Libor Pešek
Libor Pešek was a Czech conductor known for his interpretations of orchestral works by Czech composers. In his long career, he was also a prolific recording artist and can be found on hundreds of albums.
Pešek was born in 1933 in Prague into a non-musical family. His mother encouraged his musical interests from a young age and arranged for him to have piano lessons. As a teenager he formed a jazz band with his friends from school, and he continued studying classical music in his piano lessons. Later, he attended the Academy of Musical Arts in Prague, where he studied with Karel Ančerl and Václav Smetáček. However, Pešek admitted that he was largely self-taught because his professors rarely showed up to the lessons. He also learned both the cello and trombone because he thought it was important for a conductor to experience the orchestra from different perspectives. While still a student, he worked as a rehearsal director at the Plzeň ballet company and then the Prague National Theater. After he graduated, he founded and conducted the Prague Chamber Harmony wind ensemble, and he also conducted the Sebastian Orchestra in Prague. With these ensembles, Pešek's reputation as a conductor quickly grew, which led to appointments with more prominent orchestras. He conducted the Czech Chamber Orchestra from 1970 to 1977, and he also worked with the Frysk Orkester in the Netherlands. Beginning in 1980, he conducted the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra for two seasons, and then he served as the conductor-in-residence for the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 1982. From then until 1990, he kept conducting the Czech PO, and performed several tours in Japan, North America, and Europe.
In 1987 Pešek began a ten-year appointment as principal conductor for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and he remained associated with the Czech PO as its principal guest conductor. He brought the RLPO international acclaim after their tour to the United States in 1992, and the corresponding series of recordings. His time in Liverpool was also a period of transformation as he quit smoking, became a vegetarian, and started practicing Buddhism. Feeling the need to reduce his professional obligations, he stepped down from his position with the RLPO in 1997 and became a lifetime conductor laureate. Pešek continued performing in a reduced capacity, and he became the chief conductor of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in 2007. He made his final appearance with the RLPO in 2013 in a concert celebrating his 80th birthday. Pešek retired in 2019 and spent his final years enjoying nature and his beloved pet dogs. He passed away in a hospital in Prague on October 23, 2022, at 89 years old.
© RJ Lambert /TiVo
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Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 and 2 / From Holberg's Time
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Released by Amadis on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 44 (Digitally Remastered)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek, Peter Toperczer
Concertos - Released by EMG Classical on 14 Aug 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spohr: Violin Concertos Nos. 7 and 12
Takako Nishizaki, Capella Istropolitana, Libor Pešek
Classical - Released by Marco-Polo on 31 Dec 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart Symphony No. 38, K. 504
Classical - Released by Best Buy Classical on 28 Mar 2012
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 (Digitally Remastered)
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on 1 Mar 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 1
Prague Symphony Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Released by Clarton, Edit, Music Vars Corporation, s. r. o. on 15 Dec 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11
Ida Cernicka, Libor Pešek, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by NEW WORLD CLASSIC (LC 95656) on 8 Dec 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Violin Concerto - Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1
Raphaël Oleg, Libor Pešek, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Denon on 1 Jan 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture in E-Flat Major, Op. 49 (Digitally Remastered)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on 21 Aug 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart The Magic Flute 1-6
Classical - Released by Best Buy Classical on 2 May 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Turbulent love Affairs and Beautiful tones with Wagner
Herbert von Karajan, Libor Pešek, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Music Manager on 1 Dec 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 & 2
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Released by Red Note OMP on 17 May 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grieg Piano Concerto - Peer Gynt - Holberg Suite
Libor Pešek, Slovac Philharmony
Classical - Released by Denon on 1 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 & 2, Piano Concerto, Op. 16
Libor Pešek, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Denon on 1 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E Flat Major, Op.73
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek, Peter Toperczer
Concertos - Released by Red Note OMP on 5 Apr 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 78 (Digitally Remastered)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek, Ivan Sokol
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on 9 Dec 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kubik: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra - Concerto Grosso (Digitally Remastered)
Josef Ružicka, Peter Toperczer, Jiri Tomasek, Gregory Zhislin
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on 14 Dec 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart Divertimento No. 7 KV 205
Classical - Released by Best Buy Classical on 24 Mar 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Symphony No.38 in D major K. 504 "Prague Symphony"
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Released by Red Note OMP on 17 May 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paganini: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in D Major, Op. 6 (Digitally Remastered)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on 28 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hummel, Vaňhal: Bassoon Concertos
Jiri Seidl, Libor Pešek, Dvorák Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by SUPRAPHON a.s. on 27 Oct 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo