Unleash Your Excitement at the 53rd Moravian Autumn Festival
Moravian Autumn honors Sir Charles Mackerras
Moravian Autumn will begin its 53rd year on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 7 p.m. This year, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from Edinburgh will perform. The concert is set to take place at the Besední dům in Brno. The orchestra will present well-known compositions from the Viennese classical era, including works by Mozart, highlighting Sir Charles Mackerras’ deep connection with this composer. Additionally, they will perform an engaging piece by the English composer Peter Maxwell Davies, inspired by Scottish folklore, which will even feature a Scottish piper during the performance.
Another concert you might enjoy will be on October 12 at the Janáček Theatre, featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra. Sir Charles Mackerras served as the chief conductor of this orchestra for several years during the beginning stages of his conducting career. The concert’s program pays homage to Mackerras’ impact on British music and showcases his love for Janáček, as the Sinfonietta will be played in collaboration with the Castle Guard Music and the Police.
The Opening Concert will also include the presentation of the Charles Mackerras Award, which is given every ten years by the Leoš Janáček Foundation to a young conductor under forty who has significantly promoted Czech music, particularly works by Janáček.
On the following day, October 13, you can attend a documentary screening at the CIT Cinema titled Sir Charles, thank you, thank you… After the documentary, there will be a discussion featuring Sir Charles Mackerras’ daughter Catherine, along with musicologist and Janáček expert Jiří Zahrádka and director Rudolf Chudoba.
Concert at the water reservoirs on Yellow Hill
For the first time, the festival will feature a concert at the water tanks located on Yellow Hill, where on October 17, the oratorio The Last Pagan Rites by Lithuanian composer Bronius Kutavicius will be presented. This piece was first introduced at the Moravian Autumn Festival in 2017. It was showcased again in 2021 as a special tribute to the composer who had recently passed away, and the performance was received with immense enthusiasm. The audience’s positive response, along with the excitement from the Cantilena Children’s Choir, led to the piece becoming a beloved tradition at Moravian Autumn, and it has consistently been performed to great acclaim, as it will be again in 2025.
The acoustics in this almost temple-like venue will certainly enhance the powerful effect of Kutavicius’ haunting oratorio, presenting it in a fresh setting. There will be two performances of this concert.
Moravian Autumn is a vital part of Brno’s culture
The festival was established in 1966 through the efforts of Rudolf Pečman, as a way to provide an alternative to the state-controlled festival events occurring in the country. The inaugural Brno International Music Festival was dedicated to Bohuslav Martinů, achieving incredible success, with every concert at the newly opened Janáček Theatre being highly anticipated events for the city’s residents.
The title Moravian Autumn first emerged in 1993, and nine years later, the Brno Philharmonic took over its organization, transitioning it into a biennial event.
Moravian Autumn invites renowned orchestras that have yet to perform in Europe, world-class chamber ensembles, and soloists who shine on stages around the globe. It is more than just a festival of performances; it aims to bring top musicians from around the world to Brno and allow them to share the stage with exceptional local talent.
