The duo was established in 1979 and introduced itself by its intensive artistic activity. It belongs among the leading representatives of Slovak performing arts. It is the world's acknowledged top duo.
Dagmar and Jozef Zsapkas performed in Japan, USA, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, Cuba, Vietnam, Mongolia, England, Spain, Portugal, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and others. During more than 30 years of activity the duo performed at all the major music festivals at home and abroad, and played in more than 2,500 concerts.
A lot of world composers were inspired by its playing and so the full range of excellent compositions were created and dedicated to the duo, e. g. Jorge Cardoso (Argentina), David Babcock (USA), Igor Rechin (Russia), Filimon Ginalis (Greece), Štěpán Rak (Czech Republic), Dušan Martinček, Peter Martinček, Víťazoslav Kubička, Ilja Zeljenka, Marcelo Coronel and others. These compositions were released in the edition Trekel, Chanterelle, Fritz&Vogt, Opus.
The repertoire of the duo covers composition of all periods – from renaissance until present, and it includes all the major pieces for this chamber ensemble. Master courses of the married Zsapkas are in great demand abroad. They made dozens of them within international festivals, at which point until now they also performed (France, Spain, Portugal, England, Germany, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Japan, Thailand, USA, Mexico, Australia and others).
Dagmar ZSAPKOVÁ in addition to the activity in the duo performed with renowned symphonic and chamber ensembles. She regularly leads international master courses, and she cooperates with radio and television studios, as well as music publishers. Until now she has released 8 CDs for flute and guitar. She teaches at the Academy of Performing Arts and at the Bratislava Conservatory.
Jozef ZSAPKA performs in the duo, but also as a soloist with prominent symphony orchestras. His activities in the field of concert life are very diverse. He is a respected teacher, founder of guitar playing in Slovakia, Professor at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava and at the University in Aveiro (Portugal). His students were awarded by dozens of prizes at international competitions. He cooperates with domestic and world recording companies – his discography includes 40 CDs. He regularly leads master courses abroad and he is a member of juries of international guitar competitions. He is a founder and artistic director of the International Guitar Festival of Joseph Kaspar Mertz in Bratislava – a major event with more than 40 years tradition.