Musica aeterna
The Musica aeterna ensemble was established in 1973 on the instigation of Ján Albrecht (1919 -1996), a renowned musician and expert in old music, as well as in arts, philosophy and literature. Studies of compositions of the mentioned periods eventually led to a formation of a specialised ensemble dedicated to old music who finally switched in 1989 to music performed on original historical 17th and 18th century instruments and/or their copies. European music and music of Central-European origins of the baroque and neo-classic periods form the core of the repertory of the ensemble who was a part of the Slovak Philharmonic since 1986.
MUSICA AETERNA has a very rich record of performances both home and abroad. The ensemble regularly appears abroad; what has gained a prominent place among its activities is a long-lasting cooperation with the Baroque music centre in Versailles, appearances in leading music festivals, such as the Festival van Vlaanderen, Holland Festival of Early Music Utrecht, Wiener Klassik, Carinthischer Sommer Villach, Régizeneinapok Sopron, International Old Music Festival in Prague, Bach Tage Berlin, BarockfestMünster, Swedish Baroque Festival Malmö, Bratislava Music Festival etc. Since 1996, they have been regularly touring the USA. Collaborators of the MUSICA AETERNA include topmost old-music specialists: Alfredo Bernardini, Christophe Coin, Paul Colléaux, Richard Fuller, Martin Gester, Paul Goodwin, AdwardHigginbottom, John Holloway, Jan Kleinbussink, Catherine Mackintosh, Charles Medlam, Siegfried Pank, Andrew Parrott, Christophe Rousset, Olivier Schneebeli, Simon Standage, Stephen Stubbs, Melvyn Tan, John Toll and many others. Apart from its concert activities, the ensemble is also committed to recording. More than 40 of its CD’s have been rewarded by several prestigious prizes, e.g. the Diapason d´Or in 1994, as well as the complete recording of Georg Muffat‘s Concerti grossi in 1995. In 1998, the ensemble received the Slovak Music Critics‘ award.