President Petr Pavel awards a crystal violoncello by Moser

This year’s prestigious Antonín Dvořák Prize went to Australian opera director Barrie Kosky. The award was given to him by the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, in the Spanish Hall at Prague Castle. It was granted by the Academy of Classical Music, which holds the international Dvořák Prague Festival. For 15 years now, Moser glassmakers have created the award shaped like a crystal violoncello. Laureates receive it for extraordinary artistic endeavours and for promoting Czech classical music. This year’s winner, Barrie Kosky, can take a lot of credit for spreading the good name of Czech music abroad – he’s presented Czech operas on many international stages, including Dvořák’s Rusalka as well as The Cunning Little Vixen and Káťa Kabanová by Janáček.

The cubist design of Jiří Pelcl

The award itself was sculpted following the design by renowned architect, designer, and professor at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, Jiří Pelcl. His works are featured in significant worldwide museums, including the MoMA in New York. He designed the award as a violoncello – a clear reference to one of Dvořák’s most famous symphonies, Cello Concerto in B minor, op. 104 – now united with a cubist style. We’ve been making this topaz sculpture of cut crystal at the Moser glassworks since 2009.