Vojtěch Spurný is a leading Czech conductor, pianist and teacher of historical keyboard instruments. He initially studied the piano and flute at the Prague Conservatory before going on to study opera directing, conducting and the harpsichord at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. He then pursued further studies in early music interpretation and harpsichord performance at the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Utrecht, graduating with a diploma in performing music. He furthered his education by taking masterclasses with J. Sonnleitner, H. Rilling and K. Gilbert.
As an opera conductor, he has collaborated with the Baroque Theatre at Drottningholm Palace, the J. K. Tyl Theatre in Plzeň, the Gothenburg Opera, the Oslo Opera House, the Staatstheater Hannover, the Prague Chamber Opera and the National Theatre Prague. From 1999 to 2004, he was the permanent conductor at the Prague State Opera. In the 2002–03 season, he served as the opera's artistic director. From 2015 to 2018, he was chief conductor of the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra in Zlín. From 2018 to 2022, he was guest conductor, chief conductor and head of opera at the Silesian Theatre in Opava. He is currently the South Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra's permanent guest conductor.
As a conductor, he has collaborated with the Czech Chamber Philharmonic, Ensemble 18+, the Hradec Králové Philharmonic, the Prague Symphony Chamber Orchestra, the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Symphony Orchestra, the PKF – Prague Philharmonia, the Chursächsische Kammerphilharmonie, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the North Czech Philharmonic Teplice, the Haas Ensemble, the Chamber Philharmonic Pardubice, the Suk Chamber Orchestra, the Brno Chamber Soloists and the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava. He has also performed with leading musicians such as S. Brill, P. Bernold, V. Hudeček, M. Hundeling, S. Kam and Š. Margita, J. Perianes, F. Say, M. Maisky, V. Gluzman and D. Pecková.
He has performed at renowned international music festivals including the Český Krumlov International Music Festival, the Leoš Janáček International Music Festival, the Janáček and Luhačovice Festival, the Prague Spring International Music Festival, the Smetana's Litomyšl Festival, the Valtice Baroque Summer, the Smetana Days Festival, the Harmonia Moraviae International Music Festival, the Vienna Festival, and the Carinthischer Sommer.
Spurný is a conductor and player of historical keyboard instruments, including the quarter-tone piano, who performs on the concert stage. He recorded a comprehensive compilation consisting of works for harpsichord, clavichord and fortepiano for the Czech Radio. His BMG Czech Republic recording, Masters of Czech Baroque and Classicism, was nominated for the Harmonie magazine award in 2003, and his Alto Records recordings of Czech classical symphonies have received recognition from professional critics. As a conductor, he participated in the recording of a DVD of G. Scarlatti's opera buffa, 'Dov'è l'amore, è gelosia', at the Baroque Theatre in Český Krumlov. This DVD won the prestigious international award, 'Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik', as well as the DVD of the Year Award, in 2013.
He is also involved in editorial work, having prepared critical editions of J. J. Ryba's Czech Christmas Mass and Stabat Mater, as well as piano and harpsichord concertos by V. J. Tomášek and F. X. Dušek, and wind parts by old Czech masters for Czech Radio. For Editio Bärenreiter Praha, he prepared HUDEBNÍ AGENTURA CAMERATA MUSIC AGENCY CAMERATA complete editions of the harpsichord sonatas by F. X. Dušek and J. Mysliveček.
He also engages in educational and pedagogical work, teaching the harpsichord at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ostrava and at the Church Conservatory of the Order of the Teutonic Knights in Opava. He also regularly performs in educational concerts for young audiences.
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