The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra was established in 1929 as the first professional symphony orchestra in Slovakia. The orchestra is currently led by conductor Ondrej Lenárd.

It has made a large number of recordings for labels including Opus, Supraphon, Naxos and Marco Polo.

In addition to regular season concerts, which feature works by Slovak composers, many of them as premieres, the orchestra has performed at concerts abroad, visiting Austria and Hungary, and touring in Europe, Japan and Korea. The orchestra has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Ľudovít Rajter, Ondrej Lenárd, Róbert Stankovský, Juraj Valčuha, Andrew Mogrelia, David Porcelijn, Vladimir Spivakov, Petr Altrichter and also with distinguished soloists.

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Photo: P. Kastl

Adrian Leaper’s career began with a five-year tenure as assistant conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester. He was later principal conductor of the Gran Canaria Philharmonic for eight years and principal conductor and artistic director of the RTVE Symphony Orchestra in Madrid for nine years.

He has conducted orchestras all over the world and has recorded a series of Spanish music of the 20th century for ASV.

For more information, visit www.adrianleaper.com.

The Canadian-born composer Robert Farnon was conductor of the Canadian Band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and later settled in England, where he established a reputation as a composer, conductor and arranger.

Light Music

Much of Farnon’s light music will be familiar to listeners. It includes his Colditz March, A Star is Born and Lake in the Woods.