In Prague, the CSO performs Mahler’s Sixth and soaks up city’s sights

For the penultimate stop on its European Tour 2025, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra headed to Prague, the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, for a concert Tuesday night in Smetana Hall, followed by a day of sightseeing.

Before the concert, tour conductor Jaap van Zweden participated in a panel discussion featuring the Michal brothers — who are Czech natives — CSO violins Simon and Matous. It was moderated by Josef Třeštík, program director of the Prague Spring International Music Festival, which presented the CSO.

Regarded as the most prestigious classical music event in the Czech Republic, the fest has been staged annually in May since 1946. The festival shares a connection with the CSO: It was founded by Rafael Kubelík, music director of the CSO from 1950 to 1953.

Under van Zweden, the CSO performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 at Smetana Hall, the main concert theater within the Municipal House, a multi-purpose venue. The hall is decorated with statues and sculptures, including ones by Ladislav Šaloun that depict themes from Bedřich Smetana’s Má vlast (My Country) and Antonín Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances.

On Wednesday, a free day, CSO musicians, tour patrons and guests headed out for some sightseeing, a masterclass and other activities. 

The CSO musicians’ walking tour of Prague’s Old Town began with a stop at Old Town Hall, known for its impressive astronomical clock. The history of Old Town Hall dates to 1338. In that year, King John of Bohemia allowed Prague citizens to build a town hall, with construction financed from a wine tax, in the Old Town.

Next up came a stop at Prague’s historic Estates Theatre, where Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni and his Clarinet Concerto received their premieres. The film “Amadeus” (1984) also was shot in part at the Estates Theatre.

From Prague, the CSO traveled to Poland for two concerts at the National Forum of Music in Wrocław.