“Jihočeská komorní filharmonie (JKF) České Budějovice” is the official name of the orchestra, which was established in 1981 under the name of “Jihočeský státní orchestr” (South Bohemian State Orchestra).
The orchestra currently has 37 members and it is the only professional philharmonic orchestra in the district of South Bohemia. Jaroslav Vodňanský, the conductor responsible for the establishment of this orchestra, was the head conductor until the late 1980s.
The following period under the leadership of Ondřej Kukal as head conductor and Břetislav Novotný – the first violinist of the “Kvarteto města Prahy“ - as conductor, could be considered as a significant stage in the JKF’s growth in quality and professionalism. The artistic profile of the orchestra was further enhanced through
the work of the subsequent principal conductors, Jaroslav Krček and Stanislav Vavřínek.
The orchestra’s core repertoire consists of interpretations of classical music. However, the dramaturgy of the concert seasons is varied and ranges from baroque to contemporary music. The concert schedules of the philharmonic orchestra sometimes also include great symphonic and instrumental compositions.
Such well-known conductors as Václav Smetáček, Milan Munclinger, Josef Vlach, Vladimír Válek, Viktor Barsov and Walter Hügler have cooperated with the JKF orchestra, as have a number of significant soloists such as Josef Suk, Ivan Moravec, Václav Hudeček, Eduard Haken, Věra Soukupová, Dagmar Pecková, Eva Urbanová, Josef Hála, Zuzana Růžičková, Eugene Indjic, Ivan Klánský, Alexander Rudin, Eugen Fodor, Shizuka Ishikawa, Alexandr Večtomov and Pavel Šporcl as well as others.
Besides domestic concerts the “Jihočeská komorní filharmonie“ also performs on foreign stages (Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Zurich, Bern). It also participates at international music festivals for example Pražské jaro (The Prague Spring), Emmy Destinn Music Festival, IMF Český Krumlov, Janáčkův máj, and festivals in France, Germany, Austria and Spain).
Foreign critics especially appreciate the lively and colourful sound of the orchestra and its sensitivity and craftmanship.
The JKF often cooperates with Czech television and radio in the making and performing of recordings.
The current head conductor of “Jihočeská komorní filharmonie České Budějovice“ is Jan Talich.

Jan Talich (1967) studied at the Prague Conservatoire and later at the prague Academy of Music under Václav Snítil. Already at this time he was giving recitals and performing with orchestras around the Czech Republic. He received scholarships to further his education in both the USA with Shmuel Ashkenasi and then with Yfrah Neaman at the Guildhall School of Music in England. In 1989 he won 1st prize at the Václav Huml International Violin Competition in Zagreb, which started his international solo career, playing with orchestras and giving recitals throughout Europe (Paris, Birmingham, London, Brussels and the USA…). He has recorded several solo CDs of Czech music, as well as Beethoven and Mozart concertos. He regularly gives masterclasses both at home and abroad: in Telč, Dijon, Angers, Prades and the Conseratoire Superieur in Paris.
In 1992 Jan founded the Talich Chamber Orchestra, of which he is the soloist and artistic director. He was also a founding member of The Kubelík Trio which he left for the post of 1st violinist in the Talich Quartet in1997,one of the worlds leading ensembles of its kind. During his time with the trio he performed throughout Europe and recorded the complete set of Dvořák’s trios, along with the works of Smetana, Suk and Novák.
With the Talich Quartet he has performed to great reviews in most of the world’s most famous venues. This list includes the most famous venues in America and Canada,including Carnegie Hall, regularly in the best known halls of Europe such as Wigmore Hall, Beethovenhaus, Hercules Sal (Munich), Chatelet,Theatre de Champs Elysee and Gaveau also regularly touring the major venues of Japan, South America, Mexico and South Korea. Their discography is extensive, covering most of the famous Czech quartets, along with the complete quartets of Mendelssohn.
As well as conducting his own orchestra since its foundation he has, in the last several years, begun to broaden his career as a conductor. He is now increasingly asked to work as a guest conductor with many other orchestras in the Czech Republic and abroad. Jan Talich plays violin A.Stradivarius 1729.