue, 20. 10. 2026, 19:00 hrs.
Janáček Quartet | Strings in harmony
Venue: Zlín Congress Centre | Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s. |
Miloš Vacek | 1st violin
Richard Kružík | 2nd violin
Jan Řezníček | viola
Lukáš Polák | cello
The Janáček Quartet's origins date back to 1947 when the ensemble was founded by students of the Brno Conservatory, and it was the quartet's outstanding performances of Leoš Janáček's works that won it the right to bear the composer's name. In the Quartet's almost eight decades it has performed at major international festivals and in leading concert halls, and has made a number of recordings for established record labels. The group's enduring continuity has naturally resulted in gradual changes in its line-up, but its performing repertoire and characteristic expressiveness remain a lasting feature of its artistic profile.
In its current line-up of Miloš Vacek, Richard Kružík, Jan Řezníček and Lukáš Polák, the quartet's programme tonight focuses on the Czech repertoire, with string quartets by Ervín Schulhoff, Smetana and Dvořák.
Ervín Schulhoff's first string quartet, written in 1924 when he was 30, is a relatively intimate work approximately sixteen minutes long, with a marked stylistic diversity reflecting the experimental trends of the interwar period as well as the composer's roots in the Czech musical setting.
Smetana's String Quartet No. 2 in D minor was written towards the end of his life during a period of complete hearing loss and advancing illness. The work thus bears signs of inner tension and restlessness, not in the form of a programmatic narrative, but through its intensely expressive musical language. Its compositional approach transcends the conventions of its day, and in some respects even anticipates the expressive style of 20th-century music.
Dvořák wrote his F major String Quartet during his summer stay in the American town of Spillville where he spent his first vacation while teaching at the New York Conservatory. The designation "American" relates not only to the work's place of origin, but also to the presence of certain stylistic elements inspired by African-American and Native American music. Thanks to its undeniable qualities, this quartet is one of Dvořák's most frequently performed chamber works and indeed one his most frequently performed works overall.
“We are delighted to be returning to Zlín after so many years and we very much look forward to it, so we warmly invite you to our concert in our quartet’s 80th anniversary season.”
Janáček Quartet
Thu, 22. 10. 2026, 19:00 hrs.
Katta | Light and the Organ
Venue: Zlín Congress Centre | Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s. |
Katta | organ, vocals
Societas Incognitorum | vocal ensemble
Tomáš Brauner | conductor
Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
Richard Wagner | The Flying Dutchman. Overture to the Opera
Katta | Missa Organi
Jean Sibelius | Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82
Our special guest in this Series B opening concert is the organist and composer Katta, who has built an international reputation as a performer of the classical repertoire and as a composer with a musical language of her own. She will be playing the eye-catching elegant white organ on which she regularly performs her work, combining the traditional sound of the instrument with her own vocals.
The concert, under the baton of Tomáš Brauner, opens with the overture to Richard Wagner's opera The Flying Dutchman, inspired by the composer's stormy voyage from Riga to London in 1839.
We then move on to the highlight of the evening, the Missa Organi, an original organ mass by the artist Katta, in which the theme of water is transformed into a spiritual symbol and a structural element of the entire work. The composition uses Latin and Old Slavonic liturgical texts, with the choice of languages reflecting the liturgical environment in which the composer is grounded and her affinity with Slavic tradition. Katta combines the organ and vocal parts in this piece into a single whole, and an integral part of the performance is a special lighting set which highlights the structure of the composition.
We conclude with Jean Sibelius's Fifth Symphony completed in 1915 as a monumental tribute to Nordic nature. Sibelius compared this work to a great river and crowned its finale with the famous horn motif which he described as a "swan hymn."
“I’m delighted to be presenting the world premiere of my original organ mass, Missa Organi, so do come on 22nd October to experience this work in its fullest form when the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra and the Societas Incognitorum vocal ensemble will be supporting me in making my white organ sing in a delicate interplay of light and shadow.”
Katta
Thu, 12. 11. 2026, 19:00 hrs.
Inspiration in Nature
Venue: Zlín Congress Centre | Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s. |
Teo Gertler | violin
Leoš Svárovský | conductor
Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
Antonín Dvořák | In Nature’s Realm. Concert overture Op. 91
Max Bruch | Concerto No. 1 in G minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 26
Ludwig van Beethoven | Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 “Pastoral”
This concert is curated as a narrative in celebration of the land and of nature, the sphere in which music is spontaneously born and to which it repeatedly relates, with a programme bringing together works that approach the theme from different angles, from the soundscape of the land to the symphonic expression of man's affinity with the natural order.
The performance under the baton of Leoš Svárovský opens with Dvořák's overture In Nature's Realm displaying refined harmonies and delicate instrumentation, in which the orchestra creates changing landscapes redolent of the atmosphere of the Czech countryside. Dvořák's music comes across not as a literal sound picture, but as a reflection of the composer's close affinity with nature, which was a constant inspiration to him.
This is followed by Bruch's Violin Concerto in G minor, one of the most widely performed works in the violin repertoire of the second half of the nineteenth century. Bruch masterfully combined the melodious solo part with technical complexity and full orchestral input not merely as an accompaniment, but as an equal partner to the violin. This evening's soloist is Teo Gertler, the gifted young Slovak artist whose mature performing technique is regularly displayed in international competitions and on stage.
We conclude with the Pastoral Symphony No. 6 in F major, one of Beethoven's most striking works inspired by nature and the countryside, which goes beyond a mere illustration in sound to a musically structured expression of being in nature and living in harmony with its rhythm. The different movements of the symphony depict specific settings such as the scene by the brook where we hear the calls of a quail, a cuckoo and a nightingale; then there is the merry gathering of the country folk with its dance rhythms and dramatic passage depicting a whirlwind, downpour and rumble of thunder. The final movement transitions into a pastoral idyll reflecting the calm after the storm, ending the symphony in a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude to nature.
“The main attraction of tonight’s concert is the phenomenal Slovak violinist Teo Gertler, who has a long-standing patron and admirer in the world-renowned tenor Plácido Domingo. I have performed with Teo Gertler at concerts in Oslo, the Konzerthaus in Berlin and Prague’s Rudolfinum, and I am delighted that the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra is featuring him in this gala festival concert.”
Leoš Svárovský
Thu, 19. 11. 2026, 19:00 hrs.
Tomáš Kačo | Music Without Borders
Venue: Zlín Congress Centre | Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s. |
A concert in collaboration with the Thomas Bata University in Zlín on its 25th anniversary.
Tomáš Kačo | piano
Robert Kružík | conductor
Bohuslava Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
Tomáš Kačo | For Ludwig, Yours Elise
Tomáš Kačo | Stronger Than Yesterday
Erich Wolfgang Korngold | The Adventures of Robin Hood, suite
Miklós Rózsa | Ben-Hur, suite
In November the Congress Centre welcomes the pianist, composer, arranger and vocalist Tomáš Kačo, one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Czech music, whose artistic career is a remarkable story of determination and talent which took him from his first musical experiments on an old piano in the apartment of a large Roma family in Nový Jičín to the keyboard of a concert Steinway at New York's Carnegie Hall. But there was more to this than just luck: it took consistent work, creative curiosity and courage to cross stylistic and social boundaries which for many would be an insurmountable obstacle.
Critics describe Kačo's music as one of a kind, his distinctive style an organic fusion of classical tradition, jazz inspiration and elements of Romani music, stamping his own clearly recognisable mark, but not closing off the dialogue with music of the past. His work also references the greats of European music such as Beethoven, whose anniversary we commemorate this season and to whom Kačo refers with respect and creative invention.
The first half of the evening features Tomáš Kačo's own original music and distinctive performing style, followed in the second half by Oscar-winning film music from the classic Hollywood era – another weighty chapter in 20th century music history. We start with The Adventures of Robin Hood, whose music by Brno native Erich Wolfgang Korngold won an Oscar from the American Academy of Motion Pictures in 1938. This is followed by the suite from the music of Ben-Hur by Miklós Rózsa, also an Oscar winner in 1959.
This evening's performance thus commemorates the golden era of Hollywood movie-making through the personae of outstanding artists whose work has bridged the boundaries between European tradition and America, making a name for themselves "across the pond".
There are some concert venues that stay with you forever, and for me, one of these is Zlín. I’m always delighted to return to the Congress Centre’s magnificent auditorium and its exceptional acoustics and atmosphere, and to have this opportunity to perform here alongside the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Robert Kružík. I’m looking forward to meeting the audience and sharing this musical experience with them.”
Tomáš Kačo
Tickets for Harmonia Moraviae 2026 are available at the FBM Box Office and online at www.filharmonie-zlin.cz.
Performances are at the Zlín Congress Centre unless stated otherwise.