Music Director of The Royal Opera Jakub Hrůša awarded the Medal of Merit

Wednesday 29 October 2025

The Royal Ballet and& Opera extends its congratulations to Music Director of The Royal Opera Jakub Hrůša who was awarded the Medal of Merit by the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, last night in Prague. He was recognised for his extraordinary contribution to the development of Czech music and for promoting the country abroad in a ceremonial presentation in Prague Castle on the national holiday marking the establishment of the independent state. 

Jakub Hrůša, Music Director of The Royal Opera said: 

“I deeply value the highest honor of the Medal of Merit bestowed upon me by President Petr Pavel. It represents for me a beautiful recognition of my lifelong dedication to music – and especially to Czech music, which I profoundly love, cherish, and seek to share everywhere – as well as a great commitment to continue doing so with ever more strength and effectiveness in the future, whether at the  helm of the Czech Philharmonic, in Germany, in the United Kingdom, or across the globe.” 

Hrůša’s time in Covent Garden has already been marked by his advocacy of Czech repertoire; he conducted Claus Guth’s production of Janáček’s Jenůfa in January 2025 whilst Music Director Designate, which received 4 and 5 star reviews, and he chose Dvořák’s The Spectre’s Bride to be part of the repertoire for a special welcome concert with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House on the Main Stage in September. His recording with Corinne Winters of the Janáček’s Katya Kabanova (Unitel Edition) also won the 2024 Gramophone Opera Award. 

From 4-21 November, he will conduct the first ever performances at Covent Garden of Janáček’s The Makropulos Case in a new production by Katie Mitchell with Ausrine Stundyte, Heather Engebretson and Sean Panikkar leading the world-class cast. Book tickets now.