Both concerts were conducted by Semyon Bychkov, Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic, whose artistic leadership has established the orchestra among the world’s finest.

The concert on 26 August was particularly festive. The programme opened with Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, performed by the South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim, the youngest winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Following the intermission, the orchestra performed Smetana’s iconic cycle of symphonic poems, Má vlast (My Country), one of the most significant works in Czech musical history. Under Semyon Bychkov’s baton, this extraordinary masterpiece received enthusiastic acclaim from the audience.

The Stockholm performances were made possible thanks to the generous support of PPF Group, the Czech Philharmonic’s global partner, which has long supported the orchestra’s international activities on some of the world’s leading stages.

Following the concert, Embassy representative Jaromír Vejrych, together with PPF representative Jan Christoph Harder and Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov, welcomed distinguished representatives of Swedish institutions, business leaders, academics, and other honoured guests to a reception. The gathering provided an opportunity not only for an exceptional cultural experience, but also for further strengthening Czech-Swedish relations in the fields of innovation, economic cooperation, and culture.

Škoda Group, a member of PPF Group, will supply new trains for the Saltsjöbanan commuter railway line in the Stockholm region. Škoda Group has also been selected as the supplier of trams for the new tram network currently under construction in Uppsala.