Ladies Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1969 from the initiative of its artistic director and conductor Elena Šarayová-Kováčová, and concert master Jolana Šikutová, with the support of Elena Blahová-Jurasová. The orchestra consisted of women members of leading Slovak orchestras and women teachers of Bratislava artistic schools. Prominent Slovak artists regularly cooperated with the orchestra, and sometimes solo parts were also played by member of the orchestra. Between 1971 – 1998 the soloist and the concert master Viera Podhradská led, and later the group was led by Jolana Šikulová.

The interpretative focus of the orchestra is the music of Baroque and Classicism, and this repertoire base was complemented by works of the romanticism and the 20th century. In vocal-instrumental compositions the orchestra often cooperated with ECHO Youth Choir with conductor Ondrej Šaray and with the Bratislava Children's Choir. Ladies Chamber Orchestra regularly performed at educational and full-length concerts, at gala cultural and social events, and recorded for radio and television. It introduced itself also abroad in Spain, Austria, Greece, Italy and multiple times in Japan.

 

Elena Šarayová-Kováčová entered Slovak concert events as the first Slovak professional female conductor. In addition to Ladies Chamber Orchestra and Bratislava Children's Choir she also led The Choir of Slovak Women Teachers Ozvena (between 1971–1986). With these ensembles she attended hundreds of concert performances at home and abroad. In addition to concert activities, she devoted herself to the methodological work and education of young adepts of composition at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, where she worked as an assistant professor.


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