THE Czech Philharmonic is to perform at Leeds Town Hall with violinist Josef Špa?ek and conductor Tomáš Netopil, featuring a programme of some of Czech composer Dvo?ák’s greatest works.

Opening the concert on Saturday, February 10, 7.30pm, are two of Dvo?ák’s Slavonic Dances. Written during his ‘Slavonic period’, Dvo?ák was particularly inspired by the Slavonic folk music of the time. The dances are considered amongst his popular works. Czech violinist Josef Špa?ek performs Dvo?ák’s Violin Concerto with the great Czech orchestra. The work is bold, classical, and expressive and also features Czech folklore – everything and more that can be expected of a great violin concerto. Symphony No 9 ‘From a New World’ closes the concert. In this symphonic work, Dvo?ák aimed to reproduce the spirit of African-American and Native American melodies, but he tuned it to his Czech nationality. The music features strong syncopation, rhythmic ostinatos, drones and pentatonicism and a strong flavour of Czech nationality.

Violinist Josef Špa?ek is a solo performer and has been the leader of the Czech Philharmonic since 2010. Josef’s father is a cellist in the Czech Philharmonic. He studied at the Juilliard School and the Prague Conservatory and was a finalist in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition. Josef has performed concertos internationally with acclaimed orchestras such as the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Prague Philharmonic, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and many more. Josef plays on a violin made in 1855 in Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume’s workshop.

Tomáš Netopil is the Musical Director of the Aalto Theatre and the Philharmonie Essen. He has conducted international orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmoniker, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, London Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic and many more. The season, Tomáš conducts the Czech Philharmonic in England, Ireland and Switzerland, and is premiering at the Vienna State Opera with Weber’s Freischütz. A prolific opera conductor, Tomáš has conducted performances at the Operá National de Paris and the Zurich Opera.

The Czech Philharmonic’s mastery of its instruments goes hand in hand with the ability to contribute its skill towards the ensemble’s unified inimitable sound.

Tickets for the Czech Philharmonic are priced at £37.10-£13.78 and are available from the City Centre Box Office on 0113 376 0318 or online at www.leedsconcertseason.co.uk.