Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek has died aged 71 after a long illness. The chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra was best known for his advocacy of Czech music, particularly his recordings of Janáček, Smetana, Dvořák, Suk, Martinů, Fibich, and Ostrčil.

“It is with deep sorrow that the Czech Philharmonic announces that last night, May 31st, the principal conductor and music director of the Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek, died after a courageous struggle with a serious illness,” the Czech Philharmonic said in a statement.

Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek has died aged 71

Born in Prague in 1946, Bělohlávek studied with Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts before being appointed assistant conductor to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

He won the Czech National Conducting Competition in 1970 and was a finalist in the International Herbert von Karajan Conducting Competition in 1971, before going on to conduct the Brno State Philharmonic Orchestra from 1972 to 1978. He was appointed Chief Conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra in 1978, a position he held for over a decade. Bělohlávek became principal conductor and artistic director of the Czech Philharmonic in...