Born in the Czech Republic and named by Gramophone in 2011 as one of ten conductors “on the verge of greatness”, Jakub Hrůša is Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Prague Philharmonia, Music Director of the Glyndebourne Tour, and Principal Guest Conductor of Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.  He is a regular guest with many of Europe’s leading orchestras, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Finnish Radio Symphony, SWR Symphony Stuttgart, WDR Symphony Cologne and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.  In 2010 he became the youngest conductor since 1949 to lead the opening concert of the Prague Spring Festival. Jakub Hrůša made his north American debut in 2009, and has since appeared with The Cleveland Orchestra, Washington National Symphony, the Symphony Orchestras of Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Seattle and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. In 2009 he made his Australian debut with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, followed by visits in 2011 and 2012 to Melbourne Symphony and his debut with Sydney Symphony in 2012. He is also a regular visitor to Asia where, in addition to his commitments with Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, he led the

read more...

"Remember Hrusa’s name; there’s a reason why Gramophone magazine dubbed him “on the verge of greatness."

Cincinnati.com Apr 5th 2013

"At its dark heart lies Jakub Hrusa's quite astonishing conducting | Glyndebourne 'Turn of the Screw' 2012"

BBC Music Magazine Jan 16th 2013

"Jakub Hrusa leads the London Philharmonic in an instinctual, perversely accented, gut-wrenching reading | Glyndebourne 'Turn of the Screw' 2012"

International Record Review Mar 1st 2013

"At the lecturn, Hrusa co-ordinates...bold orchestral storms. - Asrael Symphony with SWR Stuttgart"

Der Rheinpflaz Jan 18th 2013

"Make no mistake: Jakub Hrůša is climbing to the top by dint of penetrating musicianship and with the technical means to achieve it. "

Classical Source Nov 25th 2012

"Jakub Hrusa... in his final production as music director of the Glyndebourne Tour shows notable affinity with his native Czech repertoire... [He] concentrates on the music's melancholy warmth, evoking all the ebb and flow suggestive of Rusalka's forest pool."

The Guardian Oct 19th 2012

"Hrůŝa conducted the Dvořák EighthSymphony from memory and with great flair. Here Dvořák wanted an untroubled, cheerful piece to contrast with the many dark, brooding romantic symphonies. Hrůŝa’s special reverence, affection and familiarity with the Symphony produced a gorgeous performance."

Clevelandclassical.com Aug 14th 2012

"From the start, [Jakub Hrusa] demonstrated an authoritative technique on the podium…his gestures.. were.. models of baton efficiency, giving the orchestra exactly what it needed to execute his emphatic and often muscular interpretations. In Rimsky-Korsakov's extensive reworking of Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain," Hrusa set a no-nonsense tempo, brisk but not overly fast, which highlighted the dramatic tension of the music. Hrusa's clear baton was especially helpful in maintaining a Szell-like accuracy of ensemble during the work's hectic pages, while his balances kept Rimsky-Korsakov's heavy orchestral textures admirably clear. To conclude the program, Hrusa led an impassioned reading of Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 in G major that was as nearly perfect as one could want. In its vigorous opening allegro, alternately lyrical and heroic adagio, dancing triple-time allegretto and ringing allegro finale, Dvorak's eighth might be seen as the apotheosis of the 19th-century Bohemian symphony, and Hrusa's interpretation made a strong case for such a thesis. "

Cleveland.com Aug 13th 2012

"Hrusa impressed with his explosive energy coupled with a mature expressive range, and it was obvious that the players liked the new kid on the block. Little wonder that last year he was tipped as being one of a few potentially great young conductors. "

Blacktown Advocat Aug 2nd 2012

"Hrusa worked with the players to create a continuously evolving, subtly changing textural landscape where (partly because of the presence of the saxophone) they seemed to be creating new instruments like Schubert does at the beginning of the Unfinished by pairing oboe and clarinet. Altogether, the orchestra and Hrusa combined to produce a second half highly charged with excitement and precision "

Australian Stage Aug 3rd 2012

"[Jakub Hrusa’s] reading of Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain bristled with demonic menace. Spiky string articulation, taut percussion and brass entries, and snappy focus in the winds brought Rimsky-Korsakov's tempestuous arrangement to life,"

The Australian Jul 30th 2012

"Jakub Hrůša is an outstanding young conductor, discriminating and focussed as well as possessing the ability to energise musicians."

Classical Source Mar 24th 2011

"[La bohème], faithfully revived by Lee Blakeley, with an attractive young cast and the brilliant Czech conductor Jakub Hrusa leading the excellent GoT Orchestra…looks the probable hit of the tour…La bohème has rarely seemed so fresh. "

Sunday Times Oct 16th 2011

"Prefacing the rarely played Janácek was a Czech chestnut, The Moldau , Bedrich Smetana’s portrayal of a river’s progress from burbling spring to broad surge. But Hrusa and the DSO made it sound like a brand-new piece, its phrases boldly rising and falling, its peasant dance just earthy enough, its storm quite stormy indeed"

Dallas Morning News Nov 11th 2011

"But what I hadn't suspected was that the young Czech conductor Jakub Hrusa would offer such a thrillingly visceral, angry and churned-up reading of the score. Galvanising the LPO to playing of scalding brilliance, Hrusa carefully ratcheted up the tension in the early scenes and brought the drama to the boil with an almost daemonic intensity. This wasn't a nice creepy bedtime story, but something reaching dangerously into the darker reaches of human nature.This is truly great opera."

The Telegraph Aug 11th 2011