Hrůša Conducts Má vlast at CSO Debut

Acclaimed conductor Jakub Hrůša leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Smetana's iconic work.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:00pm

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This week, listeners will hear Jakub Hrůša's debut concert program with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, featuring Smetana's masterpiece Má vlast. The broadcast will open with a recording of Pierre Boulez conducting Mahler's Totenfeier from 1996.

Why it matters

Hrůša is considered one of the rising stars of the classical music world, and his CSO debut is highly anticipated. Má vlast is a beloved and quintessential work of Czech nationalism that has become a staple of the orchestral repertoire.

The details

Hrůša, the Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, will lead the CSO in a performance of Smetana's six-movement symphonic poem Má vlast (My Homeland). The work depicts the landscapes, legends, and history of the composer's native Bohemia. The broadcast will open with a recording of Pierre Boulez conducting Mahler's Totenfeier, an early symphonic movement that would later become the first movement of Mahler's Second Symphony.

  • The concert featuring Hrůša's CSO debut will take place on March 15, 2026.

The players

Jakub Hrůša

A renowned Czech conductor who is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic.

Pierre Boulez

A highly influential French composer and conductor who led many major orchestras around the world.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

One of the leading symphony orchestras in the United States, based in Chicago, Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“Hrůša's interpretations of Czech repertoire are always deeply insightful and passionately performed.”

— Lisa Simeone, Radio Host (wfmt.com)

What’s next

Listeners can tune in to the live broadcast of the concert on March 15, 2026 to hear Hrůša's CSO debut performance of Má vlast.

The takeaway

Hrůša's CSO debut with the iconic Má vlast showcases his mastery of Czech repertoire and the continued excellence of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in bringing world-class classical music to audiences.