Capella Istropolitana

The chamber orchestra Cappella Istropolitana was established in 1983. Members of the orchestra have in common the delight in playing music and enthusiasm for collective playing in a small ensemble. They are both experienced chamber musicians and soloists. Their playing is characterized by great technical skills, cultivated sound, interpretative discipline, and high level of adherence to the ensemble´s style. In 1991 the Municipal Authorities of Bratislava appointed Cappella Istropolitana the Chamber Orchestra of the City. From the beginning of its artistic activity, the ensemble has become part of the inland and foreign music happenings. It performed throughout all Europe, USA, Canada, Israel, Egypt, Japan, Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong and New Zeeland. The orchestra performed at many international festivals such as Schleswig Holstein Music Festival, Mecklenburg Festival, Rheingau Music Festival, Mozart Festival Schwetzing, Dresden Music Festival, Mozart Summer Augsburg, Castle Concerts Weilburg, Prague Spring, etc. The ensemble cooperates periodically with prestigious conductors and soloists (Alfred Brendel, Barbara Hendricks, Cyprien Katsaris, Boris Pergamenchikov, Stefan Vladar, Frank Peter Zimmermann). Original repertoire of the orchestra has included mainly barock and 20th century compositions. Today, the orchestra plays often as larger ensemble which make it possible to play works from Vienna composers to Schubert. Besides concert performances, the ensemble records for different companies. Till now, it has recorded more than 80 CDs, the latest one for EMI. Cappella Istropolitana received two platinum CDs and the recording with Ignaz Pleyel´s symphonies was in 2000 appraised by BBC Music Magazine and became one of the best 60 recordings of the year.