A festival with a tradition spanning almost eight decades, founded in 1946 by Rafael Kubelick, who was then conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 1952, the festival has been held on May 12th, the anniversary of Bedřich Smetana's death, with a performance of his symphonic cycle Má vlast (My Homeland). The festival focuses on important musical anniversaries and presents world premieres of compositions by contemporary composers, including Czech musicians. "The Prague Spring" also emphasizes support for young performers. The Prague Spring International Music Competition was established just one year after the festival itself and is held every year in various instrumental sections.

On May 19th, in the famous Rudolfinum concert hall, Estonian composer Arvo Pärt will be celebrated, who will turn 90 in 2025 (born September 11th, 1935). To mark this event, "Prague Spring" has invited one of the most acclaimed ensembles performing Arvo Pärt's music-the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. In 2020, it was named one of the ten best choral ensembles in the world by BBC Music Magazine.

It can be said that no contemporary composer has become as familiar to the general public as Arvo Pärt. The Estonian artist, whose prominent fans include Björk, Peter Gabriel, rock musician Nick Cave, Rufus Wainwright, and members of the German band Einstürzende Neubauten, writes almost exclusively sacred music in his distinctive compositional style. The result is tonal music with a technique that the composer calls tintinnabuli-loosely translated as "the sound of bells."

"The works in our program for the "Prague Spring" concert have remained in the repertoire of the Estonian Chamber Philharmonic Choir for decades, some even since the ensemble was founded," says Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor of the concert on May 19th, 2025 and founder of the ensemble in 1981. "The music featured in this Prague Spring concert," adds Tõnu Kaljuste, "could be described as Arvo Pärt's finest creation for a cappella choir or choir with organ accompaniment."

So, an Arvo Pärt anniversary evening broadcast live by Radio România Muzical from the Rudolfinum in Prague - Monday, May 19th, at 9 p.m., on "European Stage."