Tomáš Netopil

Biography

Conductor Tomáš Netopil made his debut at the National Theatre during the Gala Concert to open the 125th anniversary season on 27 September 2007. In 2009-2012 he was the chief conductor of the National Theatre Opera. In addition to numerous concerts, he led productions of La finta giardiniera, Idomeneo, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Don Giovanni, Katya Kabanova and The Jacobin.

Principal Guest Conductor – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Founder and Artistic Director – International Summer Academy in Kroměříž (Czech Republic)
Former General Music Director – Aalto Musik Theater and Philharmonie Essen (2013-2023)

An inspirational force, particularly in Czech music, Tomáš Netopil is Principal Guest Conductor with Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with whom, in addition to concerts at the Rudolfinum Hall in Prague, he performs with regularly on tour. In 2022/23 Tomáš Netopil celebrated his tenth and final season as General Music Director of Aalto Musiktheater and Philharmonie Essen; during 2022/23 this tenure featured productions of Wagner’s Tannhäuser, Kampe’s Dogville and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Outside Essen, Tomas also led a production of Kat’a Kabanova at Geneva Opera.
Opera productions in the 2023/24 season include Janáček’s Jenůfa at the Staatsoper Hamburg and Dvořák’s Rusalka at the Prague National Theatre as well as concerts with Frankfurt Opera Orchestra and the orchestra of the Tyrolean Regional Theater. Other symphonic engagements include concerts with Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and returns to Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava  and Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo. Recent and future engagements in the USA include Naples Philharmonic, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and appearances at the Aspen Festival. In the 2022/23 season he made his debut with Concentus Musicus Wien Orchestra building on his work with period ensembles, and conducted concerts in Asia with the Yomiuri and the Korean National symphony orchestras.In Summer 2018, Tomáš Netopil created the International Summer Music Academy in Kroměříž, offering students both exceptional artistic tuition and the opportunity to meet and work with major international musicians.
In Summer 2021, in association with the Dvořák Prague Festival, the Academy established the Dvořákova Praha Youth Philharmonic with musicians from conservatories and music academies, coached by principal players of Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Tomáš Netopil has held a close relationship with the Dvořák Prague Festival for some time and was Artist in Residence in 2017, opening the festival with Essen Philharmoniker and closing the festival with Dvořák’s Te Deum and Wiener Symphoniker.
Tomáš Netopil’s discography for Supraphon includes Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass (the first ever recording of the original 1927 version), Dvořák’s complete cello works, Martinů’s Ariane and Double Concerto, and Smetana’s Má vlast with Prague Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure in Essen, his releases have included recordings of Suk’s Asrael and Mahler’s Symphonies Nos.2, 3 6 and 9.
From 2008 – 2012 Tomáš Netopil held the position of Music Director of the Prague National Theatre. He studied violin and conducting in his native Czech Republic, as well as at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm under the guidance of Professor Jorma Panula. In 2002, he won the first Sir Georg Solti Conductors Competition at the Alte Oper Frankfurt.