Alba Regia Szimfonikus Zenekar
Orchestra, choir, ensemble
The Székesfehérvár (Hungary)-based Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra has a history of more than a century: its legal predecessor was the Association of Music Lovers of Székesfehérvár, which was founded in 1901, and it was an orchestra of outstanding scale and standard nationally, which successfully established the practice of symphonic concerts in the city, with the direction of such excellent conductors as Richárd Fricsay.
The association was reorganised in 1950 under the name Székesfehérvár Symphony Orchestra: for a long time it had worked in co-operation with Theatre Vörösmarty, until it became independent on 1 January 2015.
In recent decades Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra has performed in Hungarian concert stages with great success. In 2007 it was invited for the first time to the Palace of Arts of Budapest (to the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall), it performed in the Academy of Music, and in this season it will also give a concert in the Kodály Centre in Pécs.
Naturally the most important task of the orchestra, reorganised some years ago, is to fulfil the flagship role in the musical life of Székesfehérvár: in addition to the traditional concerts of Easter, Christmas and All Souls’ Day, they are permanent participants of the season ticket concerts of the Philharmonic. They await the interested music lovers with four of their own series: the “Score Series of Concerts for the Youth”, which is aimed at the younger generation; the “Ferenc Farkas Concert Season Ticket” of symphonic orchestra; the series “ Harmonia Albensis – Church Concerts”, which turns the downtown of the city into a location of festival during summers; and the “Ferenc Somorjai Chamber Orchestra Concert Series”. And the concert “Musica Sacra”, one of the greatest events of the cultural life of Székesfehérvár, has already become a part of the carefully guarded traditions of the orchestra. This event presents the masterpieces of church music on the enormous open-air stage built above the ruins of the crowning Basilica.
The repertoire of the orchestra ranges from Baroque to contemporary music, paying special attention to oratorical genres: in general they perform the works of Bach, Händel, Mozart, Liszt, Brahms or Verdi with the participation of the choirs of the city. Recently they have been active in the presentation of early music, but high-standard popular music also appears in their repertoire, and they play theatrical music at a high level: they played with great success, along others, two theatrical works of Kodály (János Háry, and The Spinning Room); Cavalleria Rusticana [Rustic Chivalry] by Mascagni; and The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart; and several popular operettas.
The orchestra, which plays a pivotal role in the artistic life of Székesfehérvár, has already become famous internationally as well, thus, making a name for itself and the City of Kings: last year they gave successful concerts in the renowned theatres of Italy (in Lecce and Florence), and at the beginning of 2018 they performed a tour in England in co-operation with the Moscow City Ballet, giving concerts to the audiences in Nottingham (Royal Concert Hall) and Manchester (Palace Theatre).
In recognition of the successful artistic activities of the Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra, which has performed successfully on domestic concert stages and beyond national borders, the Minister of Human Resources declared the orchestra a priority performing arts organisation as of 1 January 2020. From 1 May 2021, the orchestra is led by Tamás Ruff, Director, Péter Dobszay, Artistic Director - Principal Conductor, and Dániel Dobri, Artistic Director of Contemporary Music.
In 2022, the orchestra was awarded the County Prima Prize in the Hungarian Music category.
The association was reorganised in 1950 under the name Székesfehérvár Symphony Orchestra: for a long time it had worked in co-operation with Theatre Vörösmarty, until it became independent on 1 January 2015.
In recent decades Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra has performed in Hungarian concert stages with great success. In 2007 it was invited for the first time to the Palace of Arts of Budapest (to the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall), it performed in the Academy of Music, and in this season it will also give a concert in the Kodály Centre in Pécs.
Naturally the most important task of the orchestra, reorganised some years ago, is to fulfil the flagship role in the musical life of Székesfehérvár: in addition to the traditional concerts of Easter, Christmas and All Souls’ Day, they are permanent participants of the season ticket concerts of the Philharmonic. They await the interested music lovers with four of their own series: the “Score Series of Concerts for the Youth”, which is aimed at the younger generation; the “Ferenc Farkas Concert Season Ticket” of symphonic orchestra; the series “ Harmonia Albensis – Church Concerts”, which turns the downtown of the city into a location of festival during summers; and the “Ferenc Somorjai Chamber Orchestra Concert Series”. And the concert “Musica Sacra”, one of the greatest events of the cultural life of Székesfehérvár, has already become a part of the carefully guarded traditions of the orchestra. This event presents the masterpieces of church music on the enormous open-air stage built above the ruins of the crowning Basilica.
The repertoire of the orchestra ranges from Baroque to contemporary music, paying special attention to oratorical genres: in general they perform the works of Bach, Händel, Mozart, Liszt, Brahms or Verdi with the participation of the choirs of the city. Recently they have been active in the presentation of early music, but high-standard popular music also appears in their repertoire, and they play theatrical music at a high level: they played with great success, along others, two theatrical works of Kodály (János Háry, and The Spinning Room); Cavalleria Rusticana [Rustic Chivalry] by Mascagni; and The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart; and several popular operettas.
The orchestra, which plays a pivotal role in the artistic life of Székesfehérvár, has already become famous internationally as well, thus, making a name for itself and the City of Kings: last year they gave successful concerts in the renowned theatres of Italy (in Lecce and Florence), and at the beginning of 2018 they performed a tour in England in co-operation with the Moscow City Ballet, giving concerts to the audiences in Nottingham (Royal Concert Hall) and Manchester (Palace Theatre).
In recognition of the successful artistic activities of the Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra, which has performed successfully on domestic concert stages and beyond national borders, the Minister of Human Resources declared the orchestra a priority performing arts organisation as of 1 January 2020. From 1 May 2021, the orchestra is led by Tamás Ruff, Director, Péter Dobszay, Artistic Director - Principal Conductor, and Dániel Dobri, Artistic Director of Contemporary Music.
In 2022, the orchestra was awarded the County Prima Prize in the Hungarian Music category.