Slowakische Philharmonie

The Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1949. Two remarkable internationally acclaimed personalities, Václav Talich (Principal Conductor 1949–1952) and Ludovít Rajter (1949–1976, until 1961 as its Artistic Director) asisted at ist birth. It is the most significant symphony orchestra in the Slovak Republic , forms the centre of music life in the capital, Bratislava, and regularly appears on music festivals all over Europe ( Prague Spring, Wiener Festwochen, Brucknerfest Linz, Berliner Festtage, Festival de Strasbourg, Warszawska Jesien, Athens Festival, and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino). During its numerous international tours, the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra has performed in most European countries, Cyprus, Turkey, Japan, and the United States of America. The Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra has made a great variety of recordings for radio broadcasts, television and record companies including OPUS, Supraphon, Panton, Hungaroton, JVC Victor, RCA, Pacific Music, Naxos and Marco Polo. Among the many guest conductors it is necessary to mention world-famous artists like Claudio Abbado, Hermann Abendroth, Karel Ancerl, Sergiu Celibidache, Christoph von Dohnányi, Vladimir Fedosejev, Mariss Jansons, Neeme Järvi, Dmitrij Kitajenko, Kiril Kondrashin, Kurt Masur, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Riccardo Muti, Václav Neumann, Kurt Sanderling, Sir Malcom Sargent and others. Numerous famous composers have also conducted their own compositions with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, among others Krzysztof Penderecki and Aram Khachaturian.