Semyon Bychkov conducts Dvořák, Smetana, and Martinů

"It’s not a question of quality," says Semyon Bychkov about the distinctive sound of his ensemble, "it’s a question of identity.... The Czech Phil had their own tradition from an earlier time: how they play their instruments, what the instruments should sound like. You can hear it in the string sound, in the wind sound." When Bychkov left his post as Chief Conductor for the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, the great Soviet-born conductor intended only to take guest conductorships—but in 2018, a personal invitation from the musicians of the Czech Philharmonic made him reconsider.