The Krumlov Festival is a combination of the exceptional environment of Czech Krumlov and exceptional artistic projects. This creates a combination that you will not find anywhere else in the world.
In addition to unique locations, a castle or outdoor gardens, nooks and crannies, the festival presents concerts, performances across the performing arts. It combines music with visual arts or dance. It invites international stars and local prominent artists.
Exclusivity, some small locations intimate … but at the same time accessibility, free accompanying program.
The International Music Festival Czech Krumlov (Krumlov Festival) has been held since 1992.
The festival has put Krumlov on the map of the European cultural calendar by combining the attractive environment of one of the most beautiful cities in the world with classical music. The summer showcase of up to 40 concerts combines music with other art forms and offers chamber, symphonic and vocal-instrumental works, as well as opera productions and ballets. The festival has featured performances by Czech and internationally renowned artists: Plácido Domingo, Jonas Kaufmann, James Morrison, Misha Maisky, Ivo Kahánek and many others.
In recent years, the festival has developed an accompanying programme with dozens of activities and concerts called the Festival Zone. Newly during the year, it has developed other projects under the KrumloOff brand and added a ballet masterclass to the festival.
The mission of the festival
to bring extraordinary experiences and emotions to audiences in totally unique locations
to promote and build cultural identity and live art
to provide concerts of high artistic quality
to support young artists
to make works of classical music available to the widest possible audience, together with lesser-known, more audience-intensive works of the classical repertoire,
to contribute to social responsibility
Pillars of dramaturgy
Exceptional projects in exceptional places
linking quality classical music interpretation with the environment of Czech Krumlov and its unique spaces and genius loci
Synergy of art
interconnection of art forms, classical music in combination with other arts – dance, painting, imaginative scenography, pantomime, acting, etc.
With an emphasis on young talents
emphasis on young artists, their fresh interpretation of classical music works and the opportunity to present their original works
Diversity of musical forms
presentation of classical music from the 15th century to the present in all its forms and shapes – from solo and chamber compositions to symphonies including vocal works, opera and ballet
Czech world music, world music in Krumlov
bringing together major Czech and international performers, conductors and orchestras in original projects
History
The tradition of the International Music Festival in Czech Krumlov dates back to 1992.
The prominent Czech musician Jaroslav Krček invited Jaromír Boháč, a composer, music manager and his father Josef, also a composer, to join the Chamber Music Festival, which Mr Krček founded. However, plans began to go beyond the chamber concept of the festival, and so an international festival was created alongside it.
Jaromír Boháč built the festival together with his colleagues (especially in the beginning with Jan Fischer and Marta Hospodková, then with Zuzana Lufinková). Since 2022 (the 31st edition) the festival has been led by the current director Gabriela Rachidi, who is still developing it with a new company and team.
The first edition of the festival lasted 6 days and offered 6 concerts. Thanks to the enormous potential of its home town, its romantic natural scenery and its unique historical and technical monuments (Baroque theatre, revolving auditorium, etc.), the festival adds new concert locations and musical forms every year. So far, the festival has been held in more than 50 venues, not only in Czech Krumlov.
The 18th edition in 2009 was a breakthrough. The festival was visited by international opera star Renée Flemming, whose participation opened the doors to the world’s opera elite. Since then, it has regularly hosted the world’s leading performers such as Plácido Domingo, Jonas Kaufmann, Misha Maiski, James Morrison and many others.
The festival’s dramaturgy has gone through various stages, including a multi-genre period. With the 31st edition, however, it has firmly returned to its classic lineage and invites everyone to the Festival Zone = accompanying programme, which is free of charge and open to all, for a multi-genre, experiential and educational programme. And every year it grows in importance.
The Festival Zone is traditionally an integral part of the festival. From Thursday to Sunday throughout the festival, it offers a varied free accompanying programme interwoven with art and music that appeals to audiences across all generations.
The home of the zone is the Monastery Garden, which becomes an entertaining multifunctional space during the festival. It is here that the pleasant and the useful are combined – art workshops, good food, healthy exercise and, last but not least, varied musical experiences and relaxation.
The Saturday programmes are mainly for families from the smallest to the largest, while Sundays belong to lovers of summer picnics and unusual classical music. The zone is a place of relaxation and meeting – it offers the opportunity to meet artists face to face at talks, get to know their life stories better at lectures, etc. New dance and sports activities can also be enjoyed, led by versatile tutors.
The boundaries of the summer festival are not limited only by the borders of Český Krumlov. Concerts and accompanying events are held for free before, during and after the festival in many other places in the South Bohemian Region. The festival contributes to the cultural life of South Bohemia, offering experiences throughout the year in the whole region, including in places (so far) undiscovered by people, often gems. This way, classical music can be heard in places where listeners do not normally encounter it. All this with the aim of making it an enriching part of everyone’s life without becoming stale.
The Krumlov Festival cooperates with many South Bohemian, national and foreign (cross-border and cross-border) organisations. Events connected in a coherent dramaturgy form the KrumlOFF concert series.
As an international music event, the festival is fully aware of its educational role, both in domestic culture and in the cultivation of society throughout Europe. Education is thus an important priority for the Český Krumlov Music Festival. Therefore, for several years it has been providing a space for acquiring and expanding the knowledge of future music professionals and the general public.
Future professionals
The festival enables young artists to perform on major concert stages, gaining experience alongside renowned professionals. The 34th edition will also include two music masterclasses led by renowned teachers.
The general public
The Festival Zone offers a range of activities to raise awareness of the cultural scene among the general public. Internationally and across different areas of the arts. At lectures and talks you can discuss musical curiosities and more serious topics with artists. Workshops, on the other hand, allow you to “touch” musical instruments up close and meet the artists face to face.
Social responsibility
Classical music, whether it is composed, played or listened to, can induce psychological well-being and mental harmony. It also increases concentration, reduces tension and even improves school performance. But as a universal and easily understood language, it goes even further. Its potential can be discovered by everyone.
Naturally, the festival strives to make sure that people develop the best possible relationship with music. That is why, among other things, the proceeds from the sale of concert programmes have long supported the Jaroslav Ježek School for Blind Children.
Benefit concerts are also an integral part of the programme; thanks to one of them, the festival supported the ICOS Český Krumlov organisation. In addition, it provides a temporary home for the project KUŘE – Help the Children, gives space to events related to the Czech Red Cross or specialized creative programs with music. For example, it has recently established a cooperation with the Autism as a “gift” organisation, for which it has prepared a music workshop, allowing them to attend the artists’ rehearsals before the performance and the main concerts themselves.
Cooperation
We are part of the South Bohemian cultural scene - now all year round!
We are happy to be able to shape it together with many lively institutions and the inspiring people behind them:
Alfa Educational Centre
Centre for Children and Youth
Municipal Library Czech Krumlov
Municipal Theatre Czech Krumlov
Czech Krumlov Primary Art School
Egon Schiele Art Centre
Budějovice 2028
World Music Festival in České Budějovice
Alliance Française České Budějovice
Memory of the Nation South Bohemia
Aleš Gallery of South Bohemia
Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Instituto Cervantes Praga
Social life
It has already become a pleasant tradition that the festival provides an unusually rich social life in addition to quality musical experiences. Thus, personalities from the cultural, social, economic and business worlds meet at the festival to attend concerts, pre-concerts or social partnership events accompanied by exquisite gastronomy and design.
Regular guests have included Czech Presidents Václav Havel and Václav Klaus, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, prominent artists, actors and patrons.
