Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra

The Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1949 as the first Slovak professional state symphony orchestra, based in the capital, Bratislava. Its chief conductors have included Václav Talich, Ľudovít Rajter, and Libor Pešek. From 1991 to 2001 Ondrej Lenárd was principal conductor and music director. In the 2003/2004 season Jiří Bělohlávek acted as artistic director, and in 2004 Vladimír Válek became principal conductor. In September 2007 the position of principal conductor was taken up by Peter Feranec, with Leoš Svárovský as permanent guest conductor. Since 2009 the principal conductor of the orchestra has been Emmanuel Villaume, with Rastislav Štúr as permanent guest conductor from 2011. The orchestra has worked with a number of distinguished conductors and soloists, and in 1996, after a long-term successful collaboration with the orchestra, Zdeněk Košler was awarded the title of honour of honorary principal conductor in memoriam. The orchestra is a regular guest at major European music festivals. On tour it has performed throughout Europe, in Japan, on Cyprus, in Turkey and in the United States. It has recorded extensively for Naxos as well as for other labels, national and international, and for radio, television and film companies. Naxos