The music of the quintessentially Czech composer Dvořák is, above all, enjoyable and is a perennial favourite in the Romantic repertoire. This series of concerts is performed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the Prague Philharmonic Choir, with three leading Czech conductors on the podium: Petr Altrichter, Jiří Bělohlávek and Libor Pesek. Guest soloists include soprano Lucia Popp, alto Eva Randova, tenor Josef Protschka, bass Peter Mikulas, pianist Igor Ardasev, violinist Ivan Zenaty and cellist Mischa Maisky, who plays Dvoøák's Cello Concerto, one of his finest works. Jiří Bělohlávek (born February 24, 1946) is a Czech conductor. He studied with Sergiu Celibidache. From 1995-2000, Bělohlávek was principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (BBC SO). In February 2005, he was named its twelfth chief conductor, effective July 2006, with an initial contract of 3 years. Bělohlávek is the first BBC SO principal guest conductor ever to be named chief conductor of any UK orchestra. His tenure with the BBC SO began with the First Night of the 2006 Proms. He also conducted both the First Night and Last Night of the 2007 Proms. Bělohlávek recently extended his contract with the BBC Symphony to 2012. In opera, Bělohlávek has conducted Jenůfa and Tristan und Isolde at Glyndebourne Opera. He made his Metropolitan Opera (Met) debut on December 17, 2004 conducting Káťa Kabanová, with Karita Mattila in the title role. He returned to the Met in January and February of 2007 for Jenůfa. Other orchestral guest conducting appearances in the US have been with Philadelphia Orchestra and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Due to his extensive artistic activity Ivan Zenaty has acquired a leading position among Czech violinists. During his studies at the Prague Conservatory he has made his debut with the Czech Philharmonics, in 1982 he got to the final of the International P.I.Tchaikovsky Violin Competition in Moscow, in 1987 he was a sovereign winner of the International Prague Spring Violin Competition. Ivan Zenaty was awarded the title Laureate of the International Tribune of Young Performers UNESCO (1989) and the main prize of the Ruggiero Ricci international master-classes in Berlin (1990) which resulted in his engagement as a soloist of the Berliner Symphoniker. Since 1996 Ivan Zenaty has been professor at the Music Academy in Dresden. Vol. I • Symphony No.7 in D minor Op.70 • Slavonic Dances Op.72 (1886) • Romance for Violin Op.11