Obituary, Libor Pešek (1933-2022)

The Czech conductor Libor Pešek, who was an impassioned advocate for music by his lesser-known compatriots and held positions with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic, has died aged 89.

Born in Prague in 1933, Pešek trained at the Academy of Musical Arts in his home city, where his teachers included Karel Ančerl and Václav Smetáček. Theatre fascinated him from an early age, and during his school-days he struck up a friendship with aspiring director Miloš Forman (who would go on to win Oscars for One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus).

The pair first collaborated on a touring production of Jiří Voskovec and Jan Werich's The Rag Ballad in 1950 and maintained a strong friendship throughout their long careers - Pešek's recordings of music by Smetana and Dvořák with the Czech Philharmonic featured on the soundtrack of Forman's 1996 Golden Globe-winning film The People vs. Larry Flynt, and the two had plans to work together on a production of Smetana's Dalibor at Prague National Theatre in 2000 until the project was shelved due to opposition regarding Forman's proposed streamlining of the work.

Pešek's love of the theatre led him to begin his career in the opera-house, initially working as a repetiteur in Pilsen and later in Prague; during this period he also formed Komorní Harmonie (Prague Chamber Harmony), with whom he would record extensively for the Czech label Supraphon. His career as an orchestral conductor began to gather real momentum in the early 1980s, with a short spell as Chief Conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic followed by an eight-year stint as conductor-in-residence of the Czech Philharmonic. His recordings with the latter orchestra included three Martinů piano concertos with Rudolf Firkušný, Dvořák overtures and orchestral suites, and works by Suk, Ravel and Debussy.

In parallel to his work in Prague, Pešek was appointed Music Director of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 1987, heralding the beginning of a long and affectionate relationship - after ten years in the position, Pešek held the title of Conductor Laureate for twenty-five years, making his final appearance with the orchestra in 2013 to mark his 80th birthday (reviewing the concert, the Liverpool Echo credited him with 'revitalising the RLPO during some of Liverpool's darkest days'). During his time in Liverpool, he programmed a vast amount of neglected Czech repertoire both at home and on tour, including Suk's Asrael Symphony and works by composers including Zdeněk Fibich, Vítězslav Novák, Julius Fučík, and Oskar Nedbal. In a statement this morning, the orchestra's Artistic Planning Director Sandra Parr shared fond memories of 'the twinkle in his eye, his generous friendship and heartfelt music making'.

Pešek was made a Knight of the British Empire in 1996, and was awarded the Czech Medal of Merit the following year; he continued to conduct until well into his eighties, and spent his final years enjoying the natural world and the company of his beloved pets. His death was announced by Jan Hasenöhrl, the director of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (where Pešek was Chief Conductor from 2007-2019), with Pešek's compatriot Jakub Hrůša among those who paid tribute to his artistry on social media.

Libor Pešek - a selected discography