Opening of the spa season 2024

She studied at the Prague Conservatory under Jiřina Marková Krystlíková and then at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under Prof. Magdalena Hajoossiová. Since 2006 she has been a guest in many domestic theatres. She has performed at the Antonín Dvořák Theatre in Ostrava, J.K.Tyl Theatre in Pilsen, F. X. Šalda Theatre in Liberec, Silesian Theatre in Opava, theatre in České Budějovice, Košice and the National Theatre in Prague.

Barbora Perná is currently a guest of the National Theatre in Prague and since 2019 she has been a permanent member of the soloist ensemble of the Moravian Theatre Olomouc. Here she has performed the roles of Jenůfa from the opera of the same name by L. Janáček, Fiordiligi in W. A. Mozart’s Così fan tutte, for which she was nominated for the Thalia Award in the wider nomination, the role of Leonora (Fidelio) by L. van Beethoven, Rusalka, Vitellii-La clemenza di Tito, and Judith-Modrovous’s Castle-B. Bartók…For the role of Rusalka she was also nominated for the Thalia Award in the wider nomination for her performance of this role in the Moravian Theatre Olomouc.

She has a number of beautiful roles to her credit, for example Rusalka from the opera of the same name by A. Dvořák’s Rusalka, Leoš Janáček’s Liska Bystrouška, Marenka from The Bartered Bride by B. Smetana, Dvořák’s Terinka, Massenet’s Sophie, Weber’s Agatha, Mozart’s Fiordiligi, Countess, Pamina, Papagena, Zerlina, Luoncavallo’s Nedda, Wagner’s Lora, Rachmaninoff’s Zemfira and others… For her role of Rusalka, she won the Moravian-Silesian Region’s Jantar Award in 2018. Perná is also the winner of the Opava Thalia Award in the 2018-2019 season.

She is a laureate of many prestigious competitions, such as the Imrich Godin Competition in Vrábli, Slovakia, and the International Singing Competition A. Dvořák Competition. She has performed in Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Japan and China. She has actively participated in courses in Riva del Garda and also in the courses of the world-famous tenor Josè Cura.

Tenor Martin Šrejma graduated from the Prague Conservatory in the class of Prof. J. Kotouč. During his studies, he won the Antonín Dvořák International Singing Competition in Karlovy Vary (2002 and 2004), and in 2004 he was also awarded the National Theatre Prize in Prague. In 2004 he studied in Parma, Italy, at the Arrigo Boito Conservatory with L. Bizzi and E. Furlotti; he participated in master classes in Italy, in the summer of 2009 with M. Freni and in 2011 with T. Krause. In 2005 he became a soloist of the Prague State Opera, since 2012 he has been a soloist of the National Theatre Opera in Prague. He has performed many roles on Prague stages, such as Mozart’s Tamino (The Magic Flute), Ferrando (Così fan tutte), etc. He has also guest-starred at the National Theatre in Brno, the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in Ostrava as Lindoro (Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers) and Count d’Albafiorita (Martinů’s Mirandolina), at the F. X. Šalda Theatre in Liberec as Nemorino (Donizetti: The Drink of Love), at the J. K. Tyl Theatre in Pilsen and at the Revolving Auditorium in Český Krumlov as the Duke (Rigoletto). In the 2003/2004 season he toured Germany and Switzerland with the Swiss Opera Company as Alfred in Strauss’s operetta The Bat and in spring 2005 toured Canada with the Toronto Philharmonic under the direction of K. Stratton. In 2006 he appeared in Spain as Pollione (Bellini: Norma). In 2009 he appeared as Jeník (The Bartered Bride) in the Netherlands, and in 2011 he performed the role of Michelis (Martinů: Greek Passion) at Teatro Massimo in Palermo. During the tour of the Prague State Opera and the National Theatre in Japan he performed as Alfredo (2007) and Spoletta (2011), Tamino and Basilio (2013). He is frequently invited to perform in cantatas, oratorios and operas (Handel: Samson and Messiah; Bononcini: Astarto; Mozart: Requiem and Davide penitente; Haydn: Die Schöpfung, Bach: Christmas Oratorio, Mendelssohn: Lobgesang in the framework of the Prague Spring Festival 2012, etc.).

Bass-baritone Pavel Klečka (*1967) graduated from the State Conservatory in Prague. At the same time he won first place at the Conservatory Competition in Pardubice and collaborated with the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (B. Martinů – Vespers on the Bridge/Bedroň; W. A. Mozart – The Marriage of Figaro/Figaro). He has been a regular guest at a number of leading opera houses. Thanks to the versatility of his vocal expression, he also excels in concert and song writing. His repertoire includes works from the Baroque to the present day. He perfected his technique and interpretation under the guidance of Václav Zítek, and attended master classes with Helmuth Rilling and Peter Mikuláš. He is currently continuing his singing studies with Jiří Kotouč. So far he has created over sixty roles in the opera and operetta repertoire, with which he has visited many countries (Europe, USA, Japan, Israel, etc.). Among the most important are Figaro, Leporello, Papageno, Guglielmo, Marbuel, Bohus, Dr. Bartolo, Dulcamara, Don Pasquale, Tonio, Marcello, Gianni Schicchi, Rodrigo, Renato and Rigoletto.

Violinist Milan Al Ashhab graduated in violin at the Teplice Conservatory in the class of professor Květoslava Hasilová. He continued his studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, in the class of Professor Ivan Štraus. Since 2019, he has continued his studies under the guidance of Professor Peter Schuhmayer at the Univesität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna.
He won the prestigious Fritz Kreisler International Violin Competition in Vienna (2018), the New York Concert Artists and Associates Worldwide Debut Audition (New York, 2018) and the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (2019). He has also won first prizes at the Georg Philipp Telemann International Violin Competition in Poznan (2007) and the Jaroslav Kocian International Violin Competition in Ústí nad Orlicí (2006). He is the winner of the Classic Prague Awards 2018 (talent of the year category), the Ústí nad Labem Region Personality of the Year 2018 in the field of culture, the Bauša Ruysová Award, the Josef Hlávka Award and others. He has also participated in master classes with famous personalities such as Pinchas Zukerman, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Hagai Shaham, Shlomo Mintz and Ida Haendel. Milan Al-Ashhab plays a rare Italian instrument by Nicola Amati (Cremona, 1662), which was lent to him by the Swiss Maggini-Stiftung. He has performed with many Czech and foreign orchestras (ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Czech Philharmonic, Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Hofer Symphoniker, L’armonia terrena, etc.) and regularly performs in full-length concerts with the leading Czech pianist and composer Adam Skoumal (together they have appeared in recitals at the Berlin Philharmonic, Merkin Hall in New York, the Musikverein in Vienna, etc.).

Radek Baborák, chief conductor of the West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra, is one of the most prominent personalities on the world music scene. In more than 35 years of international performances as a solo horn player and conductor, he has earned an exceptional reputation with the most important orchestras and festivals. With his extensive experience as a horn player, Baborák brings a unique perspective and expertise to his conducting career. His conducting style is known for its precision, musicality and deep understanding of the pieces he performs. He is able to interpret and convey the emotions and nuances of the music, creating captivating and memorable concert experiences that are appreciated by critics and music-loving audiences alike. His repertoire ranges from works by the masters of Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th century music to works by living composers whose works he has premiered.

As a soloist he has appeared with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics and many other top orchestras under conductors such as James Lewine, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Roger Norrington, Jiří Bělohlávek, Seiji Ozawa, Daniel Barenboim and Vladimir Ashkenazy.

In 2011 he expanded his musical career to include conducting. His mentor is Maestro Seiji Ozawa, whom he assists with the Mito Chamber Orchestra, which he regularly conducts.
He founded and artistically directs the Czech Sinfonietta Orchestra, which performs at renowned festivals in the Czech Republic such as Prague Spring, Dvořák’s Prague, Smetana Litomyšl and others. He has achieved extraordinary success at these festivals, accompanying soloists such as Marta Argerich, Jefim Bronfmann, Sergej Nakarjakov, Ricardo Galliano and Guy Braunstein.
As a conductor he has worked with the Mozarteum Salzburg, the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, the Thuringian Philharmonic, the Tokyo Philharmonic, the New Japan Symphony Orchestra, the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, the SOČR, the FOK, the Prague Philharmonic and others.

Since 2016 he has been the artistic director of the Prague Chamber Soloists.
He is intensively involved in chamber music, especially with the Baborak Ensemble, which is regularly invited to Mozartwoche Salzburg, Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin and on tour in Europe and Japan. For his ensemble he creates unique versions of works by composers such as J.S. Bach and Astor Piazzolla.

His musical partners in the more than 100 music festivals he has participated in include legends such as Daniel Barenboim, Marta Argerich, Heinrich Schif, Janine Jansen, Francoise Leleux, Emanuel Pahud, Ian Bostridge, Julian Rachlin and others.
As a solo horn player he has performed with the Czech Philharmonic, the Munich Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic.
He is a laureate of the most prestigious competitions in Geneva, Markneukirchen and ARD Munich.
He has dozens of award-winning recordings for EMI, Sony Classic, Suprafon, Octavia Records, Animal Music and Hänsler Classic.

As an associate professor he has taught at the Fondazione Arturo Toscanini in Bologna, Escuela Reina Sophia in Madrid, Hamu Prague and TOHO University in Tokyo. He is currently a visiting professor at the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin and a mentor at the MenArt Education Academy.
During the pandemic he initiated fundraisers for independent artists and subsequently supported Ukrainian musicians. Hundreds of colleagues supported these activities.

Radek Baborák is a guest conductor of the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, a permanent soloist of the Brandenburg State Orchestra and in 2024 will make his conducting debut with the Slovak Philharmonic Bratislava, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in London and the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Lviv.