Bohdan Warchal
Bohdan Warchal (27 January 1930 – 30 December 2000) was a prominent Slovak violinist and conductor, notable for his significant contributions to Slovak musical life. Born in Orlová, Czechoslovakia, Warchal studied violin at the Brno Conservatory under Július Remeš and continued his education at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno with František Kudláček. In 1957, he became the concertmaster of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra in Bratislava.
Warchal founded the Slovak Chamber Orchestra in 1960, serving as its artistic director and conductor for 40 years. Under his leadership, the orchestra became a leading ensemble in Slovak classical music and gained international recognition. His discography includes recordings of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and Handel's Water and Fireworks Music with Naxos Records, as well as numerous symphonies by Michael Haydn for cpo.
In addition to his performance career, Warchal was dedicated to music education. He taught at the Bratislava Conservatory, the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts, and the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. His influence extended beyond performance and pedagogy, as he was actively involved in recording projects for Czechoslovak Radio and Television.
Warchal's legacy is marked by his dedication to Slovak music, both as a performer and educator, and his efforts to promote Slovak performance art on the global stage.