Magdalena Kožená and Sir Simon Rattle Awarded 2025 Antonín Dvořák Prize
Mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and conductor Sir Simon Rattle have become laureates of the 2025 Antonín Dvořák Prize. Both artists have actively promoted Czech classical music on international stages, both independently or through joint performances and recording projects. The laureates will receive their awards on 14 December 2025 during a gala concert in the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle. Tickets for this concert will go on sale on 24 September.
Czech music has been central to the artistic careers of both awardees. Magdalena Kožená devotes considerable attention to Czech song repertoire—from Jan Dismas Zelenka through Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, and Bohuslav Martinů to composers of the 20th and 21st centuries such as Petr Eben and Ondřej Adámek—successfully performing these works on international stages. Sir Simon Rattle is among the most prominent international advocates for Czech music today, notably during his tenures as Chief Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Magdalena Kožená is one of today's most sought-after singers. Her diverse repertoire ranges from Baroque music through the Classical and Romantic periods to 20th-century works. Besides her acclaimed interpretations, she serves as a cultural ambassador for the Czech Republic, actively promoting Czech music and cultural heritage internationally through concerts and recordings. She also supports basic arts education in the Czech Republic and founded an endowment fund which organizes, among other initiatives, the nationwide ZUŠ Open festival for young performers.
Sir Simon Rattle began his professional career with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He gained widespread recognition during his tenure as Chief Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic (2002–2018). Czech music significantly shaped his artistic sensibilities; as a seven-year-old, he listened to recordings of the Czech Philharmonic under Karel Ančerl, never imagining that over fifty years later he would become the orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor. His discography includes acclaimed recordings such as the complete set of Dvořák’s Erben-inspired symphonic poems, Janáček’s opera The Cunning Little Vixen, and the 2024 album Czech Songs, featuring works by Bohuslav Martinů, Antonín Dvořák, Hans Krása, and Gideon Klein, with Magdalena Kožená among the performers.