ROMAN VÁLEK - BIOGRAPHY

Renowned Czech conductor Roman Válek began his career as a chorus master, working both in the Czech Republic and internationally before going on to lead most of the country’s major orchestras. He is the founder and chief conductor of Czech Ensemble Baroque, as well as the artistic director of the Znojmo Music Festival and the Summer School of Baroque Music.

From the very beginning of his artistic journey, Válek has focused on vocal-instrumental music from early stylistic periods. He has performed at leading European and Czech festivals, including Prague Spring, Smetana’s Litomyšl, the Leoš Janáček International Music Festival, the Znojmo Music Festival, Rheingau Musik Festival (Germany), Festival International d’Opéra Baroque & Romantique Beaune (France), Zum Haydn Musik Festival (Austria), and Music in Old Cracow (Poland). His extensive discography includes dozens of recordings for Czech Television, ARD, WDR (Germany), Supraphon (Sony Music), Aparté (France), and Pentatone (Netherlands).

In 2012, Válek shifted his focus almost entirely to his Czech Ensemble Baroque, specializing in historically informed performances of Baroque and Classical repertoire on period instruments. That same year, he launched the now-popular “Bacha na Mozarta” concert series, collaborating with internationally acclaimed soloists such as Adam Plachetka, Andreas Scholl, Barbara Maria Willi, Jean-François Lombard, Malena Ernman, Dagmar Šašková, Valer Sabadus, and Franko Klisovic. Thanks to its thoughtful programming and collaborations with top-tier artists, Czech Ensemble Baroque has quickly earned widespread recognition at home and abroad.

Válek has also played a key role in restoring and recording the works of F. X. Richter and F. I. Tůma in cooperation with Supraphon – Sony Music. This work has been highly praised by international critics, including BBC Radio 3, WDR3, Gramophone UK, Early Music Review, and Toccata. His core artistic mission is to revive forgotten 18th-century Czech composers (Richter, Tůma, Mysliveček, Rittler, Brosmann, Biber) while also presenting Czech premieres of major international works (Bach, Händel, Vivaldi, Lully, Monteverdi).

At the Znojmo Music Festival, Válek has introduced several Czech premieres, including Purcell’s King Arthur, Mysliveček’s Montezuma, Rameau’s Platée, Telemann’s oratorio Daniel in the Lions’ Den, and Lully’s Exaudiat Te Dominum. Additionally, he has presented some of the most iconic works in Czechia for the first time on period instruments, including Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Haydn’s Il mondo della luna and The Creation, Händel’s Saul, and Vivaldi’s Juditha Triumphans.

For his artistic achievements, Roman Válek has received numerous awards, including the Alfréd Radok Award, the Ferdinand Vach Prize, the Diapason d’Or, and nominations for the Thalia Award and the Classic Prague Awards.

His artistic philosophy is centered on innovative programming, spontaneous musical expression, and a deep respect for the aesthetics and values of early composers. By adhering to the compositional mastery and performance practices of past eras, Válek seeks to offer convincing, historically informed interpretations that resonate with modern audiences.

Photo by Tino Kratochvíl