I Played with the Warchalovci

Violist Kornel Klatt spent thirty years of his life as a member of the Slovak Chamber Orchestra, years that coincided with the ensemble’s most celebrated period under its founder and conductor, Bohdan Warchal. His memoir, I Played with the Warchal Orchestra, chronicles the years 1966–1995 and offers a vivid account of the orchestra’s activities and international success. Beyond documenting its concert tours, the book provides a lively portrayal of the everyday experiences of the orchestra’s members while travelling the world.

At the heart of this personal narrative is Bohdan Warchal himself, a musician with a remarkable ability to inspire others and unite individual performers into a cohesive artistic whole. Through episodes that take place away from the concert stage, readers also discover the human side of the orchestra’s members.

Illustrated with numerous photographs, many drawn from the author’s personal archive, the book recounts both the orchestra’s greatest triumphs and its occasional mishaps. The memoir was edited for publication by Mária Alexandrová and also includes a comprehensive discography of the orchestra.