Jakub Hrůša has been named as the new Chief Conductor of the Bamberg Symphony, from the beginning of the 2016 season.

The 34-year-old Czech conductor succeeds Jonathan Nott, who is taking over the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande. Hrůša has been the Chief Conductor of Prague Philharmonia since 2009, and is also the Principal Guest Conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and a familiar face on the podium of a number of major international ensembles. A former Music Director of Glyndebourne on Tour, he has also made a number of recordings for Supraphon.

Announcing the appointment, Bamberg Symphony Chief Executive Marcus Rudolf Axt said, ‘During the course of [the] search we found ourselves coming to complete unanimity over Jakub Hrůša. The five concerts in which he has conducted our orchestra to date were impressive proof of his spontaneous gift for turning shared music-making into extraordinary experiences. From the very first, we felt an almost uncanny artistic bond with him.’

Hrůša, meanwhile, made reference to the Bamberg Symphony’s origins in Prague - its German musicians had reformed in Bamberg following the Second World War. ‘With the orchestra having its origins in Prague, we breathe the same musical air, sharing our cultural backgrounds, being artistically and historically very close. With the Bamberg Symphony, every phrase can turn to be a little miracle, and every concert is a transfiguration. The whole team of the institution is fantastic. And I love the city. I wish that we’ll spend the most beautiful years together.'