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Radek Baborák, Chief Conductor of West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra and Music Partner of Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, is one of the most prominent personalities on the world music scene. In more than 35 years of international appearances as a solo horn player and conductor, he has earned an exceptional reputation with the most important orchestras and festivals. With his extensive experience as a horn player, Baborák brings a unique perspective and expertise to his conducting career. His conducting style is known for its precision, musicality and deep understanding of the pieces he plays. He is able to interpret and convey the emotions and nuances of the music, creating captivating and memorable concert experiences that are appreciated by critics and music-loving audiences. His repertoire ranges from the works of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th century masters to the works of living composers whose works he has premiered.
As a soloist, he has performed with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras and many other top orchestras under conductors such as James Lewine, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Roger Norrington, Jiří Bělohlávek, Seiji Ozawa, Daniel Barenboim and Vladimir Ashkenazy.
In 2011, he expanded his musical career to include conducting. His mentor is maestro Seiji Ozawa, whom he assists with Mito Chamber Orchestra, which he conducts regularly. He founded and conducts Czech Sinfonietta Orchestra, which performs at renowned festivals in the Czech Republic such as Prague Spring, Dvořák's Prague, Smetana's Litomyšl and others. He has achieved extraordinary success at these festivals, accompanying soloists such as Marta Argerich, Yefim Bronfmann, Sergei Nakarjakov, Ricardo Galliano and Guy Braunstein. As a conductor he has worked with Mozarteum Salzburg, Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Thuringia Philharmonic, Saito Kinen Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sochr, Fok St. Prague Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonia and others.
He has been the artistic director of Prague Chamber Soloists since 2016. He is intensively involved in chamber music, especially with Baborak Ensemble, which is regularly invited to the Mozartwoche Salzburg, the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin and on tours in Europe and Japan. For his ensemble, he creates unique versions of works by composers such as J. S. Bach and Astor Piazzolla. His musical partners at over a hundred music festivals in which he has participated include legends such as Daniel Barenboim, Marta Argerich, Heinrich Schif, Janine Jansen, Francoise Leleux, Emanuel Pahud, Ian Bostridge, Julian Rachlin and others.
He has performed as a solo horn player with Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He has won the most prestigious competitions in Geneva, Markneukirchen and ARD Munich. He has made dozens of award-winning recordings for EMI, Sony Classic, Suprafon, Octavia Records, Animal Music and Hänsler Classic.

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Martha Argerich was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She began piano lessons at the age of five, studying with Vincenzo Scaramuzza, and displayed her genius. When she was eight years old, Argerich made her debut as a pianist playing piano concertos composed by Mozart and Beethoven. In 1955, she moved with her family to Europe where she continued her studies with Magaloff, Gulda, Mrs. Lipatti, Stefan Askenase and Michelangeli. In 1957, Argerich won the Busoni and Geneva International Competitions, and then she began to give concerts actively. In 1965, she won First Prize at the Chopin Competition, which established her indisputable prestige as a pianist in the world. Since then, Argerich has been one of the most prominent pianists in the world in both popularity and ability.
Argerich's repertoires range very widely to the extent they cover from Bach through Messiaen. She always has invitations from renowned orchestras, conductors and music festivals in Europe, Japan and the United States. Argerich has also made chamber music a significant part of her musical life. She regularly plays duos with violinist Gidon Kremer and cellist Mischa Maisky. Argerich also plays many pieces for two pianos and for four-hands with Nelson Freire and Alexandre Rabinovitch.
Since 1994, she has served as Honorary Music Director of the Philharmonia Hall at Beppu B-Con Plaza in Japan. In 1995, Argerich gave her first solo recital in ten years, which music fans around the world had waited for, at the "Beppu Argerich Concert '95". The Concert drew much attention throughout the world. In 1996, she was decorated with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (officier) by the Government of France. In 1997, Argerich was appointed as a member of Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. In December the same year, she became an honorary foreign citizen of Oita Prefecture.
Since 1996 Argerich has assumed the post of General Director of Beppu Argerich Music Festival, and played with artists from around the world, including those from Asia. She is also much interested in giving advice to young musicians and held her own Master Class at the Music Festival. Her innovative approach to music making continues to have an impact on music in Japan and the world.
In September 1999 the Martha Argerich International Piano Competition was launched in Buenos Aires. In 2001 Argerich was awarded the 2nd Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli International Prize from Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli International Piano Festival of Brescia Bergamo. From November 2001 the Martha Argerich Festival, Buenos Aires was held under her general direction as a sister festival to the Beppu Argerich Music Festival. The Progetto Martha Argerich was held at the Lugano Festival, Switzerland.
Argerich was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from the Government of Japan, in commendation for her achievements through the Beppu Argerich Music Festival in 2005. In the same year, she also received the Praemium Imperiale from the Japan Art Association. In 2016 Argerich was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon by the Government of Japan. The decoration was awarded for the achievements of her music activities for forty-six years in Japan since her first visit, and for contributions to the development of music culture and promotion of friendship and goodwill in Japan through the activities of the Argerich Arts Foundation. In the same year she also received the Kennedy Center Honors which praises achievements made in the field of culture and arts in the U.S. In October 2018, Argerich received an Italian Republic decoration “Commendator.” In May 2022, Argerich received the Prefectural Honor Award from Oita Prefecture for her great contribution to the promotion of the arts and culture in Oita Prefecture. In 2023, she received the Commandeur de la Legion d’honneur, France’s highest national decoration. In January 2024, Argerich was awarded the 13th Obayashi Prize from Obayashi Foundation in recognition of her achievements in contributing to society centered on art, her activities for sending out art and culture from Beppu to the world, and contributing to the regional vitalization, which has made an epochal inspiration for the future vision of a city.
Her CDs have been released by numerous labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, RCA, Sony, Philips, and Teldec, and she has received the Grammy Awards, Le Monde de la Musique CHOC Award, Grammophon Awards the Artist of the Year, and German Record Critics’ Annual Award, to name a just a few.
Argerich is the President of Argerich Arts Foundation.

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