Zdenek Folprecht

Zdeněk Volprecht (January 26, 1900, Turnov – October 29, 1961, Prague) was a Czech composer and conductor.

After graduating from high school, he studied composition at the Prague Conservatory with Josef Bohuslav Förster. He continued his studies at the master school with Vitezslav Novak (composition) and Václav Talich (conducting).

Since 1939 he has been the conductor of the opera of the Slovak National Theatre. The director of the opera at that time was Oskar Nedbal, who helped him stage his stage works. He became part of Slovak musical life[1]. At that time, he was still the director of the amateur Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and became its artistic director. He recorded for the radio and on gramophone records and was often invited to perform abroad.

During his stay in Bratislava, he guested several times at the Prague National Theatre. In 1939 he was permanently engaged by Václav Talich and remained there until 1961 as a conductor and vocal advisor. He often accompanied the soloists of the National Theatre in concert performances. He was also invited to visit abroad, especially to conduct operas by Czech composers. He also received foreign awards. In 1947, the Romanian King Michael I appointed him an officer of the Order of the Romanian Crown.

He died suddenly in 1961. He was buried in the Vyšehrad cemetery.