Vojtěch Spurný is a prominent Czech conductor, pianist, specialist in historical keyboard instruments, and pedagogue. He studied piano and flute at the Prague Conservatory and later opera directing, conducting, and harpsichord at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. He further specialized in early music and harpsichord performance at the Hoogeschool voor de Kunsten in Utrecht, where he earned the diploma “Uitvoerend musicus.” His professional development was enriched by masterclasses with J. Sonnleitner, H. Rilling, and K. Gilbert.
As an opera conductor, he has collaborated with leading European institutions, including the Drottningholm Palace Theatre, Gothenburg Opera, Oslo Opera House, Staatstheater Hannover, the National Theatre in Prague, and the J. K. Tyl Theatre in Plzeň. From 1999 to 2004, he served as principal conductor of the Prague State Opera, and in the 2002–2003 season he held the position of Artistic Director of Opera. He later became Chief Conductor of the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Zlín (2015–2018) and subsequently guest conductor, chief conductor, and head of opera at the Silesian Theatre in Opava (2018–2022). He is currently a principal guest conductor of the South Bohemian Philharmonic.
Vojtěch Spurný has worked with numerous Czech and international orchestras, including the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK, PKF – Prague Philharmonia, Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, and Chursaechsische Kammerphilharmonie, as well as with many distinguished soloists.
He regularly appears at major international music festivals such as Prague Spring, Smetana’s Litomyšl, the Český Krumlov International Music Festival, Wiener Festwochen, and Carinthian Summer. In addition to conducting, he performs as a soloist on historical keyboard instruments, including the quarter-tone piano. His recordings for Czech Radio and international labels have received significant critical acclaim and awards.
Alongside his performing career, he is active as an editor of critical editions of Czech musical works and as a dedicated educator. He teaches harpsichord at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ostrava and is involved in extensive educational activities for young audiences.
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