Regulation of Labour Relationships of Symphonic Orchestra Players in the Czech Republic

The present diploma thesis deals with the specifics of employment relationships of symphonic orchestra players in the Czech Republic. Individual chapters outline many aspects of this activity from historical view of orchestral tradition on the territory of the present Czech Republic, up to individual internal mechanisms of the functioning of symphonic orchestras, like the establishing of employment relationship on the competitive basis, the position of functional players within the system of orchestra work, the schedule of working hours and job description of an orchestra player, care for employees, health hazards of that profession etc. The basic activity of symphonic orchestras is their concert activity, where concerts take place on a domestic stage of each orchestra, but very often also as concert tours for economic, educative and comparative purposes. The author of this thesis elucidates the role of a conductor as the main manager, who is responsible for the artistic result of the whole orchestra. This part of the thesis is complemented by an exclusive interview with maestro Jiří Bělohlávek, the Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. The author also deals with the role of the artistic board, the main advisory body of the orchestra management on artistic issues. Other..