French conductor Michel Swierczewski (b. 1955) has been principal guest conductor of the Prague Philharmonia since 2003. In 1983 Swierczewski, an enthusiastic advocate of contemporary music, became the assistant of Pierre Boulez at the Ensemble Intercontemporain. With Claudio Abbado at Milan’s La Scala and Georges Prêtre at the Paris Opera (1985-1986) he acquired the international experience that opened the doors for him to such orchestras as the Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.