The Czech conductor Libor Pešek has died at the age of 89. Best known in the UK as the Principal Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic from 1987 to 1998, under his charge the northern orchestra was dubbed ‘the best Czech orchestra this side of Prague’.

Born in Prague, Pešek studied conducting, piano, cello and trombone at Prague’s Academy of Music and Arts. Although a member of the conducting class of Václav Smetáček at the academy, Pešek’s conducting prowess was largely self-taught, due to Smetáček’s huge schedule. It was watching Karel Ančerl and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in rehearsals during his time at the academy which proved to be Pešek’s greatest inspiration.

After graduation in 1956, Pešek worked as a répétiteur in Pilsen, then freelance, gaining attention with small and provincial orchestras, such as The Sebastian Orchestra as well as setting up his ensemble Prague Chamber Harmony. From 1963, he served as the second conductor in the Northern Bohemian Symphonic Orchestra. Working in both Czechoslovakia and the Netherlands between 1970 and 1977, Pešek served also as the Chief Conductor of the Eastern Bohemian State Chamber Orchestra in Pardubice.

In 1981 Pešek was appointed conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, as well as being in demand guest conducting throughout Europe, Japan and North America. After a brief time at the Slovak Philharmonic, in 1987 he became the Principal Conductor of the RLPO, stepping down from his position with the Czech Philharmonic three years later.

While in Liverpool, Pešek raised the orchestra to a new era of performance. An advocate of Josef Suk and Vítězslav Novák, Pešek’s introduction of these composers to the orchestra led to some superb recordings of music by both men. At about this time, he was signed by the A&R-savvy Simon Foster for his newly established Virgin Classics label. He would record for the label with both the RLPO (his 1990 recording of Suk’s Asrael Symphony remains an important non-Czech marker in the recording of Suk’s music) and the Czech Philharmonic; his cycle of the complete Dvořák symphonies was divided between the two orchestras. He would also partner many of Virgin Classics’ newly signed instrumentalists, like Mikhail Pletnev and Christian Tetzlaff, in their early concerto recordings.

Although based in Liverpool his musical ties with Prague were maintained, becoming Principal Guest Conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra with whom he toured extensively. He was also made KBE during Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Prague in 1996. On resigning from the Royal Liverpool Orchestra in 1997, receiving the title of Conductor Laureate, Pešek expressed his intention to slow the pace of his conducting career. From 2007 he joined the Czech National Symphony Orchestra as Chief Conductor before stepping down at the end of the 2018-19 season.

Pešek’s recording output of over 40 recordings embraces, as well as Virgin Classics, labels including Supraphon, Panton, Naxos, Denon, Sony Classical and Chandos.