Ars Rediviva

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Ars Rediviva is recognised as 1st Czech chamber ensemble that specialized systematically in performance of Baroque music respecting historically informed practice. It was established in 1951 by flutist and musical scientist Milan Munclinger and his wife, pianist and cembalist Viktorie Švihlíková. From 1951 to 1956 Václav Talich, conductor of Czech Philharmonic Orchestra collaborated with this ensemble.

Ars Rediviva played a key role in the revival of Baroque music in its country. In 1954 it started giving season performances in Wallenstein Pallace in Prague. In four decades several hundreds of compositions were introduced here, including scores of premiered archive pieces (see discography). The ensemble recorded for labels like Supraphon, Panton, Columbia, Ariola, CBS, Orfeo, Nippon, Deutsche Grammophon, Sony as well as for broadcasting and television companies and film industry (awards: Grand Prix du Disque, Supraphon Golden Lion).

Musicians who played in the permanent cast: Milan Munclinger – flute, Stanislav Duchoň – oboe (later Václav Snítil and Antonín Novák – violin), Viktorie Švihlíková (later Josef Hála) – harpsichord, František Sláma – cello. According to the repertoire the ensemble's size expanded regularly up to the chamber orchestra having mainly Czech Philharmonic Orchestra instrumentalists as members. Ars Rediviva collaborated with many foreign artists, e.g. András Adorján, Theo Altmeyer, Maurice André, Nedda Casei, Otto Peter, Jean-Pierre Rampal and others.