THE CZECH VIRTUOSI chamber orchestra (with its artistic leader Karel Procházka who is first violist of the Czech State Philharmonic of Brno ) began its career in November 1997.

The ensemble consists of the concert masters of the Czech State Philharmonic and the Janacek National Opera, both originating from Brno, together with the first soloists of wind instruments. Thanks to the breadth of experience of its members, who have successfully performed in hundreds of concerts both at home and abroad, the ensemble has immediately attracted the attention not only of professional critics and audiences but also of significant native and foreign instrumentalists, conductors and choirs. There have been more than one hundred artists performing with the orchestra in five years of concert activity.

The extensive repertoire of the orchestra ranges from Baroque to the present day, including not only symphonic works but also spiritual music, such as classical cantata and oratorio pieces, and operas. Music composed by genius W. A. Mozart has always been their domain. In Vienna they have performed four of his complete operas.

The orchestra is often invited to participate in festivals held not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad - in Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and other countries. Their most appreciated concerts were successfully held at the famous Wiener Konzerthaus and a very enthusiastic reception was given by the audiences during a concert tour in Japan in October 2003; they have also introduced Bernstein´s "Chicherston Psalms" in Salzburg and Munich - together with an American choir.

The orchestra have accompanied the best Czech instrumentalists, such as P. Sporcl, G. Demeterova, cellist J. Barta, pianists M. Kasik and I. Ardasev, and also foreign artists, such as flutists P. Gallois and G. Federsel, oboists K. Lienbacher and P. van Bockstal, opera singers D. Peckova, A. L. Bogza, M. Poblador, Y. Tannenbergova, M. Tkadlcikova, R. Novak, V. Chmelo, and others. Nearly thirty outstanding artists from all around the world have stood in front of the orchestra as its conductors; they came from the USA, Austria, Germany, France, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Belgium, Poland and other countries.

Their concerts are frequently recorded by Czech TV and Radio. Besides the profile CD, dedicated to the life-work of A. Dvorak, O. Respighi and S. Prokofieff, the ensemble discography also includes the world´s premiere of the instrumental concerts composed by Belgian masters of the Mozart period, along with the unique recording of the Oboe-concerts with the Belgian soloist Mr. Piet van Bockstal and a series of LIVE concert CDs. Two other CDs have been recorded for the Belgian company PHAEDRA. The annual homage to the renowned opera master G. Verdi is performed in the Spilberg Castle Opera Festival in Brno (Nabucco, Il Trovatore, Aida, Requiem).

The close partnership between THE CZECH VIRTUOSI and the Janacek Academy of Musical Arts enables the best students to perform together with this prestigious musical ensemble.