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The world renowned orchestra, Virtuosi di Praga (= VDP), has been led from the very beginning by conductor and violinist Oldřich Vlček, who after 1990 built from aformerly small orchestra, an ensemble, which today is a soughtafter partner for world stars such as Plácido Domingo, I. Oistrach, M. Rostropovich, J. Cura and others.
The ensemble has a wide repertoire, consisting of the works of Vejvanovský, Mozart, Mysliveček, J.S. Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Rossini, Stravinski, Grieg, Elgar, Roussel as well as the works of 20th century world music and also has the courage to support the contemporary works of Czech composers.
The orchestra worked under the batton of V. Neumann, A. Rahbari, Ch. Benda, A. Scarano, N. Tsouchos, N. Athinaios, Peter Schreier, P. Meyer, H. Griffiths, Helmuth Rilling, J. Swoboda etc. The list of soloists with whom the orchestra has had the pleasure to play includes such renowned names as Plácido Domingo, José Cura, Barbara Hendricks, Mstislav Rostropovich, Igor Oistrach, Pavel Kogan, Mario Carbota, Mario Brynello, Sergej Krylov, M. Vyskvorkina etc. The orchestra co-operates very often also with prominent Czech choirs, like Prague Philharmonic Choir or Prague Chamber Choir and performs together such compositions like Haydn’s Creation, Händel’s Messiah, Acis and Galatea, J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor (BWV 232), St. John Passion (BWV 245) etc. The Orchestra recorded over one 170 CD's, produced for various labels including Supraphon, Orfeo, Discover, Claves and Koch International and is holder of two platinum Discs from Supraphon for the most successful recording in the field of classical music in the nineties and Gold Discs from the Discover, Lupulus and Supraphon companies.
The orchestra has regularly 8-10 concerts per year in Prague, about 30 in Czech and Slovak Republic and about 30-40 guest performances in European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Holland, France) in Japan, Australia, USA and Latin America. Orchestra is regular performer at the major Czech music festival - Prague Spring. It is the residential orchestra of Pontes International Music Festival. Since 2000 orchestra regulary performs under the baton of italian conductor Alfonso Scarano, who was appointed principal guest conductor of Virtuosi di Praga. |
