Born in 1970, Tomas Hanus is now recognised as one of the Czech Republic’s most exciting and important conductors.  Having studied with Jiri Belohlavek at the Janacek Academy of Music and drama in Brno, he came to prominence when he won the Conductors’ International Competition in Katowice in 1999. 

Opera highlights in the 2011/12 season include a return to the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich for revival performances of Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka, debut with the Dresden Staatskappelle and a return to Finnish Opera.  In the following seasons, he will make his debut with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Copenhagen Opera, Basel Opera, Barcelona and Madrid Opera as well as returning each season to Munich.

As a symphonic conductor, Tomas is working this season with Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Teatro Real Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg on tour in the UK and Prague Radio Symphony.  Next season, he will make his debut with the Ensemble Intercontemporain with concerts in Paris and Prague.

Last season highlights include a new production of Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka directed by Martin Kušej  and revival performances of  Leoš Janáček’s  Jenůfa; further performances of  Leoš Janáček’s Katya Kabanová at the Polish National Opera directed by David Alden and a debut with the Slovenian National Opera with a production of Rusalka directed by Melly Still.  Symphonic highlights - a return to the Ulster Orchestra, the Prague National Radio Symphony Orchestra and his debut with the St. Gallen Sinfonieorchester. 

In recent seasons, Tomas has established his reputation as a leading conductor in Czech opera and in 2007/08 was announced as Music Director of the National Theatre Brno, Janacek Opera House, a position he held until 2009.  Having assisted Jiri Belohlavek in 2003 at the Finnish National Opera with a new production of Katya Kabanová he was invited to conduct the revival in 2005 and to make his debut at the Paris Opera in 2007 with Leoš Janáček’s The Makropulos Case, directed by Krzystztof Warlikovwski.  Tomas returned to Paris Opera in 2009 for the revival of this hugely successful production.  Since making his debut in 2001 with the National Theatre Prague and a production of Bedřich Smetana’s Devil’s Wall he has worked regularly in the house and most recently conducted performances of  The Makropulos Case directed by Christopher Alden.

As a symphonic conductor in the 2009/10 season, Tomas made his debut with the Stuttgart Opera Orchestra, Madrid Symphony Orchestra, the Prague National Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Prague Spring Festival, Brabants Orchestra and returned to the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra  and Ulster Orchestra.

Past seasons highlights include performances with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival New York with the Festival Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (where he held the position of Principal Conductor for two seasons) and Warsaw Philharmonic amongst others.

Tomas has made several recordings with both the Prague Philharmonia and the State Philharmonic Orchestra Brno, and also records for Czech Radio. More recently, he has recorded the Viktor Ullmann symphonies with the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK, and has collaborated with outstanding Czech soloists for Lotos Records.