THE SLOVAK SINFONIETTA ŽILINA is one of the best known professional orchestras in Eastern Europe and holds a very important position in Slovak musical culture. It was founded in 1974 as the only
"Classical period" chamber orchestra in Slovakia. Since then the orchestra has attained a prominent position in both Slovak and Czech Republics, as well as developing a considerable international reputation.
Its 35 members are graduates of the major Czech and Slovak music academies, and many of them are winners of international competitions and active both as soloists and chamber musicians. The quality of the players, together with the experience and musicianship of the founding music director and conductor Eduard Fischer (1930-1993) brought about the quick artistic growth of the orchestra.
By 1977 the orchestra attained international recognition when it was invited to the Salzburg Festival and designated the official orchestra of that prestigious festival. Soon after, followed appearances at the "Prague Spring" and the major festivals throughout Europe, including Wiener Festwochen, Viennese "Spring Festival", Haydn Festival, Festa Musica Pro in Italy, Festival de Cataluňa in Spain, Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Mozartfest Schwetzingen, Mozart Sommer Schloss Salem, Festival van Vlaanderen, Johann Strauss Festival in Vienna, Aspekte Salzburg, Bodensee Festival in Switzerland, Festival de Bonaguil in France, Festival El Djem in Tunisia, Ankara Music Festival, Bratislava Music Festival and many others, including as far away as the “Festival de Manaus” in Brasil. The Slovak Sinfonietta is one of only three orchestras together with the Vienna and the Berlin Philharmonics, that are annual performers at the Vienna Music Festivals.
The Sinfonietta has played in almost all the world’s great concert halls from St.Petersburg to Tokyo and altogether, the orchestra has given over 2400 concerts in European countries as well as Tunisia, Japan, Brasil, Armenia, Turkey, Canada and the U.S.A. Their American tours included performances in many major cities including Chicago, Cleveland and New York.
The Slovak Sinfonietta is in reality, a small symphony orchestra with a very broad repertoire of baroque, classical, early romantic, as well as 20th century works. The nucleus of their repertoire is the late eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth century works. Of course the musicians have a natural affinity for the intensely rich Slavic music of their cultural heritage specializing in the Slovak and Czech composers throughout the ages, including the classical Voříšek, Hummel and Vaňhal, and the romantics Suk and Dvorak as well as the later leaders of Slovak composition, Moyzes and Suchoň. The orchestra also occasionally performs non-traditional programs, mostly for young audiences, high-lighting jazz and popular music.
Among the prominent artists who have performed with the orchestra are conductors: Peter Maag, Misha Katz, Urs Schneider, Herman Engels, Janusz Powolny, Christian Pollack, Alexander Schwinck, Ernst Märzendorfer, Claus Peter Flor, Oliver von Dohnányi, Eve Queler, Mika Eichenholz, Christian Benda, Karel Marc Chichon, who co-operate with José Carreras and many others. The orchestra has accompanied some of the great soloists including Igor Oistrach, Václav Hudeček, Liana Issakadze, Daniel Müller-Schott, Augustin Dumay, André Gertler, Vanessa Mae and Narciso Yepes, but has had developed a long association with many of the great singers including Peter Dvorský, Miroslav Dvorský, Edita Gruberova, Lasha Nikabadze (La Scala), Gabriela Beňačková, Olivia Stapp and Magdaléna Kožená among others.
The Sinfonietta`s many award-winning recordings for OPUS, DONAU, NAXOS, BRILLIANT CLASSICS and BMG include works of Vivaldi, Telemann, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Hummel, Verdi, Respighi, Johann Strauss, Richard Strauss, Milhaud, Britten, Martinů, Dvořák, Janáček and other composers.
The Music Director of the orchestra between 1995 – 2001 was Leoš Svárovský, one of the best known and distinguished Czech conductors with whom the orchestra made numerous tours and recordings. Maestro Svarovsky developed the orchestra’s exciting energetic sound that is still a hallmark of the orchestra today.
Since 2004 until 2007 the Music Director of the orchestra was the best known Slovak conductor Mr. Oliver von Dohnányi. He had been working regularly with the orchestra even before (concerts, tours, recordings), but as the Music Director he cared for the high artistic level of musicians, warm homogeneous sound of the orchestra and pure performing of each music style.
Very important role in achievment of the top artistic level of the orchestra has the Chief Conductor emeritus - Japanese conductor Tsugio Maeda. His 18 years work raised the orchestra among the best in Europe.
"Classical period" chamber orchestra in Slovakia. Since then the orchestra has attained a prominent position in both Slovak and Czech Republics, as well as developing a considerable international reputation.
Its 35 members are graduates of the major Czech and Slovak music academies, and many of them are winners of international competitions and active both as soloists and chamber musicians. The quality of the players, together with the experience and musicianship of the founding music director and conductor Eduard Fischer (1930-1993) brought about the quick artistic growth of the orchestra.
By 1977 the orchestra attained international recognition when it was invited to the Salzburg Festival and designated the official orchestra of that prestigious festival. Soon after, followed appearances at the "Prague Spring" and the major festivals throughout Europe, including Wiener Festwochen, Viennese "Spring Festival", Haydn Festival, Festa Musica Pro in Italy, Festival de Cataluňa in Spain, Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Mozartfest Schwetzingen, Mozart Sommer Schloss Salem, Festival van Vlaanderen, Johann Strauss Festival in Vienna, Aspekte Salzburg, Bodensee Festival in Switzerland, Festival de Bonaguil in France, Festival El Djem in Tunisia, Ankara Music Festival, Bratislava Music Festival and many others, including as far away as the “Festival de Manaus” in Brasil. The Slovak Sinfonietta is one of only three orchestras together with the Vienna and the Berlin Philharmonics, that are annual performers at the Vienna Music Festivals.
The Sinfonietta has played in almost all the world’s great concert halls from St.Petersburg to Tokyo and altogether, the orchestra has given over 2400 concerts in European countries as well as Tunisia, Japan, Brasil, Armenia, Turkey, Canada and the U.S.A. Their American tours included performances in many major cities including Chicago, Cleveland and New York.
The Slovak Sinfonietta is in reality, a small symphony orchestra with a very broad repertoire of baroque, classical, early romantic, as well as 20th century works. The nucleus of their repertoire is the late eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth century works. Of course the musicians have a natural affinity for the intensely rich Slavic music of their cultural heritage specializing in the Slovak and Czech composers throughout the ages, including the classical Voříšek, Hummel and Vaňhal, and the romantics Suk and Dvorak as well as the later leaders of Slovak composition, Moyzes and Suchoň. The orchestra also occasionally performs non-traditional programs, mostly for young audiences, high-lighting jazz and popular music.
Among the prominent artists who have performed with the orchestra are conductors: Peter Maag, Misha Katz, Urs Schneider, Herman Engels, Janusz Powolny, Christian Pollack, Alexander Schwinck, Ernst Märzendorfer, Claus Peter Flor, Oliver von Dohnányi, Eve Queler, Mika Eichenholz, Christian Benda, Karel Marc Chichon, who co-operate with José Carreras and many others. The orchestra has accompanied some of the great soloists including Igor Oistrach, Václav Hudeček, Liana Issakadze, Daniel Müller-Schott, Augustin Dumay, André Gertler, Vanessa Mae and Narciso Yepes, but has had developed a long association with many of the great singers including Peter Dvorský, Miroslav Dvorský, Edita Gruberova, Lasha Nikabadze (La Scala), Gabriela Beňačková, Olivia Stapp and Magdaléna Kožená among others.
The Sinfonietta`s many award-winning recordings for OPUS, DONAU, NAXOS, BRILLIANT CLASSICS and BMG include works of Vivaldi, Telemann, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Hummel, Verdi, Respighi, Johann Strauss, Richard Strauss, Milhaud, Britten, Martinů, Dvořák, Janáček and other composers.
The Music Director of the orchestra between 1995 – 2001 was Leoš Svárovský, one of the best known and distinguished Czech conductors with whom the orchestra made numerous tours and recordings. Maestro Svarovsky developed the orchestra’s exciting energetic sound that is still a hallmark of the orchestra today.
Since 2004 until 2007 the Music Director of the orchestra was the best known Slovak conductor Mr. Oliver von Dohnányi. He had been working regularly with the orchestra even before (concerts, tours, recordings), but as the Music Director he cared for the high artistic level of musicians, warm homogeneous sound of the orchestra and pure performing of each music style.
Very important role in achievment of the top artistic level of the orchestra has the Chief Conductor emeritus - Japanese conductor Tsugio Maeda. His 18 years work raised the orchestra among the best in Europe.
