Role

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Ensemble

Genre

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Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

Musica Aeterna Bratislava is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1991 by the Slovak conductor and harpsichordist Peter Zajíček. The ensemble is based in Bratislava, Slovakia, and is known for its performances of Baroque and Classical music on period instruments. The founding of Musica Aeterna Bratislava was a response to the growing interest in historically informed performance practice in Slovakia and the wider region of Central Europe. Peter Zajíček, who had studied harpsichord and conducting at the Academy of Music in Bratislava and at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, saw an opportunity to create an ensemble that would explore the rich musical heritage of Slovakia and neighboring countries through the lens of historical performance techniques. The early years of Musica Aeterna Bratislava were marked by a series of concerts and recordings that showcased the ensemble's virtuosity and versatility. The ensemble's core members included some of the most talented young musicians from Slovakia and other countries, such as the violinists Roman Válek and Jana Pastorková, the cellist Jozef Lupták, and the flutist Martina Bernášková. Together, they performed a wide range of repertoire, from the Baroque masterpieces of Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi to the Classical works of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. One of the highlights of Musica Aeterna Bratislava's early career was its collaboration with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra in 1993, which resulted in a critically acclaimed recording of Mozart's Requiem. The ensemble's sensitive and historically informed interpretation of the work, which featured period instruments and a small choir, was praised for its clarity, intimacy, and emotional depth. Another milestone for Musica Aeterna Bratislava came in 1995, when the ensemble was invited to perform at the prestigious Festival de Musique Baroque de Versailles in France. The ensemble's program, which included works by Telemann, Bach, and Handel, was hailed as a revelation by the French audience and critics, who were impressed by the ensemble's technical precision, expressive phrasing, and stylish ornamentation. Since then, Musica Aeterna Bratislava has continued to build its reputation as one of the leading ensembles of historical performance practice in Europe. The ensemble has performed at major festivals and concert halls across the continent, including the Salzburg Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. It has also collaborated with some of the most renowned soloists and conductors in the field, such as Andreas Scholl, Philippe Herreweghe, and Jordi Savall. One of the hallmarks of Musica Aeterna Bratislava's approach to historical performance practice is its commitment to authenticity and experimentation. The ensemble uses period instruments and bows, as well as historical tuning and temperament systems, to recreate the sound and style of the music as it was intended by the composers. At the same time, the ensemble is not afraid to explore new interpretations and improvisations, based on the latest research and insights into the historical context of the music. In recent years, Musica Aeterna Bratislava has expanded its repertoire to include lesser-known works by composers such as Jan Dismas Zelenka, Johann Georg Pisendel, and Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

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