<p>The Zlín Philharmonic is becoming increasingly popular, also thanks to its new spaces.</p>

photo: filharmonie-zlin.cz

Zlín - The number of subscribers to the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic in Zlín has increased. In the new season, approximately 1,200 people have purchased subscriptions for the evening concerts, which is ten percent less than last year. According to the director of the artistic ensemble, Josef Němý, the orchestra is probably most grateful for the new spaces of the Congress Center. Subscriptions are on sale until Friday, September 30.
    The Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic has been located in the new spaces in the city center since the beginning of the year. The musicians moved from the no longer suitable House of Art, where they had been for 56 years.
    Němý told ČTK today that the Congress Center has brought not only increased attendance but also many other significant facts. For example, it has contributed to a significantly higher quality of the orchestra. "Our players, compared to the House of Art, are here even outside their working hours - they come here to practice even on Saturdays and Sundays. (...) The hall offers greater possibilities," said the director.
    At the Congress Center, the philharmonic played 22 evening concerts from January to June, half of which were completely sold out. The average attendance was 614 listeners per concert. At the House of Art, this number was around 430 people. In the second half of the past season, nearly 24,000 listeners attended the philharmonic's 42 concerts, including participants in educational concerts. For the whole of last year, there were 29,000.
    "There is a certain caution on our part, so that it is not just curiosity from people, but that they also come for interesting programs," noted Němý.
    The biggest event of the new 2011/2012 season will be a concert with Magdalena Kožená on October 17. However, the concert is already sold out. Nonetheless, in the following months, listeners can also look forward to the world-class violinist Sergei Krylov, a performance of Janáček's Glagolitic Mass, and Brahms' German Requiem.
    The Congress Center was designed by architect Eva Jiříčná. The investment cost the city more than 600 million crowns. Over half of the costs were obtained by the town hall from European funds.